Rare Five-Gallon Stoneware Crock with Cobalt Deer and House Scene, Stamped "J. & E. NORTON / BENNINGTON VT," circa 1855, cylindrical crock with tooled shoulder, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with a slip-trailed design of a stag with turned head and spotted body, reclining atop a hill with fence in the foreground, facing a three story house and pine tree. This work is impressive in the size of the crock and its design, which has excellent coverage over the piece's front. The size of the deer itself is imposing, measuring roughly 6 1/2" long by 6 1/2" tall. A fine example of a classic Norton decoration, incorporating two of this factory's most distinctive motifs. Two shallow chips to interior of rim, one of which occurred prior to firing and is covered in Albany slip. Some blurriness to base of decoration. Large spots of staining, primarily on reverse. A 4 1/2" inverted Y-shaped crack on reverse at base, forming a large, but very thin, spider crack on underside. A 4" in-the-firing surface crack on underside, not visible on interior, extending 2 1/2" onto base on reverse. A minor, 1 1/8" in-the-firing Y-shaped surface line to right side of crock, not visible on interior. A few chips to interior of rim, the largest an in-the-making chip measuring 7/8", which is covered in Albany slip glaze. A small chip to one handle. H 12 3/4" ; Diam. (across top) 13".
