Fine and Very Rare Glazed Redware Tea Canister with Elaborate Manganese Slip Floral Decoration and Incised Poem, Signed "Made by E White / January 1st 1846," Ezra White, Mercer, Mercer County, PA, 1846, four-sided cansiter with canted corners and semi-rounded spout, the lead-glazed surface coated in a reddish-brown iron slip and decorated on each side in blackish manganese slip with four different flowering plant motifs. Foliate devices to corners of canister. Underside incised with the maker's inscription and poem, "Tea Canister / Made by E White / January 1st 1846 / Of all the things / that I did see / This is the best / to hold the tea." The extravagant decoration and wonderful incised inscription on this work define it is a highly important example of this prized American redware form. A closely-related tea canister by White was sold at Sotheby's, Visual Grace: Important American Folk Art from the Collection of Ralph O. Esmerian, January, 25, 2014, lot 512. A second example was sold at Crocker Farm, March 23, 2019, lot 174, and a pair, dated 1848, reside in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg. Provenance: Recently discovered in the Western U.S. Very nice condition with some wear to slip and surface. A 5/8" in-the-firing base chip (kiln furniture mark) and a minor base chip. A 1 1/4" horizontal in-the-firing fissure at base, not visible on interior. H 8".
