Outstanding Five-Gallon Stoneware Churn with Exuberant Cobalt Cornucopia Decoration, Stamped "T. HARRINGTON / LYONS," NY State origin, circa 1860, ovoid form with heavily tooled shoulder, flared and tooled rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with a slip-trailed design of a cornucopia brimming with flowers and leaves. Wonderful detail fills the design, including a spiraling center to two blossoms and a heavily spotted center to the central blossom, accented with graduated dashes extending from it. Well-detailed leaves with veining to the interior and heavily shaded edges flank the flowers. An impressive aspect of the design is Harrington's use of negative space. A daisy blossom near the opening of the cornucopia displays this treatment. Elaborate bands with alternating diagonal and horizontal stripes fill the cornucopia itself, its scrolled tip featuring a three-petaled floral motif formed from the negative space of the applied cobalt. A long curving stem emanates from the tip of the cornucopia, bearing detailed leaves and a delicate, splay-petaled flower blossom, one of this churn's many over-the-top attributes. Large scrolled "5" to shoulder. Cobalt accent to maker's mark and impressed "5" below. Includes a five-gallon Albany-slip-glazed lid, not original to the churn. The extraordinary color of the vessel, crispness of the slip-trailing, and fine execution of the design, distinguish it as arguably the finest cornucopia-decorated piece from New York State, challenging works by Harrington's Rochester contemporary, John Burger. A true masterwork by one of New York State's leading potters. Churn in very nice condition with small rim chips, typical wear to inner rim for lid, two small base chips, and two small in-the-firing surface fissures to underside, not visible on interior. Lid in excellent, essentially as-made condition. H 18 1/2".
