What Is Tienshan Sponge Stoneware?

Tienshan Stoneware History

• Tienshan spongeware followed the arc of popularity set by country-style design in American decor. Beginning in the 1980s, country-style design emphasized American folk crafts, dusty or muted colors and simple rural decorative motifs. Sponge or spatter pottery techniques have a long history, beginning a couple of centuries ago in the British Isles, and are still popular with American crafters. Like many decorative trends, the immense popularity of country-style design has decreased with the emergence of new tastes but still forms the decor basis for many homes.

Finding Tienshan Spongeware Now

• One of the casualties of county-style design's waning popularity has been the demise of some manufacturers' lines, including Tienshan products. Many Tienshan stoneware and fine-china lines have been discontinued, and Tienshan appears to have reduced its American presence. Telephones had been disconnected as of October 2011, and there is no online catalog. The largest Tienshan product listings are at Replacements, Ltd., and are sorted only alphabetically and numerically. Searching can be further complicated by Tienshan's tendency to use techniques and favorite motifs across both stoneware and porcelain lines.

Searching by Design Names

• The simple designs of Tienshan sponge stoneware are echoed in simple, directly descriptive names. Among the most popular names are single-word Animals, Apple, Hearts, Wolf and Gingerbread. A few names include the word "Sponge" -- for example, Sponge Blue Hearts. Others evoke a simple, rustic mood and emphasize snowy winter: Woodland Moose, Holiday Wilderness, Cabin in the Snow, Moose Country, Holiday Pine.

Searching by Appearance

• Tienshan spongeware tends to combine two old decorative techniques, sponging and stenciling, to create simple silhouettes of animals such as bears, rabbits, ducks and moose, along with hearts and gingerbread boys. Apple, pine cone and tree designs appear to involve some painting as well as sponging, although techniques remain simple. Colors are rustic: dark green, dark blue and muted red, often monotone on a creamy white ground. Wolf and moose woodland scenes use exclusively dark blue and white. Shapes are traditional, with rimmed plates, round bowls, and the pitchers, cream-and-sugar sets and covered butter dishes characteristic of old-fashioned American dinnerware.

Finding Tienshan Sponge Stoneware

• Pieces of Tienshan appear regularly on major china-pottery replacement websites. Look at collectible sites as well. Collectibles stores, flea markets and yard sales are all potential sites for this reasonably priced, whimsical ware originally collected and used by large numbers of American consumers.