Spring 2025 Auction Featured Photos

Figural Tour-De-Force. Important Salt-Glazed Stoneware Temperance Jug with Applied Figural and Brushed Cobalt and Manganese Decoration, attributed to Anna Pottery, Anna, IL, circa 1880.

Beautifully-decorated with a rare solid-cobalt ground and brushed manganese throughout, this jug features a remarkable variety of applied figural motifs (some possibly unique to this jug), including four snakes, two frogs, a coated figure trapped inside the body of the jug, a molded bust of a woman with hat, a molded Native American's bust with headdress and bear tooth necklace, a large rattlesnake handle, and a bear ascending the body of the jug. The bear and Indian bust are unique to us in Anna Pottery production. Included is the jug's original snake-form stopper, decorated with manganese, a scarce survivor. Scales, some incised and some executed with a coggle wheel, embellish the surfaces of the snakes while hand-incised fur covers the coat of the bear. Heavy stippled incising, mostly executed by hand and occasionally applied with a coggle wheel, adds texture and depth to the body of the jug. Noteworthy for its bold coloring and extravagant and unusual figural decoration, this masterwork also stands out for its immaculate condition. The majority of known Anna temperance jugs have damage of some sort, often significant. This example survives in excellent condition with a glazed-over loss to the bear's tail and minor chips elsewhere.

A cornerstone piece from the collection of noted folk art enthusiasts, George H. Meyer and Kay White Meyer, this jug will include a copy of their book, Early American Face Jugs, in which it is featured. Exhibited: "Early American Face Jugs from the George H. Meyer Collection," Fenimore Art Museum and South Carolina State Museum, 2019-2021. Literature: Illustrated in Meyer and Meyer, Early American Face Jugs, p. 185. Provenance: Descended in the Kirkpatrick family; acquired by Nancy and Gary Stass from one of the Kirkpatrick brothers' granddaughters; Ex-Don Walters; Ex-George H. Meyer and Kay White Meyer Collection, acquired from the above in 1985. H (including stopper) 12".

Folk Art Masterwork. Important Anna Pottery Salt-Glazed Stoneware Temperance Jug with Incised Figural and Brushed Cobalt Decoration, Signed "Anna Pottery / Anna Ills," Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Anna, IL, circa 1880.

Exquisitely-decorated with ten slithering and coiled snakes, three figures stuck headfirst within the cavity of the jug, and a central figure devoured headfirst by a large snake handle, this jug showcases the Kirkpatrick brothers' amazing ability to bring clay to life. Replete with intricate detail, this creation includes painstakingly incised scaling throughout the snakes' bodies, incised seams along the garments of the figures, and incised and modeled features to the central figure (down to incised teeth and tongue) accurately conveying the anguish engendered by his situation. The jug takes its overwhelming decorative focus a step further with extravagant incised leaves and crosshatching canvassing the body of the jug, incised triangle and coggled crosshatching to the spout, and scalloped chip carving to its base. Completing this masterwork are heavily-brushed cobalt spotting throughout the snakes and highlights to the figures under a clear salt glaze.

A cornerstone piece from the collection of noted folk art enthusiasts, George H. Meyer and Kay White Meyer, this jug will include a copy of their book, Early American Face Jugs, in which it is featured. Exhibited: "Early American Face Jugs from the George H. Meyer Collection," Fenimore Art Museum and South Carolina State Museum, 2019-2021. Literature: Illustrated in Meyer and Meyer, Early American Face Jugs, p. 184. Provenance: Sotheby's Sale 7085, lot 1806, 1989; Ex-George H. Meyer and Kay White Meyer Collection. H 10 1/2".

Ohio Masterwork. Exceptional Six-Gallon Stoneware Presentation Churn with Elaborate Cobalt Decoration of a Grouse with Banner, Inscribed "AKRON OHIO" and "D.S. ALEXANDER," John Park Alexander Pottery, Akron, OH origin, circa 1870.

