Outstanding Slip-Decorated Redware Water Cooler with Lizard-Form Handles, probably American, possibly New England or Ohio, 19th century, highly-ovoid form with flared collar and pedestal-form base with circular bunghole, the collar and midsection embellished with heavily-incised banding. The handles are pulled straps modified in the form of lizards with applied head, legs, and long, curving tails. Incised details to head and feet of lizard. Surface is brush-decorated throughout with looping manganese lines against a colorful green-and-orange ground and covered in a lead glaze. Interior covered in a lead-and-iron or lead-and-manganese glaze. Exceptional form. Relatively few American redware water coolers are known. This work's stylish potting, color, and wonderful figural handles create an object of high artistic merit. We are aware of no related redware coolers of this style; however, the decoration, color, glaze treatment, and weight are all consistent with American products. Lizard handles are featured on the iconic Ironton, Ohio stoneware face water cooler, sold as lot 43 in Crocker Farm's July 20, 2019 auction, as well as a number of Ohio-made stoneware harvest jugs from the second half of the 19th century. However, the spotted coloration of this cooler most closely resembles New England, primarily Massachusetts redware. Further research will hopefully determine the origin of this amazing vessel. Heads of lizards reglued. Flakes to lizards. A 2 3/4" x 2 1/2" triangular wedge reglued at rim on revers, including a chip. Missing applied circular section of clay around bunghole. Wear to rim. Other minor surface wear and a few minor in-the-firing contact marks to surface. H 19 3/8".
