Of all the figural bottles produced in Salem, fish survive in the greatest number. Most are glazed green on the outside but examples decorated in tortoiseshell colors are known. Fish appear in the April 30, 1801 inventory of the Salem pottery valued at 1 shilling 6 pence each. Three sizes were available the following year, and by 1806 the pottery was producing four patterns - the number represented by surviving molds listed in the 1828 inventory."
On January 25, 2014 - Sotheby's in New York City sold the Ralph C. Esmerian folk art collection during the city's annual antiques celebration - included in the collection was a green-glazed fish bottle attributed to Rudolph Christ. The object was appraised with a pre-auction estimate of $15,000-$20,000; however, bidders in the room felt differently when the bottle ended up selling for $53,125 including the buyer's premium (sales tax not included).
Early-19th Century Press-Molded Green-Glazed Fish Figural Bottle
Attributed to Rudolph Christ - Salem, NC
Circa 1800-1822
Sold for $53,125 in the Ralph C. Esmerian Sale in 2014
Measures 4 1/2" Long
Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's - New York City
I'm not sure if the Sotheby's auction result was an anomaly since only ten-months later, Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland sold a related green-glazed object for $7,475 including buyer's premium. But, this also may have been a later form made by John Holland, a potter, who succeeded Christ. In 1829, Holland is found in Salem, North Carolina listing four sizes of the same form. It should also be noted that molds related to this type of production in Salem have survived today.
Early-19th Century Press-Molded Green-Glazed Fish Figural Bottle
Attributed to Salem, NC
Circa 1804-1829
Sold for $7,475 in 2014
Measures 7 3/8" Long
Measures 7 3/8" Long
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
For what it's worth - noted New York City ceramic expert, Garrison Stradling appraised a similar green-glazed Salem, North Carolina fish flask on PBS' 'Antiques Roadshow' in 2004 for $27,000-$30,000; however, I believe that some of the estimates given on the 'Antiques Roadshow' are more of an insurance estimate rather than a pre-auction evaluation. The economy (and, the antique industry) has also drastically changed since 2004.
Early-19th Century Press-Molded Green-Glazed Fish Figural Bottle
Attributed to Rudolph Christ - Salem, NC
Appraised at $27,000-$30,000 in 2004
Photo Courtesy: Antiques Roadshow - PBS
In November 2013, Crocker Farm sold a rare tortoiseshell glazed (later imitation of mid-18th century Thomas Whieldon-style glazes in England) fish flask that was attributed to Rudolph Christ - it measured 9 3/4 inches long, which is the largest size that was made by Christ. That bottle sold for $23,000 including the buyer's premium (sales tax not included). Personally, I believe this is a much rarer and more attractive style, than the object, which sold in the Esmerian sale only two-months later in January 2014.
Early-19th Century Press-Molded Tortoiseshell-Glazed Fish Figural Bottle
Attributed to Rudolph Christ - Salem, NC
Circa 1800-1822
Sold for $23,000 in 2013
Measures 9 3/4" Long
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
Sotheby's has given a pre-auction estimate of $20,000-$25,000, but if the bottle that sold in the Esmerian sale in 2014 is an indication of the prices that are regularly achieved during New York City's Americana celebration, than it can be expected, that this bottle, will soar well-past $25,000. But, then, again, the price achieved at the Esmerian sale may have been, in-fact, an anomaly.
This fish bottle is scheduled to sell tomorrow, January 23, 2016. The lot is number 1611. Sotheby's describes it as "an early 19th century rare molded green glazed earthenware Moravian fish flask from Salem, North Carolina."
Early-19th Century Press-Molded Green-Glazed Fish Figural Bottle
Attributed to Rudolph Christ - Salem, NC
Circa 1800-1822
Measures 9 3/4" Long
Scheduled to Sell on January 23, 2016
Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's - New York City
Another View of the Bottle
Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's - New York City
Simply, for discussion purposes - I am not sure how the following red earthenware fish bottle fits in with today's discussion, but I feel it is worth mentioning. This fish bottle sold at Copake Auctions in Copake, New York in January 2015. The auction house gave an estimate of $200-$300, but it eventually sold for $1,680 including the buyer's premium. I'm not sure if this is a later production or a form of imitation, but I am not convinced that this bottle dates to the same period as the products of discussion. If this is a genuine product made in Salem, North Carolina - then, someone got one heck of a bargain. Any thoughts?
19th Century Press-Molded Red Earthenware Fish Bottle
Origin and Exact Production Period Unknown (to me)
Measures 4" Long
Sold for $1,680 in 2015
Photo Courtesy: Copake Auction, Inc. - Copake, NY
Ironically, after I finished writing this article - I realized that Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland has been consigned two figural bottles attributed to Rudolph Christ for their upcoming sale in March. The book 'Art in Clay: Masterworks of North Carolina Earthenware,' also discusses both of these forms (note: there were more forms produced past what is discussed in this article).
"The design of Moravian bear bottles, which initially appear on the 1810 inventory, may allude to the animal's reputation as a nuisance. On May 16, 1775, the Bethabara diarist recorded 'last night a bear ate one of our best hogs.' Based on inventory references and surviving examples, the Salem pottery produced only one model of a bear bottle, which depicts the animal with a slain pig beneath its feet."
Early 19th Century Press-Molded Red Earthenware Bear Bottle with a Slain Pig
Attributed to Rudolph Christ - Salem, NC
Circa 1810-1829
Stands 6 1/2" Tall
Scheduled to Sell on March 19, 2016
Scheduled to Sell on March 19, 2016
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
Another View of the Bottle
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
Rudolph Christ also produced a squirrel bottle, which was decorated with multiple glazes similar to the fish bottles that are discussed above. Renowned Virginia ceramicist, Michelle Erickson has also reproduced this form with her own interpretation in recent years, which takes on somewhat of a political statement.
According to 'Art in Clay: Masterworks of North Carolina Earthenware,' "The squirrel was a popular pet and the subject of whimsical representation in paintings, toys, and various ceramic objects in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Two basic types of Moravian squirrel bottles survive: one stands upright and typically clasps a nut between its front paws; the other leans slightly forward with its head elevated. These two models were probably represented in the 1806 pottery inventory, which lists ninety-six squirrel bottles at 3 shillings 6 pence each and forty-five at 2 shillings each."
Early 19th Century Press-Molded Red Earthenware Squirrel Clasping a Nut Bottle
Attributed to Rudolph Christ - Salem, NC
Circa 1806-1829
Stands 7 7/8" Tall
Scheduled to Sell on March 19, 2016
Scheduled to Sell on March 19, 2016
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
Another View of the Bottle
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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