The Rumble Prohibition Spaniel: Important and Unique Salt-Glazed Stoneware Spaniel on Base with Profuse Albany Slip Decoration, Inscribed "R.H. Rumble / Greensboro / Greene Co., Pa. / anti-Amendment / 185 000," Signed "B.M.R. MR [Maker]," "B.M. Rumble," and "Ben M.R." with Additional Signatures, Dated June 18, 1889, Greensboro, PA origin, 1889, molded figure of a spaniel with incised details to face and paws, seated on a wheel-thrown pedestal base with tooled rim. Elaborate Albany slip spot decoration to dog, highlights to facial features, ears, and paws, and delicate spotting to forehead. A spot-decorated collar appears at the animal's neck. Base incised "R.H. Rumble / Greensboro, / Grene(sic) Co., Pa.," within an arched border of Albany slip spots. Albany slip swag decoration around circumference of base and along top edge, underscored by two rows of Albany slip spots. Surface of spaniel and base covered in a clear salt glaze. Made by Greensboro potter, Benjamin R. Rumble, for his brother, Robert H. Rumble, this extravagantly-decorated presentation piece commemorates a vote against an amendment that would have brought the prohibition of alcohol to the state of Pennsylvania. Several hand-incised signatures of different Greensboro potters are scrawled on the underside, indicating the Rumble brothers and other pottery workers met at a local pottery to commemorate their votes through the signing of this spaniel along with the inscriptions, "anti-Amendment "and "185 000," the latter noting the rough number of votes that rejected the amendment. The day of the vote, "June 18th 1889," is included as well. The names on the underside are as follows: B. M. Rumble, R. H. Rumble, Dan Rumble, F. Clevenger, Isam Wilson, Wm. Herrington, J. Couch, and F. Neil. We have been able to identify each of these men in the historical record, all except two being clearly documented there as Greensboro pottery workers. Particularly poignant is the strong sense of camaraderie in the stoneware shop communicated by this object, perhaps greater than any other known example of American stoneware. This iconic object combines rarity, high decorative appeal, and regional history with a strong sense of sentimentality to produce one of the most important Western Pennsylvania stoneware pieces to come to auction in years. Provenance: Garth's Auction, 1982. Excellent, essentially as-made condition with an in-the-making chipped and dented section to tail. H 9 3/4".
