Exceptional Two-Gallon Stoneware Pitcher with Profuse Cobalt Floral Decoration, Stamped "H.C. SMITH / ALEXA / D.C.", circa 1840, finely-potted, ovoid pitcher with flared base, tooled body, and narrow collar with tooled rim, lavishly- decorated around the midsection with a stem bearing eight flowers, interspersed with series of graduated leaves. The decorator used this graceful, large-sized pitcher form as an opportunity to showcase his artistic skill with different floral motifs employed at the Wilkes Street Pottery. These varying designs extend in pairs from the left side of the pitcher in the form of ornate Germanic tulips, then fan-shaped blossoms in the "H. Myers / Baltimore" style, followed by bluebells, and finally a simpler, closed tulip motif. The collar is heavily-decorated with large, drape-form swags with hanging tulips. A band of cobalt surrounds the base of the collar and heavy cobalt brushwork surrounds the handle terminals. Impressed below the spout with a two-gallon capacity mark and the stamp of Wilkes Street Pottery owner, Hugh Charles Smith (1804-1854). Desirable from a number of collecting standpoints, including maker, form, decoration, color, and size, this pitcher is regarded as one of the finest examples of Smith family stoneware from Alexandria that we have ever offered. Provenance: From a Virginia estate. A long, sealed curving crack, which descends from rim on pitcher's right side and extends across pitcher's front. Two base chips. A 3 3/8" base flake to underside along edge. A 1" x 5/8" base chip. A shallow 5/8" base flake. H 13".
