Rare Four-Gallon Stoneware Crock with Elaborate Cobalt Deer Decoration, Stamped "WHITES UTICA," New York State origin, circa 1860, cylindrical crock with tooled shoulder, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with a large slip-trailed design of a deer with turned head and spotted body, standing between a pine tree and tree stump. Heavy stylized ground cover below. This design's striking similarity to decorations found on J. & E. Norton stoneware of Bennington, VT, indicate it was likely created by the well-known German-born stoneware decorator, John Hilfinger (1826-1888). Significant restoration to exfoliation around body of jar. Most of the cobalt decoration has been left untouched. Painted touch-up to the cobalt is visible at the antlers, tip of stump, sections of the deer's front legs, and some of the shrub tips and ground. Both handles restored.
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