Lot #: 114
Price Realized: $1,725.00
($1,500 hammer, plus 15% buyer's premium)
PLEASE NOTE: This result is 10 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.
Monumental Cobalt-Decorated Stoneware Vase with Applied Mermaid Motifs, American, probably Northeastern U.S., late 19th or early 20th century, wheel-thrown vase with bulbous body and tall neck with flaring rim, decorated on each side with large applied mermaids with raised tails and outstretched arms, separated by rocky outcroppings. Incised accents to mermaid's hair. Cross-hatched detail to tail and fins. Body of neck of vase embellished with applied and incised waves and fish and combed texture throughout. Wheel-thrown and attached base decorated with molded and applied wave designs. Neck culminates in a free-form, applied acanthus leaf rim with lightly-incised details. Surface decorated with cobalt slip highlights throughout, along with whitish slip highlights brushed over the fish and wavy Ochre-colored Albany slip highlights to rocks. Lighter Albany slip highlights to mermaids' hair. Salt-glazed surface. This newly-discovered vase, exceptional in both size and applied decoration, is reminiscent of the work of the Kirkpatrick brothers in its use of multi-colored slips, heavy incising, and an acanthus leaf rim. The refinement and overall color of this object, suggest it was not made by their hands. It is possible that this classically-styled vase was made by a Northeastern U.S. potter, possibly for a special event, to showcase his talents and ability to bring stoneware to a more academic artistic level. Its Victorian style indicates it was made during the fourth quarter of the 19th century or very early 20th century. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, recently found in New England. A 2 1/2" x 1 3/8" reglued piece of acanthus leaf at rim. Otherwise as-made condition. H 20 3/4" ; Diameter (at midsection) 12".
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