Rare Alamance County, NC Small-Sized Redware Pitcher
October 26, 2019 Stoneware Auction
Lot #: 10
Lot #: 10
Exceedingly Rare and Important Miniature Redware Pitcher with Profuse Slip Decoration, attributed to the Loy and Albright Families, Alamance County, NC origin, late 18th or early 19th century, diminutive ovoid pitcher with footed base and flared collar, the exterior surface dipped in manganese slip and lavishly-decorated in kaolin slip with arch, stripe, and spot designs to the body, collar, and handle. Areas of the slip-trailing are brushed over in green (copper oxide) and yellowish-orange (possibly reduced iron-oxide or antimony) slip highlights, creating three colors to the decoration. The interior and exterior surface of the pitcher are covered in a clear lead glaze, the interior revealing the light-orange clay common to pieces of the region. The arch, stripe, and spot motifs are all distinctive Alamance County decorative motifs, designs found on late 18th century Loy and Albright pieces that continued to be used by Solomon Loy well into the 19th century. This piece's glaze treatment, utilizing lighter slip-trailing over a darker ground, suggests this work was most likely made by an early member of the Loy/Albright school, possibly as early as the late 18th century. Combining over-the-top decoration with a scarce form and an extremely rare size, this pitcher can easily be described as a miniature masterwork. It would be very difficult to find a more-heavily-decorated example of American redware. Among the most outstanding examples of North Carolina redware to come to auction in years. Provenance: Surfaced in Alamance County, NC. Old glaze flakes to body, A 5/8" chip to interior of right side of rim. Two small chips to left side of rim. Some expected rim, spout, and handle wear. H 3 7/8".
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