Exceedingly Rare and Important Four-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Freehand Bird and Stripe Decorations, Stenciled "R. PEET. / 21. diamond / PittsBURGH. Pa", attributed to Alexander Vance Boughner, Greensboro, PA, circa 1865, cylindrical jar with incised banding to midsection, tooled shoulder, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, profusely-decorated with horizontal, arched, and diagonal stripe decoration, interspersed with "R. PEET / 21. diamond / PittsBURGH. PA" advertising. Cobalt stripe decoration and stenciling is flanked on each side by a large freehand design of a flying bird with upswept tail. The style of the bird motifs melds wonderfully with the striped decoration on the jar's front, with each bird composed of numerous sure-handed, stripe-like strokes, highly reminiscent of the freehand stripes, vining, pointed tulip motifs one would find on Boughner. Each bird covers a significant portion of jar, measuring 13" around the curve of the vessel. This outstanding work survives as one of a small number of Greensboro stoneware pieces with freehand figural decoration known, potted by the city's most desirable maker. While the distinctive striping and "R. Peet" merchant advertising lead to a Boughner attribution, its four-gallon capacity mark can be matched to signed "A. & W. BOUGHNER" pieces of a slightly earlier period. The finest example of Boughner stoneware that we have ever offered, which transcends stoneware collecting as a work of Pennsylvania folk art. A shallow flake to each end of left handle. A large shallow flake to right handle. A minor chip to bottom edge of rim on reverse. H 14 1/4".
