Rare and Historically Significant Redware Birdhouse, Signed and Dated, "Anthony W. Bacher / 1882," squat, cylindrical form with shoulder incising, carved hole in side, and drain holes on underside. Surface glazed with streaks of manganese over cream-colored slip. Clear lead overglaze. Bacher signature and date incised in underside. Alvin H. Rice mentions this exact piece in The Shenandoah Pottery when retelling the story of his meeting with J.P. Bacher, Anthony's son, who still resided at the Bacher homestead. Stoudt writes, "Two deer, a bear, two picture frames, and a birdhouse, were purchased [from J.P. Bacher]. The latter is marked, incised, on the bottom ANTHONY W. BACHER, 1882." (Rice and Stoudt, pp. 87-8). The birdhouse is also pictured on pages 82 and 83 of the same book, visibly damaged even at that time. An important piece of Bacher redware with a rare family provenance. Replaced bird and finial. Wear to base and areas of glaze loss, particularly on top of birdhouse. H (excluding bird and finial) 4 3/8" ; Diameter 5".
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