Extremely Rare W. H. FARRAR, Geddes, NY Rockingham Seated Spaniels

October 25, 2014 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 198

Price Realized: $1,380.00

($1,200 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.

October 25, 2014 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare Matched Pair of Rockingham-Glazed Spaniels, Stamped "W.H. FARRAR," Geddes, NY origin, circa 1860, finely-molded, opposing figures in the form of a seated Cavalier King Charles spaniel with collar, chain, and locket, the surface of each covered in a streaked reddish-brown glaze over a cream-colored clay ground. Both impressed on underside "W.H. FARRAR," the signature of potter, William H. Farrar, of Geddes, NY, perhaps best-known for his salt-glazed stoneware with elaborate cobalt bird and floral motifs. The separate front leg on each spaniel, with nicely-delineated hair where the leg meets the body, creates a wonderful life-like appearance to the figures. Both dogs also include hand-incised details to the centers of the chain links on the figures' backs, which were presumably obscured during the molding process. Small original vent holes appear on the underside and back of the figures. A striking duo, and one of only two pairs of Farrar spaniels we are aware of, the other being in the Weitsman Stoneware Collection at the New York State Museum in Albany, NY. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market pair, purchased by the consignor approximately twenty or thirty years ago. Both in excellent condition with some in-the-firing contact glaze residue on reverse base area. One spaniel with minor wear to tail tip and one foot. Other spaniel with small, shallow chip to edge on underside, possibly in-the-firing. H 9 5/8".