Exceedingly Rare Two-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Incised Heart and Foliate Decorations, Stamped "MADE BY XERXES PRICE AT S. AMBOY," South Amboy, New Jersey origin, circa 1805, ovoid jar with footed base, heavily-tooled shoulder, flared collar, and open loop handles. Front decorated with an incised design of a heart with stylized, scalloped foliate decoration extending to the left and right. Impressed below the exceedingly rare maker's mark of Roundabout (now Sayreville), New Jersey potter, Xerxes Price, the words interspersed with impressed geometric motifs. Reverse with incised stylized foliate decoration. Cobalt highlights throughout incised decoration, maker's mark, and handle terminals. This outstanding jar is one of a few known examples bearing the mark of renowned New Jersey potter, Xerxes Price. Price is perhaps most well known for a body of work bearing impressed decorative medallions, including a sun face, a fish, and floral motifs. One or a few important pieces bearing Price's maker's mark along with one of these distinctive designs has led to such attributions. This jar, exceedingly rare with the signature alone, is made all the more significant with its use of freehand incised decoration. In our research, we can find no other examples of a signed or attributed Xerxes Price jar with freehand incised decoration. This example may serve as a basis for further attribution. The elegant motif on the front, as well as the form of the jar itself, can be related to the Manhattan, NY style of the time period. The use of a central heart adds greatly to the jar's decorative appeal. This recently-discovered example is believed to be the first piece of signed Xerxes Price stoneware to come to auction in at least fifteen years. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, recently found in the Western U.S. Very nice condition. Some tight in-the-firing surface lines, which are partially glazed-over and do not appear to be visible on the interior. A 1 1/2" chip to underside at edge and other shallow chipping to base. H 11".
