Important and Extremely Rare Half-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Large Incised Decoration of a Bird Holding a Flower, Incised "March 17th 1808," Manhattan, NY or South Amboy, NJ origin, 1808, finely-potted, thin-walled jug of ovoid form, accented with two bands of sine wave incising at the shoulder, the neck with heavily-tooled bands and semi-squared mouth. Front decorated with a large deftly-incised design of a long-tailed bird holding a three-petaled flower in its mouth. Folky aspects to the bird decoration include an oversized eye, heavily-scalloped wing details, and opposing leaves below the figure's feet. Incised and cobalt-highlighted to the left and right of the decoration "March 17th 1808," the date of St. Patrick's Day. Likely made as a personal drinking vessel for St. Patrick's Day, this fresh-to-the-market jug shares similarities in form to both Manhattan, NY and South Amboy, NJ, stoneware, although the design more closely resembles a number of rare incised pheasant jugs commonly attributed to the Remmey or Crolius families of Manhattan. One of the earliest dated examples of American bird decoration known. A vertical line extending through the bird's tail appears to be an in-the-firing flaw, as is a glazed-over dent below the end of the bird's tail. Otherwise excellent condition. H 9 1/2".