This stately churn is noteworthy for the size, painstaking detail, and subject matter of the decoration, as well as the addition of the name of its owner. Its grand cobalt design features excellent coverage over the churn's front, spanning an imposing 12 1/2" tall by approximately 11" around the curve of the vessel. In addition, the illustration of the bird with a sense of motion, alighting the branch with raised wings, and carrying a banner in its beak (or perhaps speaking) the name of its city of origin, are rarely-seen depictions. The name, "D.S. ALEXANDER," refers to David Alexander, a farm implements dealer and older brother of Akron pottery owner, John Park Alexander. A monumental jug-form cooler with bird (likely by the same hand) bearing the inscription, "HARLEY & CARLL / AKRON / O / ALEXANDER / STONEWARE / MANUFACTURER / 1876 / CENTENNIAL," was famously featured on the PBS series, Antiques Roadshow, in June 2004, appraised by folk art dealer, Allan Katz.

Among the finest examples of Ohio stoneware that we have ever offered. Literature: Illustrated in Treichler, A History of Northeast Ohio Stoneware, p. 55. Provenance: Originally found circa 1974 among household goods that were to be discarded from the home of an Akron, Ohio woman moving into a nursing home; Blair Auctions, Ohio, May 2004; Waasdorp Auctions, Clarence, New York, September 2004, lot 209; Garths' Auctions, Delaware, Ohio, May 18, 2012, lot 74. H (excluding lid) 18".

In the Manhattan Style. Very Rare and Important One-Gallon Stoneware Pitcher with Incised Bird and Floral Decorations, attributed to Henry Remmey, Sr., Baltimore, MD, circa 1815.

This pitcher, perhaps more than any other product of Remmey's tenure in Baltimore, displays an unbroken link to his Manhattan training. Visible in the pitcher's form, with its inwardly-tapering collar, and in its incised floral motifs, which connect it to an earlier pitcher likely made by Remmey while still in Manhattan (see Crocker Farm, Inc., March 5, 2011, lot 3), this work serves as the perfect representation of the migration of style in American Decorative Arts. Its appealing use of negative space on the interior of the bird's wing and eye as well as the flowers are treatments also brought from Manhattan. The pitcher lacks the freehand floral brushwork seen on Remmey's later Baltimore products and likely adopted from the Mid-Atlantic tradition. His arrival in Baltimore was met with an advancement in his production, seen in a freer and more artistic touch to his incising and a preference for decorating his pieces with birds, often crested, long-tailed, and meticulously feathered, as noted on this example. In addition, the locally-famous Baltimore clay allowed for the perfect backdrop for this artist's drawings, displayed by the exemplary coloring of the fired clay and cobalt on this example. The refinement of the incised decoration and brilliant color of the clay and cobalt easily convey why this potter's tenure in Baltimore is regarded by many as the zenith of American stoneware production. A small number of incised bird pieces have survived above ground and a few others have been excavated in damaged or fragmented condition in the neighborhoods surrounding Remmey's shop.

The survival of this pitcher in immaculate condition, at over 200 years of age, is remarkable. This masterwork, connecting Northern and Southern potting traditions, pushes the boundaries of its utilitarian purpose. H 10 7/8".

Rare and Important One-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Impressed Decoration, Stamped "COMMERAW'S / STONEWARE / CORLEARS / HOOK / N. YORK," Manhattan, NY origin, early 19th century. While most of Commeraw's work bears partial stamping of his maker's mark, reading, for example, "COMMERAW'S / STONEWARE" or "CORLEARS / HOOK," this work features all known stamps the potter used to identify his ware during this period. One of only a small number of Commeraw pieces marked in this manner that we have ever offered. Provenance: A recently-surfaced example. H 12 1/2".

Decoration, Maker, and Form. Outstanding Five-Gallon Stoneware Churn with Cobalt Cat Decoration, Stamped "J. BURGER, JR. / ROCHESTER, N.Y.," circa 1885. The churn's extraordinary design, based on this pottery's iconic lion motifs, is the only example of its kind that we have ever seen. Possibly representing a lioness or another species of big cat, this work is set apart from John Burger, Jr.'s lion designs by its omission of a mane and long hair on the end of its tail, as well as the inclusion of striping along the animal's neck, back, and chest. H (including lid) 20 1/2".

Fine Three-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Cobalt Star Face Decoration, Stamped "T. HARRINGTON / LYONS," NY State origin, circa 1860. A bold rendering of this iconic Harrington motif, featuring excellent coverage of the design over the vessel's front, strong contrast, and thick, enamel-like cobalt. H 12 1/8".

