Exceptional Two-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Elaborate Impressed and Incised Decoration, Stamped "J. REMMEY. / NEW-YORK," John Remmey, III, Manhattan, NY, early 19th century, ovoid jar with footed base, tooled shoulder, and open loop handles, decorated on the front with an early Manhattan-style design featuring large impressed leaves with veining emanating from an incised circle flanked by additional incised leaves. Chain links connect the impressed leaves to an elipse underscoring the maker's mark. Heavily-brushed purplish-slip, likely composed of cobalt mixed with manganese, highlights the decoration and maker's mark. Reverse decorated with an outstanding design of a plant emanating from an incised stump bearing two long impressed leaves, as seen on the jar's front, and smaller impressed leaves with veining and serrated edges. This design is heavily-highlighted in cobalt slip. Large cobalt highlights surround the handle terminals, the area below one handle includes two cobalt slash marks, for two gallons, as well as an incised "2." This jar is the finest example of John Remmey stoneware that we have ever offered and among his finest signed pieces in existence. John Remmey III, the grandson of the first member of the Remmey family to pot in America, Johannes Remmi, typically produced stoneware with more-simplistic incised decoration lacking any impressed embellishments. This jar's incising, incorporating extremely rare stamped designs (likely inspired by his contemporary, Clarkson Crolius, Sr.), brings this work to an extraordinary level of artistry. To our knowledge, the extensive plant design on the reverse is unprecedented in his oeuvre. A masterwork by a member of a founding family of American cobalt-decorated stoneware. Provenance: Ex-Collection Ernie Graf, Saratoga Springs, NY. A large, faint spider line descending from shoulder on reverse, partially visible on interior. A 2 1/4" Y-shaped line at base on side of jar. Short, vertical surface lines at base, not visible on interior and likely in-the-firing. A narrow 2 1/2" chip to foot on exterior. Other minor base chips, one of which is glazed over. In-the-firing surface chip to lowest leaf on plant design on reverse. A rim chip above one handle. H 10 1/8".
