Exceedingly Rare and Important Stoneware Pouring Vessel with Impressed Decoration, Manhattan, NY origin, possibly Clarkson Crolius, Sr., fourth quarter 18th century, ovoid, approximately three-quart vessel with footed base, tooled shoulder, and ribbed handle, the front with wheel-thrown and applied tubular pouring spout. Decorated along the shoulder with an impressed and cobalt-highlighted drape design. This motif is different on both sides; one side is decorated with a coggle wheel in an arched, semi-circular pattern, while the other side incorporates a second motif in the form of a stamped triple-lobed drape, which descends from a row of coggled, semi-circular drapes. The base of the spout includes six impressed, triple-lobed drapes as well as a scalloped cobalt line encompassing its juncture with the body of the pot. The handle terminals feature brushed cobalt highlights, which include a brushed spot at the depression in the lower terminal, as well as unusual cobalt spots flanking the base of the handle, most likely a devolved variant on the early "watchspring" motifs. This outstanding example survives as one of a small number of extant American stoneware objects produced in this form. While the exact purpose of these spouted vessels is currently unknown, possible identities for the form include a teapot, oil jar, batter pitcher, or wet drug jar. This example's color and distinctive coggled and impressed drape designs indicates it was made in Manhattan, New York. A number of Manhattan stoneware jars bearing daisy blossoms created with a similar coggle wheel are known. In addition, similar, less-elaborate drape designs, which were executed with a compass, can be found on pieces bearing the maker's mark of Corlears Hook potter, Thomas Commeraw. A highly important, double-handled pouring vessel, which bears the inscription "New York Feb. 17 1798 / Flowered by Mr. Clarkson Crolius", bears impressed circular designs around the spout. This ornamentation includes a distinctive triangular cluster of impressed circles around the base of the spout, reminiscent of the triangular formation of drapes at the base of the spout on the pot to be auctioned. The pot offered in our October 17 auction is the first of its form and decoration we have seen. It is only the second example of the form we have ever offered, the first being a South Amboy, NJ example, sold as lot #9 in our October 25, 2014 auction. Excellent condition for examples of this age and origin. Shallow chipping around underside at edge of pot, presumably in-the-firing. A small glazed-over base chip. A shallow chip to side of spout and two additional minor nicks to side of spout. A small chip to exterior of rim and minor nick to interior of rim. H (to top of spout) 7 3/8" ; Diameter (across rim of pot) 4 5/8".
