Make-Do Repair Early American Treen Primitive Hand Carved Wood Bowl

This handsome farmhouse bowl dates from the early years of the new United States of America, circa 1780-1830. It's a very early treen ware bowl, hand carved from a solid block of what we believe to be hard maple. The interior shows hand tool marks and concentric carving. The dark patina was developed over two centuries of use and oxidation. 

The hand forged iron repair consists of an iron strap that curves over the rim. It's secured with handmade iron staples that pass through the wood and are clinched on the inside of the bowl, with their pointed ends bent and flattened.  The repair was an attempt to stabilize the crack to further use the bowl for preparing and serving food.  This kind of repair is what collectors call a "make-do repair" that's part of the history of the piece.  Repairs like this were made on pieces too valuable and too difficult to discard and replace. 

The single handle of the bowl was carved as part of the original block of wood. It has decorative carved scoring lines and a notch carved out of the underside that improve the user's grip. 

Over the many, many years of wear and drying, this bowl developed shrinkage cracks and a rounded rim from handling. There is no evidence whatsoever of any sanding or refinishing. Given that the cracks appear stable, the iron repair has held and there are no other damages or missing pieces, the bowl is in very good antique condition. The make-do repair adds interest and value. 

This early bowl measures 13 inches across including the handle, 10 inches in diameter without, stands 6 inches tall and weighs just under 2 pounds. This rare survivor has great appeal for collectors of primitive antiques, Early American country furnishings and/or treen, folk art and items with make-do repairs. 

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