Exceedingly Rare Stoneware South Carolina Dispensary Bank with Sponged Cobalt Decoration, American, circa 1893-1907, ovoid bank with carved coin slot and concave, disc-shaped finial with pointed center, the surface coated in a Bristol-type slip glaze and cobalt-decorated on the reverse with a stamped design of a palmetto tree and the inscription, "S C / DISPENSARY." Front stamped with cobalt initials, "A B, P," above the initials, "C." and "S." flanking a six-pointed star, referring to the Confederate States of America. Surface lavishly-decorated with arched cobalt sponging along with highlights and additional sponging to the finial. The South Carolina Dispensary system required the state's citizens to purchase their liquor only through state-run facilities. This failed experiment lasted from 1893 to 1907 and continued in some counties until 1916. While alkaline-glazed jugs and white-glazed shoulder jugs with "S C DISPENSARY" logos are known, this is the first bank that we are aware of. The highly-decorative piece clearly extends beyond the utilitarian. The existence of a few salt-glazed stoneware "CONFEDERATE RELIEF FUND" banks made by Charles Hartung in Baltimore, circa 1885, suggests that this bank was also made to raise money for poverty-stricken Confederate veterans. We have yet to determine the meaning of the initials, "A B, P," although they likely refer to a specific organization heading a Confederate veteran fundraiser, the bank's owner, or even the pottery at which the bank was made. Arguably the finest example of South Carolina Dispensary stoneware known as well as the most historically significant. Very nice condition with a few chips to finial, minor wear to tip of finial, and a small area of wear to one end of slot, created when money was removed from within. H 6".