Tennessee Stoneware Discovery. Extremely Rare Salt-Glazed Stoneware Face Jug, attributed to John A. Roberts Pottery, Cookeville, TN, Dated 1901. This face jug survives as one of a small group made at the John A. Roberts pottery of Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most notable among this body of work is one bearing the inscription, "The Hon. Fred. Dougless (sic)," and dated 1895, made to commemorate America's famous abolitionist who died the same year, setting a world auction record for Tennessee pottery in Crocker Farm, Inc's. January 2025 Carole Carpenter Wahler Collection sale, lot 5. Among several differences between this jug and the Frederick Douglass jug is the omission of an initial Albany slip coating on this example, creating an attractive gray to light-brown color to the fired surface of the local clay. To our knowledge, this 1901 face jug and Wahler's Frederick Douglass jug are the only two examples by this maker to come to market in quite some time. A significant, recently-surfaced work in both Tennessee ceramics and American face vessels. Provenance: Recently surfaced in the Midwestern U.S. H 11 3/4".

Rediscovered Bell Masterwork. Exceedingly Rare and Important Copper-Decorated Redware Figure of a Whippet, attributed to Solomon Bell, Strasburg, VA, circa 1875. This recently resurfaced work is distinguished as one of a few glazed examples of this iconic Bell form known. It is famously illustrated in Alvin H. Rice and John Baer Stoudt's 1929 book, The Shenandoah Pottery, in color on pl. IV and on page 132 in black-and-white, and listed in their pottery catalog as number 155 on page 133. Lost to the greater world of collectors and pottery enthusiasts some time after the book was published, this outstanding figural work was recently rediscovered in the American South. Whippets were produced by members of the Bell family in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania and Winchester and Strasburg, Virginia and are typically found with a surface that was brushed with oil paint by their makers after the firing. This example's striking treatment of splashed copper decoration under a clear lead glaze is possibly unique and relate it to other redware pieces produced by Solomon Bell while active in Strasburg, circa 1875. While a small number of prized whippets, painted black, were produced by Solomon Bell as a young man in Winchester, this whippet is possibly the only glazed example attributable to his hand and possibly the only example known from his near forty-year career in Strasburg. Few examples of this form from any of the Bells' tenure in Strasburg have been documented. We can find record of only one other Strasburg whippet coming to auction in the past several decades, a painted example made by Bell's brother, Samuel, inscribed "Samuel Bell / Strasburg / 1844," and sold at Crocker Farm, Inc., in 2008. To expound on the rarity of this object, as far as we are aware only one other glazed whippet by any member of the Bell family has ever come to auction. That example, decorated with sponged manganese under a clear lead glaze, was made by John Bell's son, John William Bell, and bore two impressions of his stamp, "JOHN W. BELL / Waynesboro, Pa." Selling as lot 1 in Crocker Farm, Inc.'s May 21, 2005 auction, the John W. Bell whippet sold for $41,800 including the buyer's premium, setting a then-record price for John Bell pottery. The copper-glazed whippet in this auction, combining beauty, extreme rarity, and highly desirable maker, is among the most significant examples of Shenandoah Valley redware to come to auction in years. Literature: Illustrated in Rice and Stoudt, The Shenandoah Pottery, pl. IV and p. 132, listed on p. 133, # 155. Provenance: Recently surfaced in North Carolina. L 9 1/2" ; W 3 1/2" ; H 6 1/2".

Fine Glazed Redware Vase, Stamped "WINCHESTER / POTTERIES / VA," Theodore "Thedy" Fleet, Round Hill Pottery, Frederick County, VA, circa 1930. Provenance: From a forty-five-year VA collection. H 9 1/2".

Discovered at the Pottery. Rare and Important Albany-Slip-Glazed Stoneware Face Jug, Crooksville, OH origin, probably Burley and Winter Pottery, late 19th or early 20th century.

Related to pieces produced by John and Morris Dollings, this striking, large-sized work has an unusual red clay composition decorated with Albany and white slips under a clear overglaze. Provenance: Found in the 1980s on the third floor of the consignor's grandfather's pottery in Crooksville, Ohio, which previously served as the Burley and Winter pottery. The floor that the jug was found on was never used by the consignor's grandfather, who took the operation over in 1946. As a result, this space, which served as Burley and Winter's mold and design shop, was a literal time capsule from this well-known manufactory's operation during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The discovery of this jug "in situ" at the pottery it was likely made at is significant to the story of Ohio face jug production and is among the most remarkable provenances of any piece of pottery that we have offered. H 10 1/2" ; Diam. 7 3/8".

