An Important Pennsylvania-German Red Earthenware Jar that Sold in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 2012

Northeast Auctions sold an important late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century lidded red earthenware jar at the Treadwell Mansion in Portsmouth, New Hampshire on Saturday November 17, 2012. The jar was attributed to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Unfortunately, I do not know the recent history of this jar, but it is assumed that it was likely consigned from a prominent American collector.

According to Northeast Auctions, "This bulbous-formed redware jar is covered in an orange-glaze. It is decorated on one side with a stylized floral bouquet in cream and yellow slip, green oxide and manganese brown. A similar bouquet is decorated on the other side, also in cream and yellow slip, and manganese brown. The cover is decorated with matching flower heads."

This jar was reportedly originally sold in the Jacob Paxson Temple Collection at Anderson Galleries in New York City in 1922.

Affixed under the jar's base is an old type label that reads, 'POTTERY JAR WITH COVER / BY JACOB DITZLER / PENNSYLVANIA / FLORAL SLIP DECORATION."

I vividly remember staring at this object during the auction preview - I imagined that it would sell to a seasoned collector, dealer or museum for a strong price. I also thought about the rarity of such an object today. I stared at the slip-decoration, which basically transformed this object into a true piece of Pennsylvania-German folk art.

For me, personally, this jar demonstrates how some of the most-accomplished examples of American-made red earthenware appear today. For some reason, most New England potters seemed to have chosen to diminish the use of slip-decoration applied on red earthenware produced after the American Revolution into the 1800's. However, I can only imagine what may have been left today, if New England potters, had remained focused with slip-decoration, like many of the Pennsylvania-German potters, who were employed in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries.

Ultimately, this jar sold for $10,620, including the buyer's premium; although, it would be interesting to see how this object would fare in today's marketplace since prices for certain museum-quality Pennsylvania-German objects appear to grow as each year passes.

Late-18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar - Bucks County, PA

Decorated with a Wonderful Polychrome Slip-Decoration

Jar is Very-Similar to a Jar Owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Circa 1780-1820

Stands 8" Tall with the Lid

Sold for $10,620 in 2012

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

The Philadelphia Museum of Art in Pennsylvania owns a similar-formed polycrhome slip-decorated jar, which is also attributed to Bucks County, Pennsylvania during the circa 1780-1820 period. It was gifted to the museum in 1954 by Joseph H. Himes in memory of his wife, Mrs. Eilleen C. Himes.

Late-18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar - Bucks County, PA

Decorated with a Wonderful Polychrome Slip-Decoration

Jar is Very-Similar to the Jar that Sold at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, NH in 2012

Circa 1780-1820

Stands 7" Tall Without a Lid

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...