Pottery

Southwest Virginia earthenware bottle with sine wave incising. Lead glaze and possible traces of copper oxide glaze, sine wave incising around shoulder. Bottle is flattened on two sides (saddle bottle form), glazed on the bottom. 5 1/2" height. Third quarter of the 19th century. CONDITION: Very good condition. [See more photos →]

Four (4) Virginia stoneware pottery items including: one (1) 3 gallon cylindrical stoneware jar having lug handles and cobalt decoration along the neck; impressed maker's mark below one handle reading "J. Eberly & Bro./Strasburg, VA", (13 3/4" H); one (1) J. M. Hickerson salt glazed stoneware bowl stamped "J. M. Hickerson/Strausberg, VA (5 1/4" H x 10 1/2" dia.); one (1) stoneware bowl with cobalt tulip decoration around the upper body (6" H x 9 3/8" dia.), possibly Magee pottery of Washington Co., VA; and one (1)salt glazed stoneware preserving jar stamped "W. H. Lehew Strausberg/VA" (7" H). All pieces Late 19th century. Provenance: Brad Swanson Collection, Abingdon, VA. CONDITION: Hickerson bowl with with hairline spider crack to one side with chips to rim. Large Eberly jar with firing flaw to rim, chipping to handles. Tulip bowl with scattered chipping to rim. Preserving jar overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Group of three (3) East Tennessee M. P. Harmon stoneware pottery jars: one with impressed "M P Harmon, Mohawk" coggle around the circumference of the rim; one with impressed "M P Harmon, Mohawk" coggle around the circumference of the rim with cobalt decoration; and one unmarked but with similar cobalt decoration. M P Harmon/Mohawk is the stamp of the Harmon Pottery, Mohawk (Greene County), Tennessee. Ranging in size from 7 3/4" H to 8 3/4" H. All late 19th century. CONDITION: Smallest unmarked jar with two hairlines and chip to rim. Other cobalt jar with chip to rim. Largest jar with chip to rim and firing flaw to rim. All pieces with scattered firing flaws, surface wear. [See more photos →]

East Tennessee, Greene or Sullivan County, lead glazed earthenware jar with manganese splotched decoration, pulled loop handles, rim and upper shoulder with incised concentric lines, unglazed base with beaded foot. 15" H. For a related form, refer to the article, "Earthenware Potters Along the Great Road in Virginia and Tennessee," J. Roderick Moore, Antiques Magazine, September 1983, p. 532, plate IV. This form is one of the largest found from this group. Provenance: Descended through the Bireley Estate, Hamblen County, Tennessee. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. [See more photos →]

East Tennessee, Greene County, earthenware pottery cream pot by Christopher Alexander Haun (1821-1861), Greene County, Tennessee. Coggled band on upper shoulder with stylized lettering "C A Haun No. 1" and star or sunburst stamp. 5 3/4" H. Historical Note: Christopher Alexander Haun was a Union sympathizer during the Civil War and participated in burning a Confederate railroad bridge (Lick Creek) in Greene County, TN. This important event in East Tennessee's Civil War history was initiated with a campaign by Union loyalists to burn 9 bridges. It was led by William B. Carter and strongly supported and encouraged by President Abraham Lincoln. Several potters from the Pottertown, TN area were among the men who conspired and succeeded in burning the bridge. The potters decided not to capture or kill the Confederate bridge guards but allowed them to go free based upon their solemn promises to not reveal their identities. Union troops did not materialize as promised, and the Confederates were able to pursue and capture some of the perpetrators. The Confederate guards who had been allowed to live were the very ones who served as witnesses to implicate the five men who were hung. Four of the five were potters. Among those sentenced to hang was the potter Christopher Alexander Haun. On December 11th, 1861, Haun was hung from the gallows in Knoxville, TN. CONDITION: Faint remnants of 20th century red paint to body. A couple of hairline cracks, one extending through jar. Chip to outer rim, fleabites to inner rim and base. [See more photos →]

