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Exceedingly Rare Two-Gallon Stoneware with Elaborate Cobalt House Decoration, Stamped "COWDEN & WILCOX / HARRISBURG, PA," circa 1865, ovoid jar with tooled shoulder, flattened rim, and applied lug handles, brush-decorated with a large design of a house with two doors, ten windows, a dormer near its peak and three smoking chimneys. Swag decoration below in the Cowden & Wilcox style forms a stylized ground. Cobalt highlights to maker's mark, capacity mark, and handle terminals. The charming house decoration on this jar features outstanding coverage over the vessel's front. Its depiction with three chimneys billowing with smoke presents the possibility that it represents the actual pottery at which it was produced, although a well-known drawing of "Harrisburg Pottery," dated November 26, 1868, depicts the pottery in a much different manner. Part of the pottery complex, however, may be the artist's intent on this piece as a large group of buildings are represented in this drawing. The design on this jar is a nearly unique Cowden & Wilcox motif, as we are aware of only one other signed example with a cobalt image of a building, executed in a more simplistic manner. A significant work by Central Pennsylvania's most collected 19th century stoneware manufacturer. Some surface lines on reverse, extending a short distance onto jar's proper right side, not visible on interior. A 2" cross-shaped surface line on proper left side of jar, not visible on interior. A thin 4 1/2" crack from rim on front. An approximately 1 1/2" section of proper right handle restored. H 9 3/4".
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