Extremely Rare Uniontown, PA Stoneware Fish Jar

July 19, 2014 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 265

Price Realized: $2,300.00

($2,000 hammer, plus 15% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 10 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.

July 19, 2014 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare Four-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Large Cobalt Fish Decoration, Uniontown, PA origin, third quarter 19th century, ovoid jar with tooled midsecton, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with a large folky design of a fish with incised eye, gill, and mouth, between two sponged cobalt bands. Impressive size to design, measuring approximately 9 3/4" long. Cobalt highlights to handle terminals. Reverse with impressed four-gallon capacity mark. This iconic design is commonly associated with the Thompson Pottery of Morgantown, WV. However, the jar's handles and four-gallon capacity mark, which are atypical of Morgantown stoneware, suggest this jar was made in Uniontown, PA, where the Thompsons' decorations were also employed. The rarity of the fish designs from this region is far greater than that of the highly-prized people and bird motifs found on Morgantown and Uniontown stoneware. To our knowledge, July's sale will be the first time a Morgantown school fish has been offered at auction since this jar sold at the important Clark and Mary Garrett auction in 2002. Provenance: Ex-Clark & Mary Garrett Collection. Approximately 6 1/2" thin crack from rim on right side of jar's front. Approximately 8" crack from rim on left side of jar's reverse side. Approximately 10" crack from rim on reverse. Faint approximately 8" horizontal hairline on right side of jar. Four filled chips on interior of rim. Jar is out-of-round. In-the-firing shallow chip / contact mark to right handle. Minor wear to opposite handle.