ALEXANDRIA, VA and WASHINGTON, D.C. STONEWARE Auction Highlights

B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Water Cooler
$15,525
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Water Cooler
WORLD AUCTION RECORD, ALEXANDRIA STONEWARE
03/08/2008
Slip-Trailed Washington, DC Area Stoneware Jar, Signed "R. Butt"
$13,225
Slip-Trailed Washington, DC Area Stoneware Jar, Signed "R. Butt"
07/19/2008
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA. / D.C. (Alexandria, Virginia) Stoneware Pitcher
$11,500
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA. / D.C. (Alexandria, Virginia) Stoneware Pitcher
11/03/2007
J. MILLER / ALEX (James Miller, Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
$10,450
J. MILLER / ALEX (James Miller, Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
07/17/2004
R. BUTT / Monty Co. Md. Stoneware Jar, Only Known Example (DC Area)
$9,200
R. BUTT / Monty Co. Md. Stoneware Jar, Only Known Example (DC Area)
05/19/2007
Alexandria Stoneware Water Cooler
$8,625
Alexandria Stoneware Water Cooler
11/01/2008
H. SMITH & CO. Alexandria Stoneware Pitcher
$8,625
H. SMITH & CO. Alexandria Stoneware Pitcher
03/05/2011
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Crock
$7,975
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Crock
05/20/2006
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXANDRIA, D.C. Stoneware Jar
$6,600
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXANDRIA, D.C. Stoneware Jar
05/20/2006
J. SWANN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
$6,325
J. SWANN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
11/03/2012
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
$5,463
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
07/19/2008
J. SWANN / ALEXA Stoneware Jar (Alexandria, VA)
$5,175
J. SWANN / ALEXA Stoneware Jar (Alexandria, VA)
03/08/2008
Four-Gallon B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria) Stoneware Crock
$5,175
Four-Gallon B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria) Stoneware Crock
11/01/2008
J. MILLER / ALEX Stoneware Crock
$4,888
J. MILLER / ALEX Stoneware Crock
03/05/2011
J. SWANN / ALEXA Alexandria Stoneware Jar
$4,715
J. SWANN / ALEXA Alexandria Stoneware Jar
03/21/2009
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA. / DC Stoneware Pitcher
$4,600
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA. / DC Stoneware Pitcher
03/03/2012
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Milkpan
$4,485
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Milkpan
03/08/2008
H. SMITH & CO. (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jug
$4,290
H. SMITH & CO. (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jug
11/04/2006
Alexandria Stoneware Jar, Stamped "B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA"
$4,255
Alexandria Stoneware Jar, Stamped "B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA"
03/21/2009
H. SMITH & CO. (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
$4,140
H. SMITH & CO. (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
07/19/2008
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA / D.C. Half-Gallon Stoneware Pitcher
$4,025
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA / D.C. Half-Gallon Stoneware Pitcher
07/11/2009
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Slip-Trailed Stoneware Jar
$3,910
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Slip-Trailed Stoneware Jar
11/01/2008
J. SWANN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
$3,740
J. SWANN / ALEXA (Alexandria, VA) Stoneware Jar
11/05/2005
B.C. MILBURN, Alexandria, Virginia, Slip-Trailed Stoneware Jar
$3,680
B.C. MILBURN, Alexandria, Virginia, Slip-Trailed Stoneware Jar
05/19/2007
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria) Stoneware Pitcher
$3,450
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA (Alexandria) Stoneware Pitcher
11/03/2012
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA Alexandria, VA Stoneware Churn
$3,410
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA Alexandria, VA Stoneware Churn
10/30/2004
R. BUTT / W. City. D C Stoneware Jar
$2,970
R. BUTT / W. City. D C Stoneware Jar
10/30/2004
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA, Alexandria, VA Stoneware Jar
$2,645
B.C. MILBURN / ALEXA, Alexandria, VA Stoneware Jar
03/21/2009
H. SMITH & Co Stoneware Jar, attrib David Jarbour
$2,645
H. SMITH & Co Stoneware Jar, attrib David Jarbour
03/03/2012
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA / D.C. Stoneware Jar
$2,640
H.C. SMITH / ALEXA / D.C. Stoneware Jar
05/20/2006
H. SMITH & CO Alexandria Stoneware Jar, Incised "M" on Bottom
$2,415
H. SMITH & CO Alexandria Stoneware Jar, Incised "M" on Bottom
11/03/2012
JOHN WALKER, Washington, DC Stoneware Jar, c1834
$2,300
JOHN WALKER, Washington, DC Stoneware Jar, c1834
07/11/2009
The work of the stoneware potters of Alexandria, D.C. (later Alexandria, Virginia) is prized by collectors for its profuse cobalt floral decorations. Besides brushed designs heavily influenced by the nearby Baltimore potters, wild "slip-trailed" decorations rendered in fine detail were frequently employed under well-known potter B.C. Milburn's tenure. (A slip-trailed water cooler set the World Auction Record for Alexandria stoneware at our March 2008 auction.) Alexandria boasts a relatively large amount of maker's marks for its size--some very rare--and this adds to the collectibility of the sought-after stoneware from this town. Up the road in Washington, D.C., stoneware was primarily produced not far from the White House and Capitol, at 8th and I Streets NW, and it tends to be highly derivative of the Alexandria potters' work.

 ★ Alexandria / DC Stoneware-Related Videos:

Alexandria, Virginia, Antique Stoneware Primer

Mark discusses the progression of Alexandria stoneware from around 1820 until the middle of the century--using four Alexandria examples (John Swann, Hugh Smith, Hugh Charles Smith, B.C. Milburn) and one Washington jar (John Walker) to do so. In particular, Mark describes what has become known as the typical Alexandria design, and its use over the decades. Three of these pieces will be sold as part of our November 3, 2012 stoneware auction.

Antique Alexandria, Virginia, Stoneware Pottery

Brandt discusses Alexandria stoneware in general, and in particular James Shinnick--a basically unknown potter who apprenticed in Baltimore before working in Alexandria and other Virginia locales. A pitcher made at merchant Hugh C. Smith's pottery on Wilkes Street is featured in this video; it was probably made by Shinnick, and will be sold as part of our March 3, 2012 auction.

 -> See All of Our Antique Stoneware & Redware Videos