Pair of sculptural ceramic bowls by Jan d’Esopo - Each piece is hand-signed in the clay by the artist

Originating from Old San Juan, Puerto Rico (Gallery Inn)

These are highly distinctive, hand-built ceramic pieces featuring multiple human faces sculpted around the exterior, creating a striking and expressive 360° design. Each bowl has a deep interior and can function as a decorative vessel, candle holder, or stand-alone sculpture.

The style is consistent with Jan d’Esopo’s known figurative and expressive pottery work from her time at the Gallery Inn in San Juan.

  • The underside of both pieces includes a handwritten inscription, most likely written by the purchaser at the time:
    • “The Gallery Inn, Old San Juan PR”
    • “Christmas 2002”
    • “Artist owns Inn"
    • "Jan D’Esopo”
  • Diameter: ~7 inches each
  • Height: ~3–4 inches
    • Good vintage condition
    • No major cracks observed
    • Typical surface wear and variations from hand-crafted pottery
    • Some age-related wear and glaze variation consistent with use and handling

    (Please review all photos closely for condition details.)

  • Hand-sculpted faces around each piece
  • Thick, substantial clay pottery construction
  • Unique, one-of-a-kind artistic appearance
  • Matching pair (great for display)

  • These are artistic studio pottery pieces, not mass-produced items
  • Originally sold through the Gallery Inn in Old San Juan, PR
  • Rare to find as a matching pair.

  • Fast shipping from a smoke-free home.
  • PZ

  • About the artist:

  • Lured by the Caribbean's brilliant color, exquisite light and D’Esopo family ties to the island, Jan D’Esopo moved to Puerto Rico in 1961. This was an adventurous encounter with a new culture, a warm people, and an overwhelming richness of subject matter. Soon her unique watercolor style became well known throughout the Caribbean and the US, as she became popular with collectors. By 1985 she was honored with a major retrospective at the Bronx Museum of the Arts. More than 90 paintings were gathered from prestigious collections around the world to mount the first traditional style watercolor painting show depicting Puerto Rico.

  • D’Esopo has founded two galleries in San Juan, one primarily to promote young artists. She taught watercolor for eight years at the Art Students League in San Juan. With her sister Teresa D’Esopo Spinner, well known portrait painter, she has organized a multitude of workshops with leading international artists at her San Juan Gallery. Numerous articles have been written about Jan, her Gallery/Inn and her works appearing in magazines and newspapers such as The New York Times, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Chicago Daily, and many more. This artist has also been the subject of feature articles in Colonial Homes, Country Inns, Travel & Leisure and The American Way Magazine, to mention only the most recent.

  • With her husband Manuco, she mounted the only bronze foundry dedicated to figurative work in Puerto Rico. Her portrait and monumental bronzes may be viewed at the Puerto Rico Capital building, Plaza San Justo in Old San Juan and in public areas at schools, hospitals and corporations both here and in the US.