Two (2) East Tennessee stoneware pottery jars. 1st item: East TN transitional redware/stoneware pottery jar with extruded handles, possibly Greene County. 13 3/4" H. 19th century. Exhibited 1996-1997 at the East TN History Center "Tennessee Turned: Earthenware and Stoneware made in East Tennessee 1800-1900", curated by Dr. Carole Wahler. 2nd item: Large East Tennessee stoneware pottery jar with applied lug handles. Unmarked but with an incised "4" below one handle denoting capacity. 15 5/8" H. Late 19th century. CONDITION: 1st jar with stabilized vertical crack running from rim to base, some firing flaws. 2nd jar: scattered firing flaws, overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Washington County, Tennessee stoneware pottery pouring or water jar attributed to Charles Frederick Decker (1832-1914) with a pouring spout in the rim, sine wave decoration below the lug handles and one lug handle to the lower base edge. 14 3/8" H x 12 3/4" dia. Biography (Courtesy of Carole Wahler): Charles Frederick Decker was born in Germany in 1832. He arrived in Philadelphia in his late teens. Oral tradition suggests he worked at the Remmey Pottery before establishing his Keystone pottery there at the age of 25. He moved his family to Delaware for a few years and then back to Philadelphia. After 1869, Decker moved to Virginia, six miles north of Abingdon. The pottery he operated there was located on land owned by a man named Mallicote (Mallicoat). In 1872, he established his pottery in the Nolichucky River Valley near present day Johnson City, Tennessee. For a year or so he operated in both Virginia and Tennessee. He was one of a number of potters who settled in the region during the early years of Reconstruction. He named his Chucky Valley pottery the same name that he had used in Pennsylvania, Keystone Pottery. His pottery was marketed not only in East Tennessee, but also in North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. CONDITION: Old stabilized cracks to one side, beginning at the rim. [See more photos →]

East Tennessee, Blount or Knox County, stoneware pottery preserving jar, with 2 incised lines around the shoulder. Upper body with impressed semi-circle stamp "W. Grinstaff" for William Grindstaff, with an impressed "2" above denoting capacity. 10 5/8" H. Late 19th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. [See more photos →]

East Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee Weaver Brothers stoneware pottery jar with elongated rim and lug handles and stamped "Weaver & Bro., Knoxville, Tenn." and "4" denoting capacity. 16" H. Note: The Weaver Pottery was listed in the Knoxville Business Directory from 1876-1887 with David Weaver listed as the proprietor and George C. Weaver as a potter. (Ref. Smith & Rogers, Survey Of Historic Pottery Making In Tennessee 1979", Division Of Archeology, Tennessee Department Of Conservation). CONDITION: Overall very good condition with a faint spider tri-line near midsection. Couple minor fleabites to the inner rim. [See more photos →]

Lot of two (2) East Tennessee, Knoxville stoneware pottery jars stamped "Weavers & Bro. Knoxville" including one preserving jar and one 2-gallon storage jar with lug handles and additionally stamped "2" denoting capacity. 9 1/4" H and 12 3/4" H. CONDITION: Preserving jar with a couple of fleabites to outer rim. Larger jar with a large chip to inner rim, a couple of chips to outer rim and a couple of indentions to body, in the making. [See more photos →]

Two (2) Middle Tennessee pottery stoneware grease lamps, both with slip glaze, pulled handles with indentions at terminus. 3 3/4" H x 5" dia. & 4" H x 5 1/2" dia. Both Early 20th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Smallest grease lamp with glaze wear to rim, otherwise good condition. Tall lamp with chipping and glaze wear to rim. [See more photos →]

Middle Tennessee stoneware pottery pitcher, attributed to the Dunn pottery family working in the Putnam, White and DeKalb counties. Signed and dated in script, "J L Dunn/1887" along the upper mid-section with incised line below and incised line around the neck. Dark brown glaze with band of orange/light brown glaze to center. 9" H. Late 19th century/Early 20th century. CONDITION: Old chipping to rim, 2 hairlines across width of base visible from the interior, otherwise overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Large Middle Tennessee stoneware pottery jar having a strap and lug handle with transitional light brown to buff pottery glaze, one incised line around the upper shoulder with script incision reading "t.t. Bradford". 18 1/4" H. Early 20th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Chip to underside of rim and a couple of chips to the lug handle. Approx. 1 3/4" L hairline crack on rim. [See more photos →]

Middle Tennessee stoneware pottery preserving jar with dark alkaline glaze, stamped "J. A. ROBERTS" along the lower body. 10 1/2" H. Late 19th/early 20th century. History: Originally born in NC, Roberts learned the pottery trade from his father. He became an active potter in the Cookeville, TN area by the early 1870's and continued potting until after 1900. Research courtesy of Carole Wahler. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Overall good condition with scattered minor firing flaws to glaze. Minute chipping to rim. [See more photos →]

Lot of two (2) stoneware advertising pottery jars by Bayless McCarthy & Company, Louisville, KY, both with cobalt stenciled decoration. The larger jar reads "Bayless McCarthey & Company/Louisville.KY" with cobalt line accents and the smaller preserving jar reads "McCarthey & Bayless/Louisville, KY". 9 7/8" H and 6 1/2" H. Both last quarter 19th century. CONDITION: Large jar with errant green paint to rim, some scattered firing flaws, overall good condition. Smalled jar with chipping to inner rim, chipping to base, surface stains, firing flaw affecting stenciling. [See more photos →]

