Exceptional Ten-Gallon Stoneware Churn with Profuse Freehand Cobalt Decoration, Stenciled "SPIRE & DUFF / NASHVILLE, TENN.," attributed to Enoch Fowler, Beaver, PA, circa 1870, large-sized, ovoid churn with heavy lug handles, semi-squared rim, and incised sine wave decoration to shoulder. Profusely-decorated with a large, meandering vine bearing four fuchsia blossoms, flanked twice by the number, "10," applied over a slip-coated surface. Stenciled below the Nashville, Tennessee merchant advertising, "SPIRE & DUFF / NASHVILLE, TENN.," with a row of stenciled stars at the center. Right side of churn with large foliate motif between two curved stripes. Shoulder decorated with two freehand stripes. Base decorated with a band of leaves between two freehand stripes. The decoration and potting of the churn lead to a firm attribution to Beaver, Pennsylvania potter, Enoch Fowler. Outstanding in form, size, and decoration, this monumental work ranks among the finest examples of Tennessee advertising stoneware known. A thin 4 1/4" crack from rim on reverse. A 1/2" in-the-firing ping to shoulder on reverse. A few other minor surface pings and some minor wear to surface. A small chip to interior of rim. A shallow 3/4" rim chip on reverse and a few other very minor rim nicks. H 22 3/4".
Please note: Due to its large size, we recommend shipping this via a third-party shipper or picking this up at our gallery as opposed to using our standard in-house shipping via UPS Ground.
