An Excellent Example of 19th Century Sprig Decorated Stoneware Made in America

This is a nineteenth century stoneware crock that has always appealed to me from the inventory of Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer Greg Kramer, seeing that the sprig molded decoration, which is carefully covered in cobalt, reminds me of objects that were produced by some English potters, such as some of the more refined ceramics made at the Wedgewood factory in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. But this was also a type of decoration found with red earthenware and stoneware potters located throughout the United Kingdom.

However, this is an American example, although I do not believe the manufacturer of this object has been identified. But this five-gallon crock has always been a prized object among collectors and dealers, whereas the previous owners include Garrison and Diana Stradling in New York City.

Furthermore, the manufacturing technique on this object is similar to that found with the applied decoration on an unrelated but outstanding stoneware pitcher that recently sold at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia. That large nineteenth century stoneware pitcher was made by Henry Lowndes (active 1811 to d. 1842) in Petersburg, Virginia, circa 1835-1840, whose family had migrated from Staffordshire, England in 1805: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/09/an-outstanding-19th-century-virginia.html.

Interestingly, the Stradlings identified the molds on this object - there two of George Washington, multiple classical figures of Winter and two Eagles holding a banner impressed E. Pluribus Unum, along with various floral trim. The interior of the crock is also covered in a brown slip, perhaps an Albany slip.

This is quite a rare object, and if the manufacturer can be determined then that makes it even more significant, whereas I believe there has been some speculation that it may have been made in Tauton, Massachusetts, although I am not sure if there is any concrete supporting evidence for that information. 

Nevertheless - Could this object have been made in New York? This type of sprig mold decoration was also applied on stoneware produced in Ashfield, Massachusetts, Vermont, Ohio and probably other locations in America, as well as Canada.

Note: Here is an article that I posted in November 2017 about a heavily sprig decorated red earthenware pitcher that was found in Maryland in 1997, which is believed to have been made in southern England, although the manufacturer has also not been identified: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2017/11/a-follow-up-article-to-story-i-posted.html.

19th Century Sprig Decorated Stoneware Made in America

19th Century Five Gallon Stoneware Crock

Decorated with Various Sprig Molds

Molds Include  Two of George Washington, Classical Figures of Winter and Two Eagles Holding Banner Impressed E. Pluribus Unum with Various Floral Trim

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Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer

Another View of the Crock

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