Cowan's Auctions in Cincinnati, Ohio sold an important western Pennsylvania stoneware collection yesterday, among other select pieces from the Midwest that were owned by Louis Hahn (1928-2020) of Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. The historic auction of western Pennsylvania makers included over 200 lots, and was the largest group of this region's stoneware to have been offered in a public sale in decades.
The highlight of the sale was certainly some of the giant freehand and stenciled cobalt decorated crocks, as well as a nineteenth century eight gallon stoneware watercooler from Ohio, decorated with a patriotic eagle that sold for $9,500 plus the auction premiums. Although, of all the objects in the Hahn Collection, it was actually another watercooler that caught my attention that came with a fascinating history.
The Louis Hahn (1928-2020) Collection of Stoneware
According to Cowan's Auctions, "While the history of this remarkable watercooler is currently lost to time, the script "Miner's Water Pot" leaves no doubt of its intended use, and is further emphasized with the word "Miner" in cobalt-filled incised block lettering below. A stylized device featuring leaves and flower pods in cobalt completes the decoration on the front; similar floral devices, though with drooping flowers, decorate the sides. The back side of the cooler is decorated with a large bird standing on a floral device. Cobalt also decorates the base of each handle at the point of application to the body.
Though unmarked, the decorative elements of this jar suggest a southeastern Ohio origin. Coal mining began in this part of Ohio as early as 1800, and active mines were located in Meigs County by 1806. By 1820, ten southeastern counties were mining coal. Mining accelerated thereafter, and by 1870, thirty eastern Ohio counties were producing coal.
Coal mining in the Pittsburgh area has a similarly hoary past. By the late eighteenth century, coal was being mined at "Coal Hill," just across the Monongahela River from present-day Pittsburgh, and by 1830, the city was consuming 300 tons of locally-mined coal on an annual basis."
Even though there were some apparent condition issues from use, this remarkable survivor should probably be displayed in a museum. It sold for $450 plus the premiums. To my knowledge, I have not seen anything else like this before in a private or museum collection.
For those who were not aware of this sale, the auction catalog can be found on LiveAuctioneers or on Cowan's Auctions website.
A Remarkable Survivor: 19th Century Stoneware "Miner's Water Pot"
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
3 comments:
Someone stole this cooler. I thought it would go for a lot so did not bid my mistake, Larry
I had my eye on this one as well, should have bid but regrettably did not. Oh well, live and learn!! :-)
It was a very good deal; someone got an excellent piece!
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