Exceptional Miniature Stoneware Pitcher with Coggled Bird Decoration and Lightly-Incised Germanic Tulip Design, Incised on Underside "J.F.," Old Bridge, NJ or Philadelphia, PA origin, circa 1820, thin-walled, ovoid-bodied pitcher with short collar and heavily-tooled banding above and below a coggled design of a bird holding a leaf in its beak. Surface heavily-decorated with brushed cobalt slip. Lightly-incised Germanic tulip on front. Underside incised with the initials, J.F., presumably the pitcher's maker. Interior with brown slip coating. This pitcher would typically be attributed to the Morgan / van Wickle / Green pottery of Old Bridge, New Jersey, as it bears the distinctive coggled bird-and-leaf motif characteristic of this shop's work. However, having been recently excavated in the city of Philadelphia, the pitcher may instead be a rare product of Branch Green or an associate in Philadelphia. It was excavated on 2nd St. near Spring Garden St., only a half-mile from the pottery of Branch Green (2nd St. and Germantown Rd.). The initials "J. F." are possibly the signature of Joseph Francis, a Philadelphia potter from 1819 to 1826 whose residence on Front St. near Poplar St. was within a few blocks of both the Branch Green pottery and this pitcher's excavation site. This wonderfully-shaped and sized pitcher is the smallest piece bearing the popular Old Bridge-style coggling we have seen. Restored handle. Otherwise excellent condition. H 5 1/4".
