While visiting southeastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia last week, I attended the 58th annual Lititz Historical Foundation antiques show in Lititz, Pennsylvania. It's a nice show and definitely worth checking out if you are ever in the area when it is happening. I actually went to the show two years ago by chance, seeing that I was already in the area and I purchased three pieces of New England and upstate New York red earthenware, two of which have since been published, a small jar from Bristol County, Massachusetts and a large green glazed jar probably made at the Cornell Pottery in DeRuyter, New York. In fact, both of these pieces will be included in my forthcoming book from Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod.
Although, similar to two years ago - this year's show also coincidentally coincided with my latest published research story in Antiques & Auctions News; two years ago I received the cover story, titled, "The 19th- And 20th-Century Stahl Family Pottery in Lehigh County, Pa: Stahl's Pottery Preservation Society Inc. Has Protected Homestead And Site," whereas I just posted a short article on this website yesterday about the print version of this year's story, titled, "The Story Of Andrew Pitman: A Revolutionary War Veteran Turned Potter In The Shenandoah Valley of Virginia."
Nonetheless, while roaming around the show last Thursday morning, I walked into the booth of Ohio antiques dealer and show promoter Steve Sherhag, where I found this excellent late nineteenth or twentieth century American molded stoneware lion. Many different types of lions were manufactured in the Ohio area during this period, and this piece is no different - it is definitely one of the more attractive and colorful lions that I have seen. I especially like the base with the spots of blue, which when I first saw it somewhat reminded me of a technique applied on some figures such as spaniels and lions manufactured by Alexander or "A.P." Donaghho in Parkersburg, West Virginia in the late 1800s.
This particular lion was just discovered by a picker in Perry County, Ohio, which was surrounded by some major stoneware companies in Zanesville and Crooksville, as well as production elsewhere in the state, along with Kentucky, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. This is also the area that I believe this lion was very likely produced.
Interestingly, I was in New York City that night and I took these photos on the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. For one reason or another, I could see this piece exhibited in the Americana Wing at the MET.
An Excellent Stoneware Lion Recently Discovered in Perry County, Ohio
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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