| Spatter ware and sponge ware are some terms | | | | the two names while referring to a single |
| in pottery that are often linked or supposed to be | | | | decoration effect. The difference lies in the actual |
| the same. Are they the same or not? | | | | way by which a piece of pottery is decorated. |
| Spattered pottery originated in Staffordshire, | | | | And due to the fact that the making of spattered |
| England at about 1750. Back then, they called it | | | | pottery requires much more labor, it also calls for |
| sponge ware. And it was really very common to | | | | a higher price compared to sponge ware. |
| use sponges. | | | | Spatter ware/sponge ware can commonly be |
| During the 19th century, English sponge creations | | | | seen with spattered designs on the edges and |
| was more popular than ever and it began to be | | | | with motifs painted on the center. There are |
| manufactured by Wedgwood for the American | | | | different varieties identifiable by their motifs. |
| market and to be exported. Upon arriving in | | | | Sponge Blue Spatter or Blue Sponge wares have |
| America, it became popular due to the technique | | | | spattering but do not have central painted motifs. |
| with which it was decorated - which was called | | | | Sponge Spatter or Stick-Sponge Spatter wares |
| spattering. Thus, it became popularly known as | | | | were decorated using shaped sponges that were |
| spatter ware. From this, it appears that spatter | | | | used to make six-pointed rosettes, vines and |
| ware and sponge ware are the same and that | | | | wavy lines. Virginia wares tended to be |
| they just came to be known by different names. | | | | overcrowded flowers spattered on the edges, a |
| But the distinction does not lie there solely. | | | | central figure or model and rosettes between the |
| Spattering was a name given to the process of | | | | figure and the margin designs. |
| applying colorful designs to wares before they | | | | So, is spatter ware the same as sponge ware? |
| were glazed and fired. Often, the process of | | | | The answer is yes and no. Yes, because if you |
| decorating was done using a small sponge. But it | | | | go to America to shop for pottery, the more |
| wasn't done with a sponge in all cases. The reason | | | | recognizable term will be spatter ware; however, |
| why spatter ware is often called sponge ware is | | | | if you go to England to shop, you might as well |
| because spattering (the procedure of carefully | | | | say you're looking for sponge ware and you'll get |
| hand-painting dots on the pottery) creates an | | | | the same thing. The answer is no also, because if |
| effect very similar to the effect made by actually | | | | you will be talking about how a piece of pottery is |
| using sponge. Therefore, when speaking of | | | | made, you might want to use the right terms to |
| spatter or sponge ware, one may call either of | | | | make sure you're clear. |