An Important Red Earthenware Ring Flask that Sold Last Weekend in Virginia

In recent months, I have written a few articles about Nathaniel Seymour (1763-1849), who was an important late-eighteenth and nineteenth-century potter from West Hartford, Connecticut. Seymour's work was acknowledged in 2002 by the American Folk Art Museum in New York City when the museum published a detailed article about the potter.

More recently, surviving slip-decorated pottery, which was made by Seymour has been highly sought after by collectors at nationally recognized antique shows, as-well-as auction houses, such as Crocker Farm in Maryland, Skinner, Inc. in Boston, Garth's in Ohio and Sotheby's in New York City.

Nevertheless, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates sold an important slip-deocrated ring flask last weekend in Mount Crawford, Virginia, which appears like it was also made at the Seymour Pottery in West Hartford, circa 1790-1820.

Interestingly, this object was previously owned by the New York Historical Society, which likely accounts for the old museum number that was written on this ring flask. However, the fact that this piece retains a history of ownership at the New York Historical Society likely also explains why the museum was loaned an important Seymour pitcher for an exhibit before 1967. I recently wrote an article about this pitcher, but it seems that this ring flask could have been included in the American Folk Art Museum's article (mentioned above), as well.

The museum's article showed a slip-decorated standing flask, multiple slip-decorated jars, a slip-decorated porringer and multiple slip-decorated pitchers. However, the article did not mention the production of slip-decorated ring flasks, which seems to indicate the rarity of the object that was sold last weekend in Virginia.

According to Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, "This ring flask was consigned from an important private Virginia collection. Although, it was also sold at Sotheby's in New York City on January 29, 1995."

Important Slip-Decorated Ring Flask

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Ring Flask

Likely Made at the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery in West Hartford, CT

Circa 1790-1820

Measures 9 1/2" in Diameter

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA

Another View of the Ring Flask

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA

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