Important Three-Gallon P. CROSS / HARTFORD Incised Stoneware Churn, c1806-08

March 14, 2015 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 70

Price Realized: $1,265.00

($1,100 hammer, plus 15% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 9 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.

March 14, 2015 Auction Catalog

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Very Rare and Important Three-Gallon Stoneware Churn with Incised Decoration, Stamped "P. CROSS / HARTFORD," Connecticut origin, circa 1806-1808, tapered cylindrical form with tooled shoulder, flaring collar, and large semi-open handles; decorated on the front with an incised and cobalt-highlighted flower blossom below the name "P. CROSS", and on the reverse with an incised Manhattan-style foliate design with cobalt highlights, below the city of origin "HARTFORD". Additional cobalt highlights to handle terminals. Signed examples of Peter Cross stoneware rarely cross the auction block. Examples of this quality, which incorporate an impressive form with double-sided incised decoration, are considered highly unusual. Recent period newspaper research by Brandt Zipp indicates that Peter Cross likely operated his pottery establishment for approximately two years, between 1806 and 1808, after which the operation was sold to the firm of Goodwin & Webster. Provenance: Found decades ago in the northeastern U.S. Scattered exfoliation throughout. An inverted Y-shaped crack extending from rim on right side of front, with part of crack extending to the left to edge of incising, and another part of crack extending through handle and onto shoulder on side of churn. Two tight cracks from rim on reverse, measuring 4 1/2" and 3". Some in-the-firing surface lines throughout, including a 3 1/2" Y-shaped surface line under one handle, which are not visible on underside. A few large base chips.