Outstanding Four-Gallon Stoneware Jar with Profuse Cobalt Freehand and Stenciled Thistle Decoration, Stenciled "A.V. Boughner, / Greensboro, Pa," circa 1865, wide-bodied, cylindrical form with combed banding to midsection, tooled shoulder, applied lug handles, and semi-rounded rim, brush-decorated across the upper body with an undulating vine bearing graduated leaves and tulip blossoms, situated between straight and wavy freehand stripes. Remainder of jar featuring A.V. Boughner maker's stenciling between a freehand stripe and two groups of graduated, triangular dashes, the words "A.V. Boughner," and "Greensboro. Pa" separated by a freehand vine. Stenciled thistle motifs appears to the left and right. Base with freehand vining flanking a cobalt-script 4 with arched detail above, all underscored by additional freehand stripes. Cobalt highlights to handle terminals. The jar exhibits an appealing and unusual shorter and wider body style than is typical for the region. Combining top-to-bottom brushwork, Greensboro's iconic stenciled thistle motif, and excellent color, this jar is among the finest examples of Boughner family stoneware to come to auction in years. Provenance: Recently surfaced in the Northeastern U.S. A reverse J-shaped crack from rim on reverse, extending below handle on jar's left side. A chip to reverse end of right handle. Minor surface wear. Light wear to interior of rim and a glazed-over 1 3/4" in-the-firing surface line to interior of rim, not visible on exterior. A 1 1/2" line on underside continuing 1" up base on front, not visible on interior. A minor piece of adhered in-the-firing clay at base on front. H 12 7/8".
