Exceptional Twelve-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Applied Rose Motif and Elaborate Cobalt Floral Decoration, attributed to James or William "Leet" Hamilton, Greensboro, PA, circa 1865, large-sized, cylindrical jar with tooled banding to midsection, applied lug handles, and semi-rounded rim, decorated with a sprig-molded and applied design of a rose tied with bow, highlighted in cobalt slip. Applied design is flanked by freehand undulating tulip motifs in the early Hamilton style. Freehand stripe decoration below rim and at midsection. Further decorated below with a freehand "12" underscored by graduated dashes, flanked by stripes on each side. This jar is the first Western Pennsylvania stoneware jar that we have seen featuring molded and applied decoration. The style of the freehand decoration leads to a firm attribution to brothers, James or William "Leet" Hamilton, two of Western Pennsylvania's most influential potters. The subject matter of the applied decoration suggests this jar may have been made as a wedding gift. A 7" line horizontal line extending under one handle, not visible on interior. A Y-shaped line across underside, forming a T-shaped crack at base on reverse. A small in-the-firing bloated spot near base on reverse. A shallow 1 1/4" chip to interior of rim. H 21 1/4".
Special Note: Due to this object's large size, we are unable to ship it using our normal in-house shipping service. It must either be picked up by the high bidder, or special arrangements must be made by the high bidder for pick up and / or shipping by a third party. If you have any questions, please contact us; we are certainly able to recommend options for third party shippers ahead of time that you can contact for a quote.
