Sold! $37,500.
Exceptional Six-Gallon Stoneware Crock with Elaborate Cobalt Stag and Doe Scene, Stamped "J. & E. NORTON / BENNINGTON, VT," circa 1855, cylindrical crock with tooled shoulder, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, exuberantly-decorated with a slip-trailed design of a spotted standing stag with turned head, facing a spotted doe atop a hill, reclining between a split rail fence and large tree stump. A second hill with pine tree appears behind the stag. Various ground cover accents the design and a second split-rail fence adorns the foreground. Cobalt highlights appear at the maker's mark and capacity mark. The distinctive style of the slip-trailing indicates the design was executed by one of the nation's leading 19th century stoneware decorators, John Hilfinger (1826-1888). A native of Wurttemberg, Germany, Hilfinger's artwork can be found on pieces produced at various potteries in New York State and most notably at the Julius and Edward Norton pottery in Bennington, Vermont, during the middle of the century. The subject matter, size, and extravagance of the design ranks this work among the finest examples of Norton family stoneware that we have ever offered. Relatively few examples from this pottery are known featuring a coveted "double deer" motif and the large size of the vessel compounds the visual impact of its decoration. The entire scene consumes most of the crock's front, spanning an outstanding 17" horizontally around the curve of the vessel and 11 1/4" tall. This example features superb firing and includes the light-colored clay and bold, enamel-like cobalt for which this pottery has become known, lacking any fry or oversalting to the design. An outstanding work in all respects. A faint, approximately 4 1/2" Y-shaped line to front, not visible on interior. Chipping around interior of rim. A 1/2" in-the-firing line to terminal of proper left handle. A tight 1 3/4" line in underside, continuing 2 1/4" up base on reverse. A small in-the-firing ping at base on reverse and a few extremely minor chips to bottom edge. Flakes to Albany slip on interior base area. Minor staining. H 14".
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