Very Rare Three-Gallon Stoneware Crock with Elaborate Cobalt Deer Scene, Stamped "WHITES UTICA," NY State origin, third quarter 19th century, cylindrical crock with tooled shoulder, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with an extravagant slip-trailed design of a deer with turned head and spotted body, standing on a shrubbed mound between two pine trees, a split-rail fence, and a large tree stump. Cobalt highlights to maker's mark and capacity mark. This work was decorated by the itinerant artist, John Hilfinger (1826-1888), while active in New York State. He is most well-known for his work during the mid to late 1850s at the Julius and Edward Norton pottery in Bennington, Vermont, where an incredible array of bird, animal, and house motifs were used. Pieces decorated by Hilfinger at the Whites' pottery in Utica are significantly rarer, as are any deer produced at this well-known New York State stoneware manufactory. This work is noteworthy for its extensive scene canvasing most of the vessel's front. An approximately 9 1/4" professionally-restored crack from rim on front, extending through deer, which includes an area of restoration to rim. Reverse with a restored top-to-bottom crack from rim and a restored 6 1/2" crack, including some restoration to rim. A recessed spot with a small in-the-firing contact mark on reverse. Two minor rim chips on reverse. Some fry to stump. H 10 5/8".
