Exceptional Cain Pottery, Sullivan County, Tennessee Redware Jar Inscribed "C"
Winter 2025 Auction of the Carole Wahler Collection
Lot #: 1
Estimate: $6,000-$10,000.A Note About Estimates
Minimum Bid: $1,500.
Exceptional Open-Handled Redware Jar with Brown-Slip Stripe Decoration, Inscribed "C," attributed to the Cain Pottery, Sullivan County, TN, circa 1830-1880, vasiform jar with footed base, tall collar, and two ribbed, vertical strap handles applied at the shoulder, the surface exuberantly-decorated with brushed stripes in manganese or iron slip under a clear lead glaze. Underside inscribed in lead glaze with extremely rare "C" for Cain. This iconic jar is believed to be the first piece of Tennessee earthenware ever acquired by Wahler. Its stylish potting and lavish decoration define it as a masterwork of the Cain family's production. Exhibited: Art of Tennessee, Frist Center for the Visual Arts, September 13, 2003 to January 18, 2004; Tennessee Turned, Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee 1800-1900, Museum of East Tennessee History, May 16-October 30, 2011. Literature: Illustrated in Wahler, Tennessee Turned, Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee 1800-1900, Part One, p. 9, p. 138, fig. 147, p. 173, pl. 23, and p. 217, fig. 147. Literature: In his essay, "A Brief History of the Discovery and Documentation of East Tennessee Earthenware," in Wahler's Tennessee Turned, Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee, 1800-1900, Part One, Roddy Moore describes this jar. "On my first meeting with Marc [King], I purchased an eagle tin pie safe, but I turned down a small double-handled redware jar that I thought was from Pennsylvania- certainly nothing like that pottery was made in the South! . . . Carole's first significant earthenware purchase was in 1980 from Don Walters. It was the piece I had passed on at Marc's house that first day! She still smiles when she tells me about requiring Don to write on the receipt that if it turned out to have been made somewhere besides Tennessee that he would buy it back" (Wahler, pp. 9, 11). The original receipt for this jar, dated 11/9/80, from Don and Faye Walters of Goshen, Indiana is included with this lot, and stipulates, "Returnable if not in face as described above as to attribution." A picture of the jar included with Moore's essay is captioned, "I passed over this piece. . . on my first visit with Marc King. Jeff Camp of Richmond, Virginia, later went by King's, purchased the pot and sold it to Don Walters of Williamsburg, Virginia. Walters in turn labeled it as 'Tennessee Redware' for an antique show and Carole Wahler of Knoxville purchased it" (Wahler, p. 9). Provenance: Originally found in Bristol, Sullivan County, TN. In her notes, Wahler states, "I purchased it from Don and Faye Walters at York. I had no idea what Tennessee earthenware looked like. . . It is one of 3 pieces that I know of which have a 'C' in glaze on the bottom." Very nice condition. A 1" line on underside, continuing 1/2" up base. An approximately 4" diagonal hairline ascending from base. Wear to handles and rim, including two minor chips to interior of rim. Light surface wear around midsection. H 9".
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