In the crystal and glass world a compote is usually referred to as a serving dish that was made to serve the culinary dish called compote. This culinary dish originates before the 18th century in France and it basically consist of a mixture of fruits with sugar syrup combined with items like nuts, cinnamon sticks, cloves and other items of the sort.
Compote Dishes are usually found made of glass but can be made of porcelain and metal as well. Compotes usually have a build that features a footed base with a stem that leads up to a bowl.
The compote isn’t an overly popular food choice in America today, so what makes it’s serving dish counterpart so collectible? For many, many decades, high end and collectible glass companies have made their variations of compotes in many, many different patterns. Companies like Fenton, Indiana Glass, Westmoreland Glass, Anchor Hocking, Smith Glass, Colony and many more have put their gorgeous spin on compotes, which has turned them into more of a display piece and collectible than a serving dish.
There are many variations of this serving dish that include different sizes and shapes of the bowl, different sizes and styles of the stem and base as well as the decorative patterns used to make them so gorgeous. The bowls range in size from large and shallow to small and deep. The bowls can be scalloped, crimped or ruffled. The footed base can often be found scalloped as well. The stems can be short and stubby or feature long dainty stems. The outsides of compotes are often decorated with etched, cut or painted motif’s and patterns. These pieces can also feature lids or be open.
Where can I find Compotes? TGL Direct is an excellent source of vintage and antique compotes but you can also keep your eyes open at garage sales, auctions and flea markets.
Although Compotes aren’t used for their original purpose as much as they used to be, they still have a highly sought after design that can make the perfect accent to your home décor. They are also quite fun to collect as there are so many styles from so many makers that it could easily become a lifetime hobby. Whatever the reason you choose to obtain them, these pieces can be quite the thrill to find.
