Anna Pottery Stoneware Pig Flask with Fine Inscription

July 22, 2017 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 300

Price Realized: $5,015.00

($4,250 hammer, plus 18% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 7 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: July 22, 2017 Auction | Anna Pottery

July 22, 2017 Auction Catalog

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Rare and Fine Anna Pottery Stoneware Pig Bottle with Incised Railroad Map, Inscribed "With a little Good Old Bourbon in a hogs- / By Anna Pottery", Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick, Anna, IL, circa 1875-1880, molded in the form of a reclining pig with hole at rear, incised details to face and hooves, and anatomically-correct underside, the surface covered in a chocolate-brown Albany slip glaze and incised on one side with the following inscriptions: St. Louis the future Capital in a Hogs- / Latest and Most Reliable R.R. & River Guide / with a little Good Old Bourbon in a hogs- / by / Anna Pottery". Remainder of pig incised with a detailed map of the Midwestern U.S., including the following landmarks: Miss River, grand Tower / Pig iron City, Jonesboro the Banner Democrat City, cairo the, narrow guge, murphysboro, C & St L. RR., alton, O & M RR, Bloomington, C R & St. L. R. R., Sandoval, Springfield, ic.R.R., Odin, Centralia, Ashley, Tamaroa(?), DuQuoin, Elkville, Desoto, Carbondale, Makanda, Cobden, Anna Jug City, Dongola, villa bilge, mound city, Tunnel Hill, C & V.R.R., Vincens, Dunleith, Chicago the Great Corn Mart of the World, Cincinnati the ancient Porkpacking City, and Louisville Falls C. This bottle, likely from a relatively early period in the Kirkpatricks' production of the form, includes several landmarks we cannot recall seeing on an Anna pig before. Among them is "Louisville Falls C", incised on the underside, not only exceptionally rare, but also indicative of the wit and bawdy humor associated with the Kirkpatricks' work. Additionally, the inclusion of the monikers, "Pig iron city" and "the Banner Democrat City", with the cities of "grand Tower" and "Jonesboro", is highly unusual. Also of note is the small size of much of the incising, a testament to the delicacy and painstaking detail with which much of the Kirkpatricks' pieces were made. Several of the landmarks represented include letters that are 1/16 of an inch or smaller. Excellent, essentially as-made condition with some in-the-firing mottling and spotting to Albany slip. L 7 5/8".