After writing yesterday's post about an outstanding five-gallon nineteenth century sprig mold decorated stoneware crock, titled, An Excellent Example of 19th Century Sprig Decorated Stoneware Made in America, I learned about this terrific object that is in the private collection of Virginia collector Timothy Collins.
This large double-handled nineteenth century stoneware cooler measures twenty-gallons in capacity, and it is decorated with a sprig mold of Santa Claus stepping into a chimney surrounded by his sleigh filled with presents and some of his reindeer. This is such an interesting decoration for this object! It really turns a simple form with no decoration into a conversation piece; i.e. why was this decoration applied on this object?
Additionally, it is really a remarkable piece of subtly decorated stoneware, whereas the only other known example sold at Morphy Auctions in Denver, Pennsylvania in 2009. The reason why these objects were made is open for debate, but there may have been a specific meaning behind them that was not just intended for retail sale. Were these coolers gifted to employees at the factory for Christmas? Was this a Christmas gift made by an employee at the stoneware factory for someone special? Similar types of gifts were often made at the sewer tile factories in America in the twentieth century, such as a vase that I wrote about for the cover story of the February 5, 2021 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Special Folk Art Ceramic Vase Made At The Maurice Knight Chemical Stoneware Plant in Akron, Ohio: Carl Funk's Sewer Tile Vase Is Dated 1935: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2021/02/new-published-research-story-special.html.
Furthermore, this cooler does retain some history of ownership; it was purchased from a woman in West Virginia a few years ago, where it had resided in her family for many years. But that is all that is known about that family's ownership of this object. Some speculation also suggests that this cooler may have been made in Ohio or New York after 1850, although more information is needed.
Nevertheless, there are very few examples of American-made red earthenware or stoneware known today that depict an image of Santa; the most prolific example is likely a nineteenth century red earthenware figural from Pennsylvania that sold at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland in 2005 for $33,000 including the buyer's premium. That object was purchased by Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer Greg Kramer, although it now resides in a private Pennsylvania collection today.
Stoneware Cooler Decorated with a Sprig Mold of Santa Clause
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