1st item: Large J.A. Roberts Middle Tennessee stoneware pottery 10-gallon jar, having two lug handles; rare cobalt decoration including a “X”, denoting capacity, flanked by floral sprigs below the rim; and stamped “J. A. ROBERTS” along the lower body. 19″ H x 12 1/2″ W. Late 19th/early 20th century. Biography: 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). 2nd item: Middle Tennessee stoneware pottery jar with light olive to brown glaze, having lug handles, incised “4” denoting gallon capacity, and incised line extending around the circumference of the shoulder. Attributed to the Lafever pottery of Middle Tennessee. 14 3/4″ H x 10″ W. Late 19th/early 20th century. Note: For similar jars with similar gallon capacity script refer to page 80, figure 15 of “A Survey of Historic Pottery Making In Tennessee 1979”, Division of Archaeology, Tennessee Department of Conservation.

CONDITION: 1st item: Some scattered areas firing imperfections to the body and slight “dimple” to body, in the making and a couple of shallow chips to the inner rim. 2nd item: Shallow chip to rim, some chipping to one lug handle, crack to one side, approx. 5 1/2″ L.