Extremely Rare att. Miller Pottery, Strasburg, VA, circa 1835 Stoneware Water Cooler

July 21, 2018 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 97

Price Realized: $885.00

($750 hammer, plus 18% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 6 years old, and the American ceramics market frequently changes. Additionally, small nuances of color, condition, shape, etc. can mean huge differences in price. If you're interested in having us sell a similar item for you, please contact us here.

July 21, 2018 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare Three-Gallon Stoneware Water Cooler with Bold Cobalt Floral Decoration, attributed to the Miller Pottery, Strasburg, VA, circa 1835, ovoid form with stepped base, tooled collar, distinctive lug handles, and small, circular bung hole at base, decorated on the front and reverse with a lavishly-brushed floral design featuring a curved stem bearing large leaves and a circular, open-centered blossom. Cobalt slip additionally covers the tops of the handles and surrounds the bunghole. This elegantly-potted work survives as one of a small number of coolers known from this time period in Shenandoah Valley stoneware production. Two other coolers attributed to the Miller Pottery, one bearing the inscription, "Strasburg / 1833", and another bearing a poem, are illustrated on page 293, figures 5.258 and 5.259, of H.E. Comstock's The Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley Region. The poem cooler illustrated in Comstock exhibits base molding and pocket-like lug handles closely related to those found on the example offered in this auction. The scarcity of the form of this piece is coupled with outstanding and artistic decoration and exceptionally vivid color to the cobalt and clay, rarely observed on stoneware produced in this region. Base broken and reglued, including glued cracks around base and two sealed cracks extending several inches up base. Otherwise excellent condition with two small chips to one handle, a shallow chip to opposite handle, and a minor nick to shoulder molding. H 12 3/4".