Exceptional One-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Bird-and-Floral Decoration, Stamped "HARRISBURG PA.," John Young, Harrisburg, PA, circa 1856-1858, cylindrical form with tooled shoulder, flared collar, and applied lug handles, decorated with a slip-trailed design of a bird perched on the stem of a flowering daisy plant. Slip-trailed spotted and circular details to blossom and cobalt accents to the edges and interiors of leaves. Bird features a highly-unusual brushed-cobalt body with undecorated areas delineating the wing and eye. The tail is depicted in a style distinctive to Young, resembling a leaf. Cobalt highlights to maker's mark and handle terminals. Excellent use of both slip-trailed and brushed elements to the design, a characteristic of Young's work, indicative of his New York training, but rarely seen in the output of other Harrisburg potters. The composition of this jar's design is unusual in its depiction of both a bird and flowering plant on the same piece. Any figural decorations by Young are considered rare, with this example boldly presenting its bird in solid cobalt, an uncommon depiction in the Harrisburg stoneware tradition. Coupled with the rarity of this jar's decoration and maker is a desirable one-gallon capacity to the vessel, a size that is typically difficult to find with figural decoration. A thin 5" crack on underside, extending 3 1/8" up side of jar. A 1 1/2" line above one handle, mostly in-the-surface only, a small portion of which is visible on the interior. A minor 5/8" surface line to rim on front, not visible on interior. A minor chip to right handle. A minor rim chip on reverse. Wear to inner rim for lid. In-the-firing mottling to surface. Provenance: Ex-Chris Machmer. H 10".
