Two good examples of nineteenth century stoneware sold today at Summer Antiques in Essex, New York, whereas one of the objects was likely unique to American production based on the way it was decorated. According to the auction house, "I believe the figure on this crock is a long haired drunk with a hat on the front looking at a drink with a crazy happy look. Then you see on the back what the drink did to him - it made him turn into a devil and decapitate his whole body with all his members floating around his devil body with a tail and knife in hand, and sticking something up his butt of decapitated torso. All the designs are incised and decorated in blue. The design could be a temperance piece or just a person struggling with alcohol and that person could be the potter who made it."
Temperance began in the early 1800s as a movement to limit drinking in the United States. The movement combined a concern for general social ills with religious sentiment and practical health considerations in a way that was appealing to many middle-class reformers. Furthermore, The American Society of Temperance was established in 1826 by clergymen spreading the gospel of antidrink through the network of the ministry, and within three years, 100,000 people had pledged to abstain from hard liquor in America.
The most recognizable types of pottery manufactured in America in the nineteenth century supporting the idea of temperance today are likely some stoneware objects that were produced at the Anna Pottery in Illinois, in Boonville, Missouri and in Texarkana, Texas. It is quite rare to find a temperance object made out of red earthenware, although there are some objects known.
Nevertheless, this particular crock is really exceptional, and if it is a temperance object then it combines the notion of this movement together with somewhat of an American folk appeal inscribed on a utilitarian crock. This is an object that I would certainly like to know the history of its manufacture; I also suspect it was made in New York. The crock sold for $4,400 plus the buyer's premium.
The sale also featured a very good nineteenth century stoneware crock with a partial impressed stamp that in its entirety reads, "W.A. MACQUOID & Co / POTTERY WORKS / LITTLE WST 12TH ST N.Y." Although, this stamp read, "POTTERY WORKS / LITTLE WST 12TH ST N.Y."
William A. MacQuoid (1838-1880) operated a stoneware business in Manhattan from 1863-1879, where he created some of the most folky decorations made anywhere in America in the 1800s, incorporating designs that used people, animals and other types of amusing scenes. In fact, some of the better decorated stoneware made at this company was displayed a few years ago at an exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan, titled, Made in New York City: The Business of Folk Art. There is also some good examples of MacQuoid's stoneware in Adam Weitsman's collection at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York.
However, among the most notable examples of this firm's production in existence today is a crock decorated with a large cobalt depiction of two Civil War officers playing the drum and fife, flanking a keg with two tankards on top. The crock was described as MacQuoid's most notable work known when it sold at Pook & Pook Inc. in Downington, Pennsylvania in 2021 for $51,660, including the buyer's premium.
Interestingly, MacQuoid is last listed as a potter in the 1879 New York City Directory, although his home is cited as being in New Jersey, where he was buried in 1880 in Fairview Cemetery in Westfield, New Jersey. However, the previous city directories that I have seen do not make any mention of MacQuoid living in New Jersey, such as Goulding's New York City Directory from 1876-77.
Nevertheless, this crock is decorated with a deer and tree in cobalt; it sold for $2,400 plus the buyer's premium.
Note: There were also other good examples of American stoneware in this sale - here is a link to the auction catalog: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/320093_country-folk-art-paintings-americana-bottles/.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
No comments:
Post a Comment