The Estate Sale of Russell Stahl in the Summer of 1987, Featuring More Than 1,000 Pieces of Pottery

I'm way too young to have attended the estate sale of the third generation potter Russell Stahl (1911-1986) in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in 1987. But it's certainly a sale I wish I could have witnessed seeing that more than 1,000 pieces of red earthenware were sold a year after the potter died in August of 1986.

According to the newspaper The Morning Call, "Many of the fluted flowerpots, colorful pie plates and sgraffito vases had been collecting dust in the Stahl shop for more than 40 years. A number of the pieces offered were considered greenware, pieces that were never fired, and biscuit ware, which was fired once, glazed, but never finish fired.

A number of historical finished pieces also sold, including an 11 1/2-inch tall Bob Adam ewer with stopper and a sgraffito 10 3/4-inch green glazed dish with squirrel and oak leaf designs. Other objects included medallions, plaques, lidded sugar bowls, rooster & kitten figures, in addition to pots of every description.

Russell was the third generation of Stahls to produce red earthenware on the site in Powder Valley, Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Charles Ludwig Stahl (1828-1896) began the enterprise in 1847.

The sale also featured the wood-fired kiln and pot shop; included in the shop were molds, potter's wheels, slip cups, assorted tools, a small library, and an old potter's hat and apron left hanging on a nail after the last pot was thrown in 1953."

Unfortunately, I don't have access to any pictures from the auction since it took place more than 30 years ago, but I can share this picture, which shows Russell Stahl (right) in front of his kiln in 1985. Many pieces of pottery are seen in this photograph, all of which probably sold at the estate sale in 1987.

Russell Stahl (1911-1986)

Russell Stahl (Right) in Front of His Kiln in Powder Valley, PA in 1985

More Than 1,000 Pieces of His Pottery Were Sold from this Estate in 1987

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: http://www.stahlspottery.org

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