Extremely Rare attrib. Mottern Pottery, Carter County, Tennessee Small-Sized Redware Cream Pitcher

Spring 2026 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 74

Price Realized: $7,200.00

($6,000 hammer, plus 20% buyer's premium)

PLEASE NOTE: The American ceramics market frequently changes, often dramatically. Additionally, small nuances of color, condition, shape, etc. can mean huge differences in price. If you're interested in having us sell a similar item for you, please contact us here.

Auction Highlight: Spring 2026 Auction | Southern Pottery | Tennessee Pottery

Spring 2026 Auction Catalog

◀︎ Back to Catalog

▶ Login

Extremely Rare Small-Sized Redware Cream Pitcher with Cream-Slip Floral Decoration, attributed to the Mottern Pottery, Carter County, TN, circa 1870-1890, ovoid pitcher with footed base and short, wide collar, decorated on the front with a slip-trailed, cream-slip design of a tulip with scrolled leaves, the surface coated in an olive-toned lead-based glaze. This redware piece appears to have nearly reached a vitrifying stoneware temperature in the firing, resulting in a dark gray coloration to the vessel's unglazed bottom. The only Mottern pitcher that we have ever offered, this work features outstanding size and strong decoration in this pottery's distinctive slip-trailed style. Very nice condition. A thin, horizontal crack in base of handle. Some omission of glaze on handle and body, as-made. A small rim chip. A 1 3/8" diagonal line from rim on reverse. A minor 3/8" in-the-firing line to interior of rim, not visible on exterior. Glazed surface survives in remarkable, essentially as-made condition. H 4 7/8".