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Outstanding Lidded Stoneware Cake Crock or Soup Tureen with Molded and Brushed-Cobalt Decoration, Inscribed "Robert H. Williams" and Stamped "M TYLER / ALBANY," NY State origin, circa 1840, wide, shallow crock of wheel-thrown construction with semi-ovoid form and vertically-flanged rim, decorated on the front and reverse with brushed floral motifs in the Tyler style between rows of circular, cobalt-highlighted coggled designs. The crock's highly unusual molded floral handles, applied in pairs on each side and highlighted in cobalt, are copied from glass drawer pulls of the period. The underside is incised in script by the potter, "Robert H. Williams," then employed at the Moses Tyler pottery of Albany, New York. (Ketchum [1987], p. 578 lists Williams as appearing in Albany city directories circa 1831-46.) Robert H. Williams was the son of well-known and highly important early New York potter Durell Williams. (This is noted in Durell Williams' Revolutionary War pension paperwork held by the National Archives.) As such, this object highlights the dynastic quality of the American stoneware craft, transmitted from father to son--in this case from a father who had worked at the epicenter of American stoneware production with the Crolius family in 18th century Manhattan, had helped found the Poughkeepsie stoneware craft, then transmitted his high skill to a son who produced stoneware in Albany. The crock's original, domed lid is wheel-thrown and features a floral finial molded from a slightly different drawer pull, surrounded by embossed fan-like designs bearing the maker's mark of Moses Tyler, further encircled by molded leaves. Cobalt slip decorates the top surface of the lid and includes appealing spots throughout the fan design and brushed-cobalt swag decoration encompasses the lid's outer edge. Despite the vessel's cake crock form, an original vent hole, pierced beside the finial to release steam, suggests this vessel may have held a heated liquid food item and possibly served as a soup tureen. The most ambitiously decorated American stoneware example of this form that we have ever offered, this work combines a variety of decorative techniques with a desirable Albany maker and rare potter's signature to produce a tour de force of New York State stoneware. Crock with in-the-firing pings to interior, a few chips and expected wear to rim, a shallow 1 3/4" flake to bottom edge, and minor in-the-firing flaws to surface of underside. Lid in very nice condition with generally minor flaws: some tight lines in top, primarily surface-level only, a few in-the-firing pings, a few minor chips and expected light wear to base of outer edge, two short lines to vertical wall of outer edge, and a small piece of adhered clay to outer edge. H (including lid) 8 1/2" ; Diam. (of lid) 12".
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