Glazed Redware Inkstand with Applied Figural Decoration, attributed to the Henry Swope Pottery, Lancaster, PA, circa 1851, molded rectangular form with curved ends and footed base, the front and reverse decorated with a relief figure of a lion reclining below an archway. Inkstand is surmounted by a molded figure of a reclining dog with curled tail, flanked by its original, removeable well and sander. Surface decorated with a reddish-brown lead-and- manganese glaze accented with white splotches. Featuring a refined form, excellent glaze, and two different animal motifs, this work epitomizes the high-styled molded wares produced by Lancaster's Swope and Gast families during the 19th century. A closely-related example with lead-and-manganese glaze bears to the mark, "HENRY SWOPE,S / POTTERY / 1851," on the underside, and was sold in Crocker Farm, Inc.'s Summer 2022 auction, lot 144. Flakes and wear to one opening for well and sander. Wear to opposing opening. Minor wear to nose of dog finial and mouth of relief lion on one side. A small flake to molding at top and bottom edge of inkstand. Rim of sander with two small chips and a minor nick. Rim of well with 1 3/4" loss including a reglued 1" section, a flake, a chip, and other lesser chipping. Excellent condition. The survival of both the well and sander are noteworthy as these pieces are often missing. Well with minor rim chips. Sander with minor rim wear. Both well and sander with in-the-firing stacker scars to underside as well as some expected wear to underside of each where they would contact the top of the inkstand. Inkstand with expected minor wear to edges of circular openings for placing the well and sander, two tiny glaze nicks to one side, and an in-the-firing tripod mark to underside. L 6 3/4" ; W 3 1/2" ; H 5".
