Rare Anna Pottery "Little Brown Jug / 8 to 7"

March 23, 2019 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 41

Price Realized: $501.50

($425 hammer, plus 18% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 5 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.

March 23, 2019 Auction Catalog

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Scarce Anna Pottery "8 to 7" Little Brown Jug, Signed "Anna, Ill", Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Anna, IL, circa 1877, ovoid jug with tooled spout, featuring the incised inscription, "Little Brown Jug / 8 to 7", on the jug's front. Underside incised, "Anna, Ill". The term "8 to 7" is described by Richard Mohr in his book, Pottery, Politics, Art: George Ohr and the Brothers Kirkpatrick, as a reference to "the presidential election of 1876 in which the Republican candidate, Rutherford B. Hayes (1822-1893), won through unusual means and in part by backsliding from Republican principles. The background in brief: The Democratic candidate, Samuel Tilden, governor of New York, won the popular vote by about a 250,000-ballot margin [an outcome aggressively challenged by supporters of his opponent] ... . To settle the dispute, Congress, with Tilden's blessing set up a high joint commission, which had fifteen members--five from the Senate, five from the House, and five from the Supreme Court ... . So when the high joint commission set to work, the Republicans held a one-seat majority on it. ... Hayes won by a vote of eight to seven, a vote which became a slogan of the times: 'eight villains to seven patriots.' ... The point of the Kirkpatrick presidential election jugs then is fairly clear. They are a general indictment of political chicanery.". The slogan "8 to 7" is also seen on the three highly-important snake jugs produced by the Kirkpatricks, including one (lot 66) sold in Crocker Farm, Inc.'s November 3, 2018 auction. A professionally-restored 7/8" x 3/8" spout chip and restoration to other minor spout chips. H 5".