Lot #: 393
Price Realized: $2,880.00
($2,400 hammer, plus 20% buyer's premium)
PLEASE NOTE: The American ceramics market frequently changes, often dramatically. 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.
Extremely Rare One-Gallon Stoneware Pitcher with Elaborate Cobalt Decoration, Stamped "S. BELL & SON / STRASBURG," VA origin, circa 1890, ovoid pitcher with footed base and tooled rim, the surface coated in whitish slip and brush-decorated with a swag and hanging floral motif around the body, separated by an opposing swag motif descending from the rim to the midsection. Additional swag and floral motifs to collar. Stripe decoration to handle and cobalt highlights to handle terminals. Interior coated in manganese to resemble Albany slip. Lightly-impressed with S. Bell & Sons maker's mark and one-gallon capacity mark below collar on proper left side. Though this famous pottery frequently produced stoneware jars and jugs of various sizes, only a few pitchers are known, this lot being the first example that we have offered. Coupled with its rarity is unusually fine decoration, down to its stripe-decorated handle. Excellent condition. Two small spout chips, both probably in-the-making. A smooth in-the-firing contact mark to proper right side. A very minor nick to bottom edge on reverse. A small in-the-firing ping near base on front. H 10 7/8".
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