Signed by the Potter. Very Rare Ten-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Freehand Cobalt Decoration, Inscribed "M.S. Knotts / Maker," Stenciled "R.T. WILLIAMS / NEW GENEVA, PA," circa 1880. This lavishly-decorated jar includes the signature of local potter, Minor S. Knotts (1861-1931), who made stoneware in Greensboro and New Geneva during this time period. Growing up and certainly training in the Greensboro area, Knotts would go on to make pottery in Clarion County and York, Pennsylvania, where he appears in the 1900 and 1910 censuses, respectively. (In the latter location he was almost certainly working at the well-known Pfaltzgraff pottery.) Notably, Knotts appears in the 1880 federal census as a potter living in the household of fellow stoneware manufacturer James Hamilton. The jar's grand size and skillful brushwork were evidently a source of pride for Knotts, who placed his name in clear sight at the vessel's shoulder. Among the best examples of R.T. Williams stoneware that we have offered, combining desirable size, strong decoration, and rare insight into its specific maker. H 17 5/8".

Exceedingly Rare Stoneware Presentation Pitcher with Profuse Cobalt Floral Decoration, Inscribed "George W Greenland," attributed to Norval Greenland, Uniontown, PA, circa 1865. The name on this pitcher, "George W Greenland," refers to a Uniontown, Pennsylvania tannery owner and brother of local potter, Norval Greenland. The decoration on this specially-made family piece expounds on the typically more simplistic tulip motif used at Greenland's pottery, adding dramatic, undulating vining throughout, a treatment more commonly associated with the Greensboro/New Geneva potting tradition. A Uniontown jar bearing closely-related tulip, leaf, and spot elements to the design was sold in Crocker Farm's March 24, 2018 auction, lot 165. As the pitcher form is highly unusual among known Uniontown products and few pieces survive inscribed by or for any member of the Greenland family, this work is regarded as one of the most important examples of Uniontown stoneware to come to market in years. H 10".

Extremely Rare Miniature Cobalt-Decorated Stoneware Jug, attributed to the Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, WV, circa 1860. Related decorative elements on this jug can be found adorning the shoulders of other Thompson products, including a people-decorated pitcher and jar illustrated in Duez, Horvath, and Heindl, "The Stoneware Years of the Thompson Potters of Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854-1890," Ceramics in America 2011, figs. 49 and 50. Only the second Morgantown miniature that we have ever offered. H 4 1/2".

Exceedingly Rare One-Gallon Cobalt-Decorated Stoneware Presentation Pitcher, Inscribed "J.C. RHODES / 1879," Stamped "D Ack / Mooresburg Pa," 1879. Among the finest examples of Ack family stoneware that we have ever offered, this work is noteworthy for its highly unusual pitcher form and presentation inscription. It is both the first Ack pitcher as well as the first Ack piece bearing an inscription for its owner that we have ever offered. H 9 3/4".

Exceedingly Rare Miniature Stoneware Presentation Pitcher with Incised and Brushed-Cobalt Floral Decorations, Inscribed "Margrette McNichol," attributed to Elisha Parr, Baltimore, MD, circa 1820. The finest example of Elisha Parr's work that we have ever offered, this pitcher is made extraordinary by its petite size, presentation inscription, and incised decoration. H 5".

Very Rare Salt-Glazed Stoneware Snake Jug with Copper and Brown Slip Decoration, attributed to Jacob Bachley, Anna or Texarkana Pottery, circa 1880. Provenance: Originally found in Texas; Crocker Farm, Inc., October 31, 2009, lot 121; Ex-George H. Meyer and Kay White Meyer Collection, acquired from David Good in 2010. H 6 3/4".

Masterwork Inkwell. Exceptional Large-Sized Anna Pottery Frog-on-Face Inkwell with Incised Political Messages, Signed "By Anna Pottery," Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Dated 1884.

