Rare Multi-Glazed Redware Washbowl, Strasburg, VA, circa 1890

November 3, 2018 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 294

Price Realized: $560.50

($475 hammer, plus 18% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: This result is 6 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.

November 3, 2018 Auction Catalog

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Exceptional Shenandoah Valley Multi-Glazed Redware Washbowl, attributed to S. Bell & Sons, Strasburg, VA, circa 1890, wheel-thrown bowl with footed base, molded handles with applied clay orbs, and perforated soapdish with coggled edge, surmounted by scrolled pieces of clay flanked by clay orbs. Surface decorated with splashed copper and manganese over yellow clay, and covered in a clear lead glaze. This washbowl is strongly attributed to S. Bell & Sons based on its employment of molded, as opposed to hand-pulled, handles, as well as its use of inherently yellow clay (as opposed to slip-coated red clay). This example exhibits outstanding copper decoration. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, which recently-surfaced in an old NY State collection. One handle broken into two pieces and reglued, with coloring along cracks. A 5 1/2" crack from rim on reverse, with some coloring and light filling along crack, which descends from a filled and colored 1" chip at rim. Two small restored chips to edge of soap dish and a very minor spot of glaze wear to edge of soap dish. Some expected, typical light wear to interior base. Some in-the-making kiln scars to underside. H 7" ; Diameter 16 1/4".