Exceedingly Rare Redware Nursing Cup, JOHN BELL, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, c1840-80

Fall 2026 Stoneware Auction

Lot #: 274

Estimate: $2,000-$3,000. About Estimates   About Shipping

Minimum Bid: $500.

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Fall 2026 Auction Catalog

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Exceedingly Rare Glazed Redware Nursing Cup, Stamped "JOHN BELL," Waynesboro, PA origin, circa 1840-1880, wheel-thrown cup with footed base, ornamental molded pouring spout, and applied scalloped cover to section of rim, the surface covered in a clear lead glaze over a yellow clay ground. Impressed with John Bell maker's mark on handle. This elegantly potted form follows china models of its type, down to the scalloped rim. Used to feed infants or the sick, the partial cover on the top of the cup allows liquid to flow from the spout without spilling easily. It is the only example of this form by the Bell family that we are aware of, one which speaks to the incredible diversity and refinement of John Bell's production. Literature: Illustrated in Rice and Stoudt, The Shenandoah Pottery, p. 119, fig. 41. Provenance: Dr. George and Connie Manger Collection. Excellent condition with minor rim chips, light wear to handle, and very minor spout wear. L 6 5/8"; H 2 5/8".



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