Extremely Rare and Important RICH WILLIAMS (Greenville County, SC) Stoneware Jar

Fall 2022 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 62

Price Realized: $3,120.00

($2,600 hammer, plus 20% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE:  This result is 2 years old, and the American ceramics market frequently changes. Additionally, small nuances of color, condition, shape, etc. can mean huge differences in price. If you're interested in having us sell a similar item for you, please contact us here.

Auction Highlight:  Fall 2022 Auction | Southern Pottery

Fall 2022 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare and Important Small-Sized Stoneware Jar with Alkaline Glaze, Stamped "RICH WILLIAMS", Gowensville area, Greenville County, SC origin, late 19th or early 20th century, semi-ovoid jar with heavily-rounded shoulder and flared rim, the surface covered in a glossy, dark-olive alkaline glaze. Base impressed with the maker's mark of African-American potter, Rich Williams, composed of individual stamps for the first name, "RICH", and surname, "WILLIAMS". Williams is distinguished as one of a few African-American potters to own his own pottery or mark his ware with his own maker's mark. A picture of Williams turning a jug in his shop, illustrated on p. 89 of Cinda K. Baldwin's Great and Noble Jar, is regarded as the only period photo of an African-American potter at work. According to Baldwin, Williams is listed in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census as a farmer, age fifty, living in the Gowensville area of Greenville County, SC and owning a farm. Baldwin notes that Williams is possibly related to freed black Edgefield potter, Milage Williams, who is listed in the 1880 Census as living in Shaw's Creek Township, Aiken County, SC. A Rich Williams jar, illustrated on p. 161 of Baldwin and bearing a "WILLIAMS" mark, exhibits stamping closely related to the well-known "Landrum cross" from Edgefield, indicating a possible connection to that region's potting tradition (Baldwin, pp. 128, 160, 161). A 2 3/4" loss to rim. Two adjacent, tightly-reglued pieces at rim, measuring a total of 2 1/4". H 8 1/8".




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