Exceptional Two-Gallon Stoneware Milkpan with Profuse Cobalt Floral Decoration, Stamped "SOLOMON BELL / STRASBURG / Va", circa 1855, tapered pan with tooled shoulder, pouring spout, semi-rounded rim, and heavily-ribbed, extruded handles; decorated on the front and reverse with a large brushed floral motif featuring a central blossom flanked by vines and large, solid-cobalt leaves, all applied over slip-washed clay. Brushed cobalt highlights to handle terminals. Impressed at the shoulder with Solomon Bell maker's mark above a two-gallon capacity mark. An unusual form for this maker in its own right, this large, decorative milkpan is the finest example we have seen by this important Shenandoah Valley maker. Its lavish cobalt brushwork is scarce for Bell during this period in his production, more-closely-related in style to earlier works he and his brother, Samuel, produced during their tenures in Winchester and shortly after the establishment of their Strasburg shop. While this example bears Bell's final and most well-known maker's mark, used circa 1850-1880, the milkpan's craftsmanship strongly suggests it was made not long after the inception of that stamp, circa 1855. A shallow 2" flake to one handle. Two chips and a minor nick to interior of rim. A surface line to interior, not visible on exterior. H 7 1/2" ; Diameter 11 3/4".
