Ohio Stoneware Churn with Applied Eagle

November 05, 2005 Stoneware Auction

Price Realized: $18,150.00 (Price includes 10% buyer's premium).

Very Rare Eight-Gallon Stoneware Churn with Elaborate and Applied and Slip-Trailed Cobalt Decorations, Ohio origin, mid 19th century, decorated with a large, molded and applied design of an eagle holding olive branches and arrows, flanked by cornucopias. Banner above eagle reads "NE PLUS EXTRA," meaning "The Ultimate" or "Without Flaw or Defect". Applied grape designs to the left and right of the eagle motif, along with an applied rose branch above, and masonic symbol below. Elaborate slip-trailed cobalt floral decoration below applied designs. Slip-trailed cobalt "8" with flourishes below rim. A six-gallon water cooler slip-trailed "Anthony Baer / Cleveland / Ohio," and decorated with an identical applied eagle motif is pictured in the Stradlings' "The Art of the Potter," p. 139. (Baer is mentioned here as a Cleveland tavern keeper.) Another churn with applied decoration is pictured in Webster's "Decorated Stoneware Pottery of North America," p. 154. Compared with these two published examples, the churn offered here is the most ambitiously decorated. Rare size and highly unusual decorative treatments. A superior example of Ohio stoneware. Near mint condition with some small, in-the-making losses to top edge of applied banner. Height 18 1/2".

Click image to enlarge.