Outstanding Two-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Profuse Cobalt Watchspring Decoration, attributed to the Kemple Pottery, Ringoes, NJ, probably mid 18th century, ovoid jar with footed base, tooled shoulder, and ribbed vertical handles, decorated on the front and reverse with a large slip-trailed watchspring motif. Further decorated at the lower handle terminals with large watchspring designs. Additional brushed cobalt highlights to handle terminals and a cobalt stripe to tooled banding below rim and at base. An unusual area of green and red hues under one handle suggests this jar may have contained copper in its clay, or was possibly exposed to copper during the firing, which experienced oxidation, creating the green coloration, and reduction, creating the red coloration. A striking example of 18th century American stoneware, surviving in exemplary condition. The jar's cobalt banding and inclusion of spokes emanating from the watchspring designs both lead to a strong attribution to the Kemple Pottery of Ringoes, New Jersey, a site from which few intact pieces have survived. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, purchased by the consignor decades ago. Excellent overall condition, particularly for a piece of this age and origin. A 2" in-the-firing separation line to interior of rim, not visible on exterior. A shallow 1" in-the-firing chip to exterior of rim. A 1 1/2" in-the-firing surface line on underside, which continues a short distance onto base, where it forms a faint T. This line is not visible on the interior of the jar. Two in-the-firing contact marks to surface, typical of pieces of this age and origin. H 12".
