Outstanding Eight-Gallon Southwestern PA Stoneware Churn w/ Elaborate Decoration

Spring 2020 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 120

Price Realized: $780.00

($650 hammer, plus 20% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 4 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.

Spring 2020 Auction Catalog

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Outstanding Eight-Gallon Stoneware Churn with Elaborate Freehand Cobalt Decoration, Western PA origin, circa 1865, large-sized, cylindrical churn with incised banding, tooled shoulder, flared collar, and applied lug handles, decorated with a sweeping flowering vine design above a Roman numeral, "VII," flanked by vertical wavy stripes. This central design is additionally girded by wavy vine motifs. Freehand straight and wavy stripe decoration to shoulder and a large wavy vine motif at the base. Cobalt highlights to handle terminals. An appealing antique "make-do" repair composed of silver staples to a crack from rim on front and reverse. Exceptional size with classic Western Pennsylvania brushwork. The churn's oversized eight-gallon capacity indicates it was likely a specially-made piece. The fact that the piece was kept in use with a tedious and costly silver staple restoration indicates its importance to the family that once used it. A tightly-sealed 12" crack from rim on front, which is reinforced with silver staples. A 12 1/8" inverted T-shaped crack on reverse that is tightly-sealed and reinforced with silver staples. A tight 2 1/2" crack from rim on reverse. A 1 1/2" hairline above right handle. A 1 1/2" salt drip to left side of churn. Some salt drips to underside. H 22 1/2".