Rare Cobalt-Decorated Stoneware Jar with Impressed Designs, Stamped "LIBERTY . FOR.EV / WARNE & LETTs 1807 / S . AMBOY . N . JERSY", Thomas Warne and Joshua Letts, South Amboy, New Jersey, 1807, semi-ovoid jar with footed base, heavily-tooled shoulder and narrow mouth, decorated with two impressed and cobalt-highlighted drape motifs below the impressed maker's mark, "WARNE & LETTs 1807 / S . AMBOY . N . JERSY". Further decorated above with an impressed and cobalt-highlighted image of a pointing hand, followed by the words "LIBERTY. FOR.EV", all within a sawtoothed border. Among the most distinctive and desirable early NJ maker's marks. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, from a long-term NJ collection. Restoration to a 1/2" hole drilled in underside. A tight vertical crack extending from base to shoulder area on front. A tight network of lines to left side of jar at base, extending several inches up body of jar. A small U-shaped line to base on front. A few typical, minor in-the-firing iron pings to surface. Shallow chipping to base. Two small rim chips and a tiny rim nick.