An outstanding example of ceramic folk sculpture, this work features an unusually large figure of a frog atop the face of a man with mouth forming the inkwell's opening. The frog incised unusually fine incised detail throughout along with heavy cobalt spotting to its body, legs, and throat sac. As with so many other Anna pieces, this inkwell focuses on the corruption of politicians. The slogans incised on the front, "Reform / 1876" and "1884 / Reform," refer to the U.S. Presidential elections of 1876 and 1884, poking fun at the repeated strategy of politicians in declaring a need for change or "reform" in order to get elected. The incised inscription, "Same old Croaker!" on the frog follows this trope, degrading politicians into the image of a croaking frog that makes the same noise all of the time. The incised word, "Wind," on the frog's throat sac reiterates that politicians are just blowing hot air when they speak.

One of only a few known examples of this style. For a related inkwell, see Crocker Farm, Inc., Summer 2023, lot 101. Provenance: Ex-George H. Meyer and Kay White Meyer Collection; acquired by the above from Don Walters in 1989. L 4 1/2" ; Diam. 4 1/2".

Document in Clay. Monumental Anna Pottery Salt-Glazed Stoneware Vase with Profuse Incised Inscriptions and Decoration, Inscribed "Inter-State Industrial Exposition of Chicago.," Dated 1873, Signed "By / C & W Kirkpatrick / Anna Ill," Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Anna, IL, 1873.

Related to the iconic Anna Pottery fair jugs, this work features heavily-incised categories pertaining to the Inter-State Industrial Exposition of Chicago. In response to the Fire of 1871, Chicago hosted this annual event from 1873 to 1890. Prominent Chicago businessmen attended the exposition, which highlighted a variety of producers and dealers in Chicago-area manufactured goods including carriages and wagons, brick-making machines, fire extinguishers, and sewing and diamond-cutting machines. This vase lists by category the figures involved with the exposition, including: Potter Palmer, the president of the function, a Chicago businessman responsible for the development of State Street in Chicago; Joseph Medill, a vice president and Canadian-born American editor and publisher who contributed greatly in making The Chicago Tribune a powerful newspaper; Charles B. Farwell, another vice president, who served as a Cook County clerk and politician and helped build a business district there; and W.F. Coolbaugh, a politician and treasurer for the Chicago railroad. Mathematical problems are even incised on one section of the vase, listing the "Assets" and "Liabiltie (sic)" of the exposition. Characteristic of some of the Kirkpatricks' finer work, the vase includes incised dotted crosshatching to the rim, graduated incised line decoration below the rim and at the base, and a few flowers added at the base as well. The large date, "1873," appears on the side of vase.

A wonderful display of the Kirkpatricks' artistry and attention to detail, this work is a fine testament to the role these brothers and their stoneware played in their greater community. Provenance: Descended in the Kirkpatrick family. H 17".

Size, Form, and Maker. Outstanding Ten-Gallon Double-Handled Stoneware Jug with Alkaline Glaze, Stamped "D S," Daniel Seagle, Vale, NC, circa 1840. H 21 1/2".

Glaze of Glory. Exceptional Copper-Decorated Redware Jar with Domed Lid, NY State origin, early 19th century. A true masterwork of Northeastern U.S. redware and among the most brilliantly-glazed examples from this region that we have seen, remarkably retaining its original cover. Provenance: Recently surfaced in North Carolina. H (excluding lid) 7 3/8" ; H (including lid) 9 1/4".

Southern Slip Decoration. Extremely Rare Four-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Iron Slip Tree Decoration, probably TX origin, possibly John Chandler or an associate, third quarter 19th century.

This jar features a salt-glazed coating with possible underlying thinly-applied alkaline glaze. The vessel's freehand iron slip decoration (extremely rare on salt-glazed stoneware), as well as its form and handle construction, strongly connect this piece to the Edgefield, South Carolina potting tradition. The flattened rim, less common in Edgefield stoneware, is closely-related to those found on pieces made at the Guadalupe County, Texas pottery of Presbyterian minister and educator, John Wilson, circa 1857-1869. Wilson, a pottery owner rather than a potter himself, used enslaved African-Americans, Hiram, James, George, and Andrew Wilson, to produce his ware. Between 1860 and 1866, a white potter, Marion J. Durham, and African-American potter, John Chandler, both from Edgefield, worked at this site. Chandler had previously been owned by well-known Edgefield potter, Thomas Chandler, noted for his frequent use of brushed iron and slip-trailed kaolin slips to decorate his ware. The strong Edgefield influence seen in the jar's decoration and form, mixed with obvious differences in its distinctive rim molding and salt-glazed surface, suggest this may be a Texas product of the John Wilson pottery, made by John Chandler or an associate. Provenance: Recently surfaced in Alabama. H 14 3/4".

