Exceedingly Rare Pair of Slip-Decorated Redware Vases, Stamped "J.E. SIMONS," Anthony Bacher at Joseph E. Simons's Big Hunting Creek Pottery, Mechanicstown (now Thurmont), MD, circa 1881-1883, each of ovoid form with pronounced foot and flared rim, dipped in cream-colored slip, decorated with marbled manganese, and covered in a clear lead glaze. Underside of each impressed with "J.E. SIMONS" stamp, the larger vase impressed twice. Revered Shenandoah Valley master potter, Anthony Weis Bacher, was the primary employee at Mechanicstown's Big Hunting Creek Pottery while it was under the brief ownership of coachmaker, Joseph E. Simons. A small number of surviving pieces in Bacher's style and attributed to his hand bear Simons' elusive stamp. Few marked pieces are known, and only four other examples, two unglazed jars, a glazed pitcher, and a glazed plate, have ever been offered by this auction house. These vases are additionally the first pair by Bacher produced outside of Winchester that we are aware of, both of which survive in exemplary condition, so difficult to find for this maker. Combining form, glaze, condition, and maker/stamp, this pair is the finest lot of Big Hunting Creek Pottery to come to auction in years. Smaller vase in excellent, essentially as-made condition. Larger vase in excellent condition with a few tiny glaze flakes to surface. The remarkable state of preservation of both indicate they likely sat untouched in a cupboard or on a mantel for most of their existence. H (of taller) 10".
