Exceedingly Rare and Important Stoneware Jug with Incised Federal Eagle and Banner Decoration, Dated "1853," attributed to Chester Webster, Randolph County, NC, 1853, ovoid jug with squared mouth, and heavily ribbed handle with pointed and depressed lower terminal, the shoulder decorated with two rows of scalloped, combed incising between incised bands, further incised with a large scrolled "3," highlighted in cobalt. This "3" features impressed circles at its scrolled ends and incised slashes within the body of the numeral. Midsection decorated with a finely incised and cobalt-highlighted design of a Federal eagle with shield across its chest, holding an olive branch and a group of arrows in its talons, carrying a banner in its beak, inscribed "1853." The delicacy of the incised decoration is a hallmark of Webster's work. In the case of this eagle design, he has filled essentially the entire surface of the bird with meticulous strokes. The banner, detailed with small incised slashes flanking the date and an impressed circular accent, culminates in flowing, vine-like incising at each end. The only eagle motif known in the work of Chester Webster, this design's subject matter and incised technique draws from the potter's training in Hartford, Connecticut decades prior. This Federal eagle motif is not only unique among Webster's surviving work, but also extraordinarily rare in Southern stoneware production in general, relegated to a few potteries in Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland. As this jug is possibly the only example of North Carolina stoneware known bearing a hand-drawn depiction of an eagle, it belongs among the most historically significant examples of 19th century pottery known from the entire state. The importance of the jug is evidenced by its depiction on the cover of Quincy Scarborough, Jr.'s North Carolina Decorated Stoneware. Literature: Illustrated in Scarborough, Jr., North Carolina Decorated Stoneware, cover and p. 38; Illustrated and discussed in Scarborough and Scarborough, Jr., The Webster School of Folk Potters, p. 48 and 57. Scarborough notes in Webster School of Folk Potters, [T]his three-gallon jug is one of the finest examples of patriotic decoration in North Carolina. It was executed long after this motif was popular in the North" (p. 57); Illustrated and discussed in Hewitt, Great Pots from the Traditions of North & South Carolina, pp. 156-157. In this book, Hewitt describes the jug with, "A classically trained Yankee potter in the South, a virtuoso in full flower. 1853 and America is booming" (Hewitt, p. 157). Significant restoration to spout. Extensive flaking around bottom half of jug with some flakes filled and colored. Flaking is unstable and in need of professional restoration. A long, filled curving crack to proper right side of decoration. Additional tight spider cracks to proper left side of jug. Large chips and flakes to underside. H 16 3/4".
