Outstanding Small-Sized Spouted Stoneware Presentation Jar with Cobalt Chicken and Bird-on-Stump Motifs, Stamped "MATHEWS / 1884," attributed to Brady & Ryann, Ellenville, NY, 1884, ovoid jar with tooled shoulder, applied lug handles, and semi-rounded rim with pouring spout, decorated on one side with a slip-trailed design of a chicken pecking kernels of corn from a stylized ground with shrub. Impressed above with the cobalt-highlighted presentation name and date, "MATHEWS / 1884." Opposing side decorated with a slip-trailed design of a crested bird with plumed tail, perched on a stump flanked by shrubs. The form and size of this vessel are extremely rare as is its depiction of two different birds on opposing sides. The style of these motifs lead to a solid attribution to the firm of Samuel Brady and John J. Ryan of Ellenville, NY. The jar's highly unusual spouted form may have served to pour batter or perhaps, like a milkpan, to pour cream off the top of resting milk. We are aware of only one other piece of this combined form, size, and decoration, which sold in Crocker Farm, Inc.'s July 11, 2009 auction, lot 19. It bore the impressed inscription, "VANCORTLANDT / 1884," and was presumably made for New York State's Vancortlandt family of wealthy landowners and politicians. Provenance: Recently surfaced in Florida. Very nice condition with a 1 1/2" line from rim on spouted side, a very small part of which extends through to the interior, as well as 1" line from rim on the opposing side, which partially extends through to the interior. Some spots of fry to cobalt on ground below chicken and two minor spots of fry to chicken's leg. H 5 3/8" ; Diam. (at rim) 5 1/2".