North Carolina, Catawba Valley, stoneware pottery jar with dark brown alakaline glaze and two lug handles. One handle with incised initials "D S" for Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) and the other with a "1" denoting capacity. 10" H. Mid 19th century. Biography: (Courtesy: http://danielseagle.com/the_seagle_school). Daniel Seagle was the first master potter in the Catawba River Valley. He was a Lutheran of German descent who lived in the Vale, N.C., area from 1805-67 and established his pottery business near a creek not far from Trinity Lutheran Church by circa 1824. In the early part of his career, Daniel Seagle made lead glazed earthenware. However, according to the book Turners and Burners, Seagle switched in the 1830s to making stoneware, fired at higher temperatures to hold liquids. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Chip to underside of one handle. 2" x 1 1/2" tight spider line above base. [See more photos →]

Monumental North Carolina, Catawba Valley, 10-gallon alkaline glaze pottery storage jar. Ovoid form with lug handles and slightly rolled rim, dark olive alkaline glaze. Stamped on one handle "DS" for Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) and "10" on one handle denoting capacity. 17 3/4" H x 15 3/4" dia. Note: Daniel Seagle's family were early settlers in Lincoln County, North Carolina, arriving from Pennsylvania in the late eighteenth-century. Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) made both lead-glazed earthenware and alkaline-glazed stoneware, although very few of his earthenware pieces have survived. He likely trained under his father, Adam, who would have made lead-glazed earthenware. The kiln of Daniel Seagle was excavated in the winter of 1987-1988 by archaelogist Linda Carnes-McNaughton (from the archives of MESDA). Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Overall very good condition with chip to underside of rim, separating line around half of the lower side of base may be a firing crack (stable – does not appear to penetrate to the interior). Glaze exfoliation around rim and to interior of jar. 7" surface scratch to body. [See more photos →]

North Carolina, Catawba Valley, stoneware pottery jug, ovoid form with brown alakaline glaze, and one strap handle, incised lines below the spout. Upper shoulder beneath spout with incised initials "D S" for Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) and a "3" denoting capacity. 15" H. Mid 19th Century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Minor fleabites to rim, some minor firing flaws to body, overall good condition. [See more photos →]

North Carolina, Catawba Valley, 7-gallon alkaline glaze pottery storage jar, having a slightly rolled rim, five incised concentric lines above the lug handles, stamped on one handle "DS" for Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) and "7" on one handle denoting capacity. 16 5/8" H x 13 1/2" dia. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Minute chiping to the edge of one handle, chip to the underside of the rim, approx. 1/2". 1/4" chip to edge of rim. [See more photos →]

North Carolina, Catawba Valley, stoneware pottery jug or saddle jug, ovoid form with two flattened sides, dark brown alakaline glaze, and one strap handle. Upper shoulder beneath spout with incised initials "D S" for Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) and a "1" denoting capacity. 11 1/2" H. Mid 19th Century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Some minor scattered firing flaws, overall very good condition. [See more photos →]

North Carolina, Catawba Valley, stoneware pottery jug with dark brown alakaline glaze and pulled strap handle. Incised initials "JFS" for James Franklin Seagle (Lincoln County, NC, 1829-1892) with an incised "1" below denoting capacity. 12" H. Note: James Franklin Seagle was the son of potter Daniel Seagle. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. [See more photos →]

Group of four (4) North Carolina stoneware pottery items including including one (1) large salt glaze jug with flared rim, incised "3" to the upper shoulder denoting capacity and pulled handles (13 1/2" H), one (1) alkaline glazed jug with tall spout and pulled handle (10 1/4" H), one (1) alkaline glazed preserving jar (10" H), and one (1) alkaline glazed cream pitcher (5" H). All pieces Late 19th century. Provenance: Brad Swanson Collection, Abingdon, VA. CONDITION: Jug with old chip to rim. All pieces overall good condition. [See more photos →]

South Carolina Edgefield District alkaline glaze pottery storage jar with slip decorated flower and 5 (denoting gallon capacity) to the upper shoulder on both sides. 16 3/4" H x 12" dia. Mid 19th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Chip to underside of one handle, some scattered firing flaws, otherwise overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Edgefield District, South Carolina stoneware alkaline pottery face jug, made at the Thomas Davies Factory (1861-1864) by an unknown African American maker. Light to dark olive green alkaline glaze with kaolin eyes and teeth, wide set eyes, singular eyebrow and large nose. 4 3/4" H x 4 1/4" dia. Circa 1862. Note: This face vessel was examined and documented at the McKissick Museum by Jill Beute Koverman. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Excellent condition with some glaze voids and firing flaws in the making. [See more photos →]