Macquoid Masterpiece. Exceptional Four-Gallon Stoneware Crock with Elaborate Cobalt Goats Decoration, Stamped "WM-A'MACQUOID&CO / NEW-YORK. / LITTLE WST 12tH ST.," circa 1870.

This work is the only Macquoid crock that we have seen depicting this farm animal, a prized subject in 19th century American folk art. A Macquoid mug and pitcher offered in this auction depicting a related rearing goat motif with added barrel are the only other examples of stoneware by this maker that we have seen depicting this animal, and this subject is extremely rare by any maker in American stoneware. The crock's depiction of two such animals on the same piece, perhaps a mated pair, is remarkable. The vessel showcases the Macquoid pottery's interest in producing utilitarian pieces with a high decorative quality, displaying painterly brushwork and this manufactory's tendency towards unusual and detailed figural designs. Among the best examples by this well-known Manhattan maker that we have ever offered. H 10 1/2".

Cowden Rarity. Exceedingly Rare Two-Gallon Stoneware with Elaborate Cobalt House Decoration, Stamped "COWDEN & WILCOX / HARRISBURG, PA," circa 1865.

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 it was produced at, 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. H 9 3/4".

The Birds of Bennington. Exceptional Three-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Elaborate Bird and Floral Decoration, Stamped "J. & E. NORTON. / BENNINGTON VT.," circa 1855.

This jug is famous for its depiction on the cover of the iconic book, The Birds of Bennington, by Steven Leder and Fred Cesana, which documented the various bird motifs of the Norton family of Bennington, Vermont. A copy of the book will be included with this lot. The scrollwork and dashed treatment throughout the bird can be observed on a small number of outstanding J. & E. Norton products with avian designs, including an important six-gallon crock with Federal eagle motif, inscribed "USA." The decorator of these extravagant works previously worked at both the William E. Warner pottery of West Troy, New York and Martin Crafts pottery of Boston, Massachusetts, as a few related designs can be found on pieces from these operations. The motif's rarity, size, and over-the-top application of cobalt place it among the finest bird designs that we have offered from this highly-regarded New England pottery. The jug's superb firing and even salt glazing resulted in a crisp, bold rendering of the design with raised, enamel-like cobalt and excellent contrast with the clay body. Literature: Illustrated in Leder and Cesana, The Birds of Bennington, cover, and p. 133, fig. 45 A. H 15".

Outstanding Three-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Cobalt Decoration of a Bird Perched on a Finger, OH origin, mid 19th century. H 16".

Scarce One-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Cobalt "Goony Bird" Decoration, Stamped "CORTLAND," Madison Woodruff, possibly with Romanzo Smith, NY State origin, circa 1867-1869. H 11 1/2".

Southern Incising. Extremely Rare and Important Stoneware Jar with Incised Fish Decoration, James River Valley of VA origin, second quarter 19th century.

This jar's form is closely-related to the work of John P. Schermerhorn, active in Richmond and Henrico County, Virginia, circa 1817 to 1850, although with a more naive quality to the handle construction. To our knowledge, only two other incised fish designs are known in James River stoneware production. One is found on a sherd with partial fish depicted, excavated at the Stephen B. Sweeney pottery in Henrico County, Virginia, an operation active from 1838 to 1863. The second adorns a jar attributed to the Benjamin DuVal pottery of Richmond, circa 1811-1817, which depicts an incised bird and fish, and was recently sold at Mebane Auction in Mebane, North Carolina. Only a small number of incised stoneware objects from this region, drawing influence from New Jersey and New York potting traditions, are known. Furthermore, figural designs executed by any method were rarely produced, a trait characteristic of Southern-made stoneware in general. As a result, the decorative technique and subject matter of the design place this jar among the most significant discoveries in James River Valley stoneware of the past two decades. Provenance: Recently discovered in the Southeastern U.S. H 11 3/4".

