Everyone Had It In The 60s — Now It's A Rare Bowl Worth Hunting For At Thrift Stores

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Finding creative ways to bring midcentury modern design into your kitchen can be as simple as snatching the right dishware from the local secondhand shop. Cathrineholm lotus bowls, a popular dishware design in the 1960s, are now highly collectable. If you are not lucky enough to have them passed down from a family member, seek out your local thrift stores for these elusive enamel bowls. A truly retro style of kitchenware, Catherineholm lotus bowls come in vibrant, bold colors featuring clean, stylish edges. 

The name Cathrineholm refers to a Norwegian factory that made enamelware from 1907 until it closed in 1972. The iconic lotus design, produced between 1962 and 1965, was a major component of this Scandinavian brand's success in the '60s and beyond. The fact that this factory only created enamel pieces with the lotus design for a few short years is a reason why Cathrineholm lotus bowls are vintage kitchen dishware items you should always look for at thrift stores. Depending on the type of item and condition, Cathrineholm bowls with the lotus design are selling from $68 to $249 on sites like Etsy and eBay. 

There are several things to look out for to identify these retro '60s bowls in a secondhand store. Perhaps most obviously, the key feature to keep an eye out for when it comes to lotus bowls is the lotus leaf motif. This lotus shape used on Cathrineholm enamelware features a wide top with a narrow bottom, similar to the shape of a flower petal. Unfortunately, the absence of a logo does not mean you haven't found an authentic Cathrineholm piece. Some dishes do not feature a stamped logo on the bottom, so you will need to inspect other details.

Catherineholm produced everything from plates to cookware to teapots in the lotus pattern. When hunting for the bowls, keep in mind that they originally came in six different sizes, ranging from 3 inches to 11 inches in diameter. Color combinations mainly consisted of a bold color paired with white, either white lotus leaves or colored lotus leaves. However, Cathrineholm also produced enamelware with a turquoise blue and sky blue color combination, plus a lime green and lemon yellow pair. But the main pairing seems to be the white lotus pattern with a bold color base. These colors include bright orange, red, sky blue, pink, and more.  

If you are lucky enough to hunt down a lotus bowl, you should treat it with care. You'll want to reach for denture tablets when cleaning enamel dishes like Cathrineholm lotus bowls. While these vintage pieces are often used and enjoyed, it's best to be gentle to avoid scratches.