Exceedingly Rare and Important Five-Gallon Stoneware Cream Jar with Cobalt Decoration of a Man's Bust Flanked by a Wreath, Stamped "M. & T. MILLER / NEWPORT, PA," circa 1870, ovoid jar with tooled shoulder, flattened rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with a highly unusual design of a well-dressed gentleman with mustache, cravat, lapeled coat, and buttoned shirt, surrounded by a heavily-brushed wreath. Brushed cobalt highlights to handle terminals, maker's mark, and capacity mark. Pieces bearing this iconic figural motif are among the finest products of the Newport, Pennsylvania pottery of Michael and Theophilus Miller. It has been suggested that the distinctive man with mustache and goatee (found on a few select examples of Miller stoneware) may represent one or both of the brothers. This jar exemplifies the exuberance of Miller brushed decoration in the full-bodied wreath, as well as the pottery's artistic abilities with the well-executed figural design. Coupled with this jar's iconic Miller motif is an unusually-large, five-gallon size to the vessel. To our knowledge, this jar is the finest example of Newport, PA stoneware to come to auction since a signed birdhouse was sold through our firm in 2006. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, purchased by the consignor approximately twenty years ago. 4 1/2" crack on underside, extending 4" up side of jar. A 5 3/4" crack from rim on reverse. A minor 1 3/4" crack from rim on right side of jar's front. Some fry to cobalt. A 7/8" in-the-firing rim chip and other lesser rim chips. A small chip to one handle and minor wear to opposite handle. H 13 1/2". ($8000-$12,000)
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