Lot #: 395
Price Realized: $2,040.00
($1,700 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 Cold-Painted Redware Spaniel Bank, attributed to Richard Franklin "Polk" Bell, Strasburg, VA, fourth quarter 19th century, molded, hollow figure of a seated spaniel with carved coin slot in back, the surface painted brown with gold highlights to eyes, collar, locket, and chain, and dark-brown highlight to slot. Some additional white paint to reverse of head, face, and proper left ear. Bell family spaniels are considered very rare in their own right. This lot is the first that we have offered that was originally made to be used as a bank. Provenance: Ex-Seamen's Bank for Savings Collection. Literature: Illustrated in Rice and Stoudt, The Shenandoah Pottery, pg. 242. The photograph of the spaniel in the book lists the piece as #1586. However, the catalog listing is #159, described as the following: "SITTING DOG DOORSTOP / Facing left, closed base, unglazed, painted brown, made by R.F. Bell, Strasburg." The faint crayon number, "159," is visible on the spaniel's underside. Very old 1 3/4" area filled with plaster on underside, likely from a hole formed to remove the money inside during the late 19th or early 20th century. Otherwise excellent condition with expected minor wear. H 9 1/2".
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