Important and Possibly Unique Salt-Glazed Stoneware Jug with Incised Decoration, Stamped Three Times "J. MORT," Hinkle-Mort Pottery, Jefferson County, TN, third quarter 19th century, rotund jug with footed base, ribbed strap handles, and semi-squared spout, the shoulder decorated with inverted incised scalloping and two wavy incised lines, separated by two bands of horizontal incising. Surface dipped in a reddish-brown iron slip and covered in a salt glaze. Impressed on proper left side of jug's base with large, raised-face "J. MORT" maker's mark within a serrated rectangular border. Impressed again with this maker's mark faintly at base on reverse. Impressed a third time with this maker's mark near the jug's lower terminal. One of the finest examples of Jefferson County, Tennessee or Mort family pottery known, combining extreme rarity with expressive potting. In her notes, Wahler states the following about his jug: "The upper 'wavy' line is upside down in the manner of Jesse Hinkle, his uncle, in Botetourt [County, VA]. However, if George, the grandfather, was indeed a potter that characteristic may originate with him rather than Jesse." Provenance: Case Antiques, Inc. Auctions & Appraisals, Knoxville, TN, May 21, 2011, lot 130. The catalog description for this jug at Case Antiques, Inc. describes it as "the only example of a stamped Jefferson County, TN Mort pottery form." Ex-Mary Jo Case. Very nice condition with some surface fissures to body of jug, possibly in-the-making, other minor in-the-firing surface flaws, an in-the-firing spout chip, and a few base chips. H 14 1/2".
