Rare and Fine Small-Sized New York City Stoneware Jug w/ Brown Slip Decoration, 18th century

Summer 2023 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 21

Price Realized: $960.00

($800 hammer, plus 20% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: The American ceramics market frequently changes, often dramatically. 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.

Summer 2023 Auction Catalog

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Rare and Fine Small-Sized Stoneware Jug with Dark-Brown Slip Floral Decoration, Manhattan, NY origin, second half 18th century, ovoid form with footed base and tooled spout, decorated at the shoulder with a delicately slip-trailed floral motif in a rarely-seen dark-brown slip. Handle decorated in this same slip with a stylized slip-trailed flower blossom at the lower terminal and a highlight to the upper terminal. Iron slip application to interior of mouth. The slip decoration on this jug appears to be composed of neither iron-oxide or manganese-dioxide alone; these are the two colorants that normally produce reds, browns, purples, and blacks. This slip's black-brown color, greenish along the edges, is something we cannot recall seeing before, and is indicative of the jug's age and origin, as Manhattan's stoneware potters occasionally experimented with different types of slip during the 18th century. The jug's spout construction, clay color, and handle terminal decoration also corroborate an exceptionally early period of production. A 5/8" chip to interior of spout and minor chip to interior of spout. A hairline across underside, continuing 3 1/2" up side of jug, where it forms a Y. A 5" Y-shaped hairline to reverse, emanating from a minor in-the-firing stone ping. Small base chips. Some typical small in-the-firing contact marks to surface. H 9 1/4".