Very Rare Two-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Cobalt Woman and Parasol Decoration, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, WV, circa 1860-1865, semi-ovoid jug with tooled spout, decorated with a brushed design of a woman with train and parasol, flanked by trees. The style of this Morgantown figural design is unusual in that the woman is not holding the parasol as is usually depicted. Instead, the parasol is shown open above her head. Her hand holds a stylized object, possibly a sash, a decorative touch found on many of Morgantown woman designs. The figure also includes overlain cobalt slip creating her apron, the buttons on her blouse, and collar. A leafy stem bearing three flower buds appears above. Impressed below the spout with a Morgantown two-gallon capacity mark. The rarity of this example is compounded by its form. Relatively few people-decorated jugs from Morgantown are known, the preference for figural motifs being cylindrical jars. This jug, as with other examples from Morgantown and Uniontown, is decorated on its side, indicating the decorator preferred the jug to be displayed in profile. Two in-the-firing spout chips, measuring 1 1/4" and 3/4". A 1 1/4" inverted U-shaped surface crack in spout, not visible on interior. Two in-the-firing contact marks to body. H 14".
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