Outstanding Ten-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Freehand and Stenciled Cobalt Eagle and Star Decorations, Stenciled "Hamilton & Jones / Greensboro / Greene Co. Pa," circa 1870, semi-ovoid jar with incised banding to body, tooled shoulder, semi-rounded rim, and applied lug handles, decorated from shoulder to base with various stenciled and brushed design elements. Upper body decorated with three large stenciled stars girded between wavy freehand stripes, two rows of cobalt dashes, and two thick bands of cobalt, all below a scalloped drape motif. Inscribed below with the maker's stenciling, "Hamilton & Jones / Greensboro. / Greene Co. Pa," below a wavy stripe, each line underscored by a series of dashes, flanked by two stenciled oak leaves. Further stenciled below with a Federal eagle with shield across its chest, clutching an olive branch and arrows. Base stenciled with a bold-faced "10" flanked by stars, underscored by wavy and straight stripes. Cobalt highlights to handle terminals. This tour-de-force of Western Pennsylvania stoneware, featuring large size, premier maker, and a desirable mix of freehand decoration and stenciled patriotic subject matter, is one of the finest regional vessels to come to auction in years. Of particular note are the bold four-inch stars adorning the pot's shoulder. Provenance: Recently surfaced in Virginia, having descended in the family of the consignor. Professionally-sealed top-to-bottom crack extending from proper left side of jar's front to base on jar's proper left side, including a crack extending horizontally onto front and another extending onto side of jar. Sealed top-to-bottom crack from rim on reverse. An overfired spot towards base on front. H 19 1/2".
Special Note: Due to this object's large size, we are unable to ship it using our normal in-house shipping service. It must either be picked up by the high bidder, or special arrangements must be made by the high bidder for pick up and / or shipping by a third party. If you have any questions, please contact us; we are certainly able to recommend options for third party shippers ahead of time that you can contact for a quote.
