A 19th Century Earthenware Humidor that Just Sold at Miller & Miller Auctions in New Hamburg, Ontario

Lifelong Toronto folk art and Canadiana collector Dr. Marty Osler began selling his sixty or so year collection through Miller & Miller Auctions in New Hamburg, Ontario in April of 2021 - and over the weekend, the auction house sold the second part of the important Osler Collection, which was considered by many to be more exciting than the first sale. These objects were acquired over many years from dealers, private sales and auctions in Ontario.

According to Marty's son Mark, "What the Millers have been selling is maybe only about twenty percent of the collection so far (much of which is remaining with the family). He collected things just because he liked them, not because he thought they were valuable. Marty's things are a phantasmagoria of treasures, which include carvings, burl bowls, trade signs, First Nations beadwork, steel toys, various works of art, decoys, fly fishing lures, carvings, rugs, among many other categories."

During the most recent sale, I was lucky enough to purchase this outstanding smaller sized nineteenth century earthenware humidor, which appears to be largely molded, although other aspects of it seem to have been modeled by hand. Personally speaking, I have never seen anything like this before, and while I suspect it was made in Ontario, circa 1850-1900 - I will not rule out an American manufacturer. 

The humidor is decorated with a cabin in the woods hunting theme - whereas some of the decoration may have been sprig molded, a technique used for decorating pottery by applying press molded shapes, motifs and figures to the main body of a ceramic shape before firing the ware in the kiln.

The style of the recumbent dog that adorns the lid and its facial features/expression are also similar to a number of the nineteenth century figural dogs manufactured in Pennsylvania and probably elsewhere in the Shenandoah Valley in the Mid Atlantic Region. Although, all of those pieces are made out of red earthenware, but the similarities are certainly apparent. 

Nonetheless, I think this is a good piece that is quite rare today. 

Note: For the full auction listing of both sales - see these links through LiveAuctioneers.

Part One of the Dr. Marty Osler Collection

Part Two of the Dr. Marty Osler Collection

A 19th Century Earthenware Humidor with a Cabin in the Woods Hunting Theme

19th Century Earthenware Humidor with a Cabin in the Woods Theme

Retains at Least a 20th Century History of Ownership in Canada

Stands 5 1/4" Tall and Measures 4 1/2" in Diameter

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Photo Courtesy Miller & Miller Auctions

Another View of the Humidor

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Photo Courtesy Miller & Miller Auctions

View of the Base and the Two Covers

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Photo Courtesy Miller & Miller Auctions

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