Outstanding Five-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Cobalt Woman and Crane Motifs, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, WV, circa 1865, cylindrical jar with semi-rounded rim, tooling to midsection and shoulder, and extruded lug handles; decorated with a brushed design of woman with dress and apron, holding a sash, standing between two trees. Decorated below with a brushed design of a crane with turned head, perched on branch between two willow trees. The Thompsons propensity for using sponged decoration, rare among other 19th century American stoneware potters, is evidenced in the foliage of the trees. The leaves and branches of the trees flanking the woman appear to be created by impressing a small, cobalt-dipped piece of cut sponge in repetition. The branches and leaves of the willow trees flanking the crane also appear to be formed from impressing a thin, rectangular piece of sponge in a pyramidal fashion. The shoulder is stamped with the Thompson Pottery's distinctive five-gallon capacity mark with dotted oval borders. A large brushed "5." appears to the right of the maker's mark. This jar is noteworthy for combining two of Morgantown's most iconic motifs, the woman and the crane, on the same piece. It is the only piece decorated in this manner that we are aware of. Among the finest examples of regional people-decorated stoneware that we have ever offered. Literature: For related works, see Duez and Horvath with Hornsby Heindl, "The Stoneware Years of the Thompson Potters of Morgantown West Virginia, 1854-1890," Ceramics in America 2011. Provenance: Crocker Farm Auction, July 17, 2004, lot 237; Clark Garrett Collection. A 1 1/2" chip to one handle. Minor wear to end of opposite handle. A large, faint X-shaped line to right side of jar at shoulder. A 1" base chip, probably in-the-firing. A shallow 3/4" base chip. A tiny chip to interior of rim. Some light surface wear. A few minor in-the-firing contact marks. H 16".
