Part of the the Albert and William Steidel Collection of Alexandria, Virginia sold today at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia, whereas the two-day sale is taking place today and tomorrow. According to the auction house, "The Steidel Collection features an outstanding selection of American folk pottery, including the finest and most extensive collection of Alexandria and Washington, D.C. salt-glazed stoneware ever assembled, which is highlighted by an important profusely cobalt decorated ten-gallon crock that is stamped “H. Smith & Co." The Alexandria crock is attributed to the enslaved African-American potter David Jarbour (ca. 1788-1841), circa 1825-1830.
Furthermore, the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina displays the only known object that is strictly made and signed by this potter, which does not bear the mark of another manufacturer. The massive twenty-gallon crock is signed on the base and is displayed at the museum as part of the William and Susan Mariner Collection.
According to MESDA, "Few pieces of surviving pottery can be associated with African American potters. The iconic stoneware jar was made in Alexandria by David Jarbour, one of several free black artisans working at the city’s Wilkes Street pottery. The massive jar was made in several sections, which can roughly be made out by the bulges in the sides of the jar.
The exuberant cobalt decoration on the crock also differs from brushwork on other Alexandria stoneware, although similar decorations appear on pottery with an "H. Smith & Co." stamp, and Jarbour's name is listed below merchant Hugh Smith (1769-1856) in Alexandria tax records from 1826-1833, and again in 1841, indicating that Jarbour worked at various times at the Wilkes Street Pottery owned by Smith with both John Swann (b. 1789) and Bendect C. Milburn.
Additionally, in 1820, Jarbour purchased his freedom with assistance from Alexandria merchant Zenas Kinsey, a Quaker abolitionist for $300. Although ten years later, Jarbour created the immense jar displayed at MESDA that is inscribed on the base "1830 / Alexa / Maid By / D. Jarbour."
But it also important to note, that in 1831, the following year, John Swann, who had overseen the Wilkes Street Pottery left Alexandria; Jarbour may have created the massive pot to exhibit his advanced skill in a bid for the top job at the Wilkes Street Pottery."
However, the crock that sold today has also been published in Ceramics in America and the Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts, as well as being illustrated on the cover of the book, Alexandria, Virginia Pottery: 1792-1876. Nevertheless, the crock sold to a public institution for $120,000 plus the buyer's premium.
Additionally, there was a second nineteenth century cobalt decorated crock stamped "H. Smith & Co." that was possibly made by David Jarbour; it sold for $16,000 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/online-auctions/jeffrey-evans/stamped-h-smith-co-alexandria-virginia-decorated-stoneware-large-jar-5648919.
Here are some links to a few of the other notable objects that sold today from the Steidel Collection --
1) Stoneware pitcher attributed to the Zigler Pottery in Rockingham County, Virginia decorated with a cobalt deer; it sold for $8,000 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/online-auctions/jeffrey-evans/zigler-pottery-attributed-timberville-rockingham-co-shenandoah-valley-of-virginia-decorated-stoneware-pitcher-5616384.
2) Cobalt decorated stoneware pitcher stamped "H.C. Smith / Alexa / D.C.; it sold for $8,500 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/online-auctions/jeffrey-evans/stamped-h-c-smith-alexa-d-c-alexandria-virginia-decorated-stoneware-large-pitcher-5592741.
3) Cobalt decorated stoneware cooler stamped "B.C. Milburn / Alexa"; it sold for $13,000 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/online-auctions/jeffrey-evans/important-stamped-b-c-milburn-alexa-alexandria-virginia-decorated-stoneware-water-cooler-5647696.
4) Cobalt decorated stoneware pitcher stamped "J. Swann / Alexa"; it sold for $4,250 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/online-auctions/jeffrey-evans/stamped-j-swann-alexa-alexandria-virginia-decorated-stoneware-pitcher-5584028.
Note: But for the rest of the pottery in today's sale, which included many great objects - here is a link to the auction catalog: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/auctions/jeffrey-evans/february-9-2024-steidel-collection-auction---day-one-14630/catalog#catalog.
An Important Object from the Steidel Collection of Stoneware
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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