Outstanding Eight-Gallon Open-Handled Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Cobalt Floral Decoration, Stamped "J. HAMILTON / BEAVER", PA origin, circa 1845, large-sized, semi-ovoid jar with elaborate tooled banding, tapered rim molding, and ribbed vertical handle, decorated with a large sweeping tulip vine design over slip-washed clay. Cobalt highlights to lower handle terminals. Exceptional size, strong decoration, and highly unusual open-handled form. Made at the pottery of James Hamilton, one of Western Pennsylvania's most famous potters, before the establishment of his long-standing Greensboro operation. The decoration on this jar can be found on a number of signed examples of stoneware produced by James and his brother, William "Leet" Hamilton, during their early years in Greensboro. A 13 1/8" thin crack on reverse, extending onto underside. An 8 3/4" vertical surface line on reverse, not visible on interior. Shallow chipping to base and a 1" glazed-over, in-the-firing base chip. A small rim chip. H 22 1/8".