Possible South Carolina, Edgefield District, Slave Made stoneware pottery storage jar, light and dark brown alkaline glaze with applied lug handles. Two (2) incised cross marks to the right of one handle, associated with Dave Drake and the Lewis Miles Pottery. 13 3/4" H. Mid-19th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Overall good condition, slightly mis-shapen rim. [See more photos →]

Grouping of three (3) American figural pipe bowls. 1st item: 19th century terracotta figural or caricature pipe bowl depicting the New York philanthropist Peter Cooper, made by August Peyrau. Incised on the underside "A Peyrau/NY 5 ", along with other illegible writing. 2 1/2" H x 2 1/2" L. Circa 1883. Note: A. Peyrau was a French immigrant living in New York City who, around 1883, "made a series of terracotta pipe bowls, bizarre, yet comedic, caricature heads of period personages as PT Barnum, Joseph Pulitzer, and "Boss" Tweed" (source: Edwin Atlee Barber, Pottery and Porcelain of the United States, New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1893). 2nd item: 19th century terracotta figural or caricature pipe bowl depicting a gentleman with a long, pointed beard. Incised on the underside "D. D. Alley/NY/1895". 3 1/2" H x 2 1/2" W. 3rd item: Folk art carved wood figural pipe bowl depicting a male with a large nose. Unsigned. 2 1/2" H x 1 3/4" W. Late 19th/Early 20th century. CONDITION: 1st item: Chip to one side of bowl, overall general wear. 2nd item: Chip to upper lip, fleabites to eyebrows. 3rd item: Light general wear, overall very good condition. [See more photos →]

Six (6) gallon stoneware water cooler with lid, Bristol slip-glaze with cobalt stenciled "6" above the stenciled words "Ice Water" above the stamped large "Red Wing" logo, bunghole at base. Cobalt band decoration to the molded lid. 16" H including lid, 11 7/8" dia. Large red wing logo – 6". Early 20th century. CONDITION: Overall very good condition. [See more photos →]

Group of five (5) Pennsylvania and Maryland stoneware pottery items including: one (1) Jas. Hamilton & Co./Greensboro, Pennsylvania 2-gallon cobalt stenciled and decorated stoneware jar with stenciled floral garland above name and and "2" below denoting gallon capacity (11 1/2" H); one (1) Williams & Reppert/Greensboro, Pennsylvania stenciled and decorated stoneware jar with colbalt floral sprig decoration (10" H); one (1) C. & H. Hast/ Cumberland, Maryland stoneware advertising jar with cobalt stenciled script to body reading "C & H Hast/Dealers in Groceries & Produce/Cumberland, Maryland" (7 3/4" H); a B C Miller/ Baltimore, Maryland one (1) gallon capacity salt glazed stoneware bowl or pan (5 1/4" H x 10 1/4" dia.); and a Mid-Atlantic salt-glazed stoneware spitton with cobalt daub decoration (3 3/8" H 7 7/8" dia.). Ranging in size from All pieces 19th century. Provenance: Brad Swanson Collection, Abingdon, VA. CONDITION: 1st item with firing flaw or chip to side and hairline extending through the base. 2nd item with chipping to inner rim. 4th item with chip to rim. All remaining items overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Western North Carolina dark brown alkaline glaze 4-gallon stoneware pottery jug, tall ovoid form with pulled strap handle, stamped below the spout "NB" for Nelson Bass (Lincoln County, NC, 1846-1918) and incised "4" denoting capacity. 16 1/4" H. Late 19th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: Overall good condition with a few firing flaws to body, small hole to mid-section of body. [See more photos →]

2 NC Catawba Alkaline Glaze Pottery Items. 1st item: Western North Carolina alkaline glaze stoneware double handle pottery jar or vase with strap handles. 6 1/8" H. 2nd item: North Carolina Lincoln County alkaline glaze stoneware chicken waterer, alkaline glaze with scattered rutile drips. 10 3/8" H. Both items Late 19th century. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. CONDITION: 1st item: Minor glaze exfoliation/rubbing to rim, overall good condition. 2nd item: Overall good condition. [See more photos →]

Three (3) North Carolina, two (2) from Randolph County, salt-glazed stoneware pottery items including: one large 4-gallon jar with pulled applied handles, possibly Craven shop, band of five incised lines around the neck, pulled applied handles below the flaring rim, and a incised "4" below one handle denoting capacity (17" H); one salt-glaze stoneware jug with one pulled handle (14" H):; and one (1) small salt-glazed jug with one pulled handle and three deeply incised lines around the upper shoulder (8 7/8" H). All pieces Late 19th century. CONDITION: All pieces with scattered firing flaws, large jug with indentation to one side. Largest jar with slight chip to one handle, chip to rim in the making. [See more photos →]