Exceedingly Rare and Important Miniature Glazed Redware Jug, Inscribed "George Mort May the 27th 1859," George Mort at the Hinkle-Mort Pottery, Jefferson County, TN, 1859, squat-shaped, ovoid jug with footed base, slightly-flared spout, and grooved strap handle with stamped asterisk at lower terminal, decorated around the upper body with elaborate straight and wavy line incising. Incised across the midsection with the script inscription, "George Mort May the 27th 1859." Front of jug decorated with impressed diamond-shaped and circular asterisk motifs. Surface covered in a reddish-brown lead-based glaze colored with iron or manganese. Wahler writes the following about George Mort in her notes: "George Mort enlisted in the Confederate Army and I cannot find that he returned home. His wife died in 1868 and his brother S.M. died in 1869. His son John became a stoneware potter. . . It appears that George signed up in Dandridge. That is where Company C was organized." This jug's highly unusual signature, desirable size, and stylish decorative treatments, place it among the very finest examples of pottery known from this shop. Exhibited: Tennessee Turned, Earthenware and Stoneware Made in East Tennessee 1800-1900, Museum of East Tennessee History, May 16-October 30, 2011. Provenance: Descended in the Mort family of Shady Grove; Purchased by Wahler at Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals, May 21, 2011, lot 125. A small chip and large area of wear to spout. Some light surface wear to body of jug. Foot with two minor nicks and extremely minor wear. H 4 1/2".
