This Porsgrund traditional Ale Bowl sold for $6200 in March 2010. This bowl was produced sometime between 1911-1937 in the traditional Wedding Bowl style as it would have been done in the Old Country ca. 1784. The center of the inside depicts Norway’s coat of arms: a golden lion holding an axe or halberd.

There is a toast encircling the rim’s exterior. It is all written in Norwegian, but the translation (roughly) is: “Taste what I have inside, Drink it all, to the last drop. Then see if you the door can find when out of the house you go.” The inside of the rim is totally covered with depictions of the wedding party in various stages of falling off their horses or holding by the tail, in one case.
The bowl is 11 1/2″ (29cm) in diameter and stands 5 1/2″ (14cm) high. The exterior of the bowl has a rich brick-red color beneath all the Norwegian script printed in black on a cream background.

Johan Jeremiassen established PORSGRUNDS Porselaensfabrik AS in 1885. The factory took two years to build, and on February 10th 1887, the first firing operation took place. This well-known factory is idyllically located on the west bank of the Porsgrunn River and looks the same today as it did over 100 years ago. PORSGRUND is Norway’s only producer of feldspar porcelain. The factory has enjoyed continuous production since 1887 and in fact still uses the same original “recipes” for all of its products, using a wide assortment of porcelain products ranging from fireproof goods destined for professional kitchens, to exquisite, fine porcelain for the home. PORSGRUND is the main producer of porcelain flatware and products for the Royal family, and has been so for three generations.