Outstanding Cowden & Wilcox Stoneware Batter Pail with Ornate Slip-Trailed Bird Decoration

March 2, 2013 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 79

Price Realized: $13,800.00

($12,000 hammer, plus 15% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 11 years old, and the American ceramics market frequently changes. Additionally, small nuances of color, condition, shape, etc. can mean huge differences in price. If you're interested in having us sell a similar item for you, please contact us here.

Auction Highlight: March 2, 2013 Auction | Central PA Stoneware

March 2, 2013 Auction Catalog

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Exceedingly Rare and Important Stoneware Batter Pail with Cobalt Double Bird and Foliate Decorations, Stamped "COWDEN & WILCOX / HARRISBURG, PA," circa 1865, ovoid pail with tubular pouring spout, applied clay handle at base, and applied wire handle at shoulder. Front decorated with an extremely rare slip-trailed design of two crested birds with heavily-detailed bodies, standing atop a stylized ground. Decoration includes exceptionally-fine feather detail. Area between birds decorated with an intricate slip-trailed vine and base of spout accented with wreath-like brushwork. Reverse decorated with a finely-detailed leaf with heavily-shaded edge. Additional brushed cobalt highlights to handles. Slip-trailed stoneware by Cowden & Wilcox is considered quite rare, and the vast majority of bird designs created by this firm were applied by brush. Moreover, this batter pail is the first example of the form we have offered to feature slip-trailed decoration. The fact that this batter pail features two birds using this decorative technique is truly remarkable. One of the finest Cowden & Wilcox batter pails known. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, purchased approximately thirty-five years ago. Chip to tip of spout. Smaller chip to interior of spout. 1 1/2" Y-shaped wrinkle in clay on exterior of spout, which occurred during the firing and does not extend through to interior. 1 1/8" inverted U-shaped line in rim. Chip to exterior of rim. Area of wear on interior of rim. H 8 1/4".