North Meets South. Outstanding Four-Gallon Salt-Glazed Stoneware Jar with Large Incised Bird and Cricket Decoration, attributed to Chester Webster, Randolph County, NC, circa 1850. A fine example of Webster's work with large and appealing subject matter, showcasing his Hartford, Connecticut schooling in its incised motifs and iron-dipped treatment. A related jar resides in the North Carolina Museum of Art. Literature: Illustrated and discussed in Scarborough, North Carolina Decorated Stoneware: The Webster School of Folk Potters, first edition, p. 66, Figure 65, second edition, p. 55, Figure 54 (color). H 14 1/2".

Small Wonder. Very Rare Miniature Salt-Glazed Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Incised Decoration, attributed to Chester Webster, Randolph County, NC, circa 1850. Exceptional size and condition featuring strong decoration in Webster's Hartford, Connecticut-trained style. Literature: Illustrated in Scarborough, North Carolina Decorated Stoneware: The Webster School of Folk Potters, second edition, p. 105. Provenance: Descended in the Craven family of potters. H 3 5/8".

Monumental Ten-Gallon Alkaline-Glazed Stoneware Jar, Stamped "D S," Daniel Seagle, Lincoln County, NC, circa 1840. H 17 3/4".

Rare Albany-Slip-Glazed Stoneware Face Jug, attributed to Ernest Galloway, Paducah, KY, early 20th century. A finely-conditioned example featuring the distinctive gritted-teeth expression and parted hair associated with Galloway's work. A closely-related example, bearing the incised signature, "E. Galloway. / Paducah. Ky.," was sold in Crocker Farm's Fall 2020 auction, lot 51. Provenance: Recently surfaced in Paducah, KY. H 8 3/8".

Rare Glazed Stoneware Face Jug, OH origin, late 19th or early 20th century. A striking example of Ohio ceramic folk art with unusual cobalt-over-Bristol-slip eyes, prodigious size to the vessel, and immaculate condition. Provenance: Recently surfaced in Arizona. H 11 1/2".

Iconic Stencil. Very Rare Three-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Stenciled Cobalt Tavern Scene, Stenciled "From / James Hamilton & Co. / Greensboro, PA," circa 1875. One of a small group of James Hamilton jugs known bearing this prized, intricately-stenciled motif, possibly emblematic of the strong drink the jug was designed to hold. H 16 1/2".

Fine Cobalt-Decorated Stoneware Canning Jar with Stenciled Eagle Motif, Stenciled "A.P. DONAGHHO. / PARKERSBURG / W. VA," circa 1875. H 9 3/4".

Exceptional Form. Very Rare Stoneware Lidded Sugar Bowl with Profuse Spot Decoration, PA or Southern U.S. origin, circa 1860. H (including lid) 4".

Rare Diminutive Stoneware Jar with Profuse Cobalt Spot Decoration, OH origin, third quarter 19th century. Underside incised "MS" or "SW" and inscribed in cobalt "HE" and "HI(?)," likely referring to the maker(s) and owner of the jar. Exceptional size and strong folk art aesthetic. H 3 7/8" ; Diam. 4 1/4".

Rare Stoneware Presentation Bank with Cobalt Star Decoration, Inscribed "Edgar Stevens," probably PA origin, circa 1850-1880. H 6 1/4".

Rare One-and-a-Half-Gallon Stoneware Batter Pail with Cobalt Bird Decoration, Stamped "COWDEN & WILCOX. / HARRISBURG .PA," circa 1865. Prized Cowden form and desirable decoration, rarely found together. Provenance: Pook and Pook, Inc., Downingtown, PA, January 20, 23, lot 108. H 8 7/8".

Elusive Form. Extremely Rare Three-Gallon Stoneware Water Cooler with Cobalt Floral Decoration, Stamped "M. & T. MILLER / NEWPORT, PA," circa 1870. The first M. & T. Miller water cooler that we have offered. H 12 1/2".

Fine Small-Sized Lidded Stoneware Presentation Jar with Incised Foliate Decoration, Inscribed "ANN . BURR," attributed to Nicholas Van Wickle, Manasquan, NJ, circa 1830. Provenance: Recently surfaced in the Southeastern U.S. H (including lid) 9".