Very Rare Script-Signed "Julius Norton / Bennington" Early Ovoid Stoneware Jug

March 1, 2014 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 275

Price Realized: $3,162.50

($2,750 hammer, plus 15% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 9 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: March 1, 2014 Auction | New England Stoneware

March 1, 2014 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare and Important Stoneware Jug with Incised Signature of Julius Norton, Bennington, VT origin, second quarter 19th century, approximately one to one-and-a-half-gallon ovoid jug with squared spout and ribbed handle, decorated with the incised script signature "Julius Norton / Bennington". This significant recent discovery is the only example of stoneware we have seen bearing the hand-inscribed signature of Julius Norton (1809-1861), regarded by many as one of the greatest potters of 19th century America. By the 1850s, ten or twenty years after this jug was made, Norton was producing some of the most coveted stoneware ever produced in this country, adorned with iconic figural designs, including deer, lions, and a variety of birds. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, aquired by the consignor's parents in New England several decades ago. Excellent condition with some staining. Albany slip drip to shoulder. H 10 3/4".