Extremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th century

Fall 2026 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 260

Estimate: $3,500-$5,000. About Estimates   About Shipping

Minimum Bid: $1,000.

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Fall 2026 Auction Catalog

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Extremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th century, large-sized cooler in the form of an apple with cylindrical spout and applied twig handle featuring a sinuous, forked terminal bearing three molded leaves. Rustic bark surface to handle and spout. Leaves with raised veining and serrated edges. Base with semi-circular bunghole, incised "PAT. APLI(sic) FOR." Cooler retains a fine, polychrome-painted surface in various shades of red, orange, green, and cream, under a likely original coat of varnish. One of only a few examples of this form that we are aware of. Literature: A larger-sized, closely-related work, at the time in the folk art collection of Barry Cohen, New York, NY, is illustrated and discussed in Reif, "Just Plain Folk: The Art of Everyday Objects," New York Times, June 17, 1990. The article focused on the sale of Cohen's collection in 1990. Reif writes, "The rarest object in the exhibition is an apple-shaped cider cooler, a redware precursor of Pop Art standing more than 16" tall. . . the price in the show- $17,500." Provenance: Recently found in a Chester County, Pennsylvania barn. Excellent condition with some light paint wear. H 11 1/2".

Extremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th centuryExtremely Rare Painted Redware Apple-Form Cider Cooler, American, late 19th century

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