Extremely Rare "Old Cherry" Jug w/ Folky Horse Decoration, probably Brown Brothers, Huntington, Long Island
Fall 2020 Stoneware Auction
Lot #: 90
Outstanding Stoneware Jug with Brushed Cobalt Horse Decoration, Inscribed "old cherry," probably Brown Brothers, Huntington, Long Island, NY, third quarter 19th century, approximately one-and-a-half-gallon, squat-shaped jug with tapered spout, decorated with a naive, heavily-brushed design of a running horse. Inscribed below in cobalt, "old cherry," likely referring to a 19th century brandy variety of the same name. The squat-shaped form of the jug is rare, but documented, in Huntington stoneware. Huntington is a port town resting on five harbors, and pieces of this shape were likely made for use on ships, with their squat form making them less likely to tip over. While most Brown Brothers epigraph pieces feature inscriptions in all capital letters, this family did use lower-case lettering on redware plates and, occasionally, on stoneware. The similarity in penmanship to the word, "old," on this jug and the word, "cloud," in the Browns' well-known "Flying Cloud" slip-decorated redware plate is noteworthy. This detail, coupled with the form and provenance, indicate this jug is likely a Brown Brothers piece. Figural-decorated pieces from this pottery are exceedingly rare. Provenance: This jug includes an old piece of tape on underside, "MRS. E. JANE SMITH '76 / Brown Bros L.I." Very nice condition with two chips to top of spout and a minor nick to edge of spout. H 9 1/2" ; Diam. (at base) 8 5/8".
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