Extremely Rare Stoneware Match Safe attrib. Texarkana Pottery

Summer 2022 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 65

Price Realized: $1,560.00

($1,300 hammer, plus 20% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 2 years old, and the American ceramics market frequently changes. Additionally, small nuances of color, condition, shape, etc. can mean huge differences in price. If you're interested in having us sell a similar item for you, please contact us here.

Summer 2022 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare Anna Pottery School Stoneware Match Safe with African-American Figure, attributed to Jacob Bachley, Texarkana Pottery, Texarkana, AR, circa 1880, molded form with relief leaf decoration around base, depicting a singing African-American minstrel with hat and banjo, leaning against a tapered pot with basket-weave design. The base, figure, and pot were all molded separately and attached together prior to firing, the surfaces of the base and pot are textured for striking matches. Surface covered in a distinctive Albany slip glaze with white (or clear) glaze to the pot and figure's hat. Related glaze treatments were used by Jacob Bachley, operator the Texarkana Pottery in Texarkana, Arkansas, circa 1880; a temperance jug, sold as lot 129 in Crocker Farm's October 22, 2016 auction, surviving small snake jugs, and a documented pig flask, incised "Grant Boom," all attributed to Texarkana Pottery, exhibit similar brown-and-white contrasting coloration. The base of this sculpture closely copies the bases of lion paperweights made at the Kirkpatrick brothers' Anna Pottery, where Bachley was previously employed. This match safe is the first example of its kind that we have seen. Small restored base chips. A restored 5/8" x 3/8" flake to exterior of rim of pot, on reverse. A small restored chip to front of rim of pot. Other minor chips and wear. L 5 1/4" ; W 3 3/4" ; H 5 1/4".