Important Stoneware Ring Flask with Incised Decoration, Manhattan, NY origin, possibly Crolius family, late 18th or early 19th century, wheel-thrown, ring-shaped flask with applied tapered spout, decorated on the exterior with two deeply-incised undulating vines bearing leaves and oval-shaped flower buds or fruit. Vines meet at the spout, where scalloped incising around the spout's base forms a stylized daisy, with the spout forming the center of the blossom. Cobalt highlights throughout incising. The distinctive clay color and overall style of the incising indicate this flask was made in Manhattan, NY. The crisp, eliptical leaves found on this flask are most often associated with the work of Clarkson Crolius, Sr., and are found on numerous signed or attributed examples of his work. This flask was possibly made by Crolius or a member of his family. The ring flask is an extremely rare form among early stoneware products of the Northeastern U.S., with only a few examples attributable to Manhattan known. A significant recent discovery. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, recently found in the Northeastern U.S. Essentially as-made condition with meandering in-the-firing separations to clay on surface, primarily on one side. Some small, shallow flakes on reverse appear to be in-the-firing contact marks. A tiny nick to spout. L 10 1/8".
