Very Fine One-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Impressed Decoration, Stamped "LIBERTY FOREV / S.AMBOY.N.JERSY," Thomas Warne and Joshua Letts, South Amboy, NJ, early 19th century, squat-shaped, ovoid jar with heavily-tooled shoulder, squared rim, and open loop handles affixed to the rim; front impressed with a pointing hand and the inscription, "LIBERTY FOREV," all within a sawtoothed border, underscored by the town name, "S.AMBOY.N.JERSY." Midsection of jar decorated with an impressed scallop-edged drape motif, highlighted in cobalt. Heavy cobalt highlights to handle terminals. Among the best Liberty Forever jars that we have offered, this work features a desirable size and exceptional form--the first potted in this manner that we have offered--as well as an outstanding provenance of ownership by one of the great American stoneware collectors and researchers of the first half of the twentieth century. Provenance: Ex-W. Oakley Raymond Collection, including a handwritten label on the underside associated with his collection, inscribed "Warne & Letts / South Amboy-NJ." A minor base chip. Otherwise as-made condition with the following in-the-firing flaws: a 5/8" flake to top of rim, two small iron pings, and a 1 5/8" contact mark to reverse. H 7 1/2" ; Diam. (across rim) 7 5/8".
