Some good examples of nineteenth century stoneware made in Edgefield, South Carolina sold yesterday at Cagle Auction Company in Athens, Georgia, along with other pottery made elsewhere in the South in the nineteenth and twentieth century. Although, the selection of stoneware signed by the enslaved African American potter Dave Drake (ca. 1800-1873) was certainly the most desirable, as well as some unsigned objects also thought to have been made by Drake before the Civil War.
However, the most significant of the objects signed by Drake was a jug missing its top with a great inscription, reading, "LM October 31st 1857 Dave." This jug sold for $17,000 plus the auction premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/184818717_edgefield-south-carolina-signed-lm-oct-31-1857-dave-drake-jug.
Interestingly, some of the objects that were attributed to Drake were inscribed with what appears to be an "X" or a cross, which is also a subject that I posted a story about to this website earlier this year, titled, A 19th Century Edgefield, South Carolina Stoneware Jug Found A Few Years Ago in Cambridge, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/a-19th-century-edgefield-south-carolina.html.
Nevertheless, for more information about production in Edgefield - see two stories that I posted to this website about the exhibit Hear Me Now: The Black Potters of Old Edgefield, South Carolina that was recently displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (as well as other museums).
MET Article: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/12/now-on-display-at-met-in-new-york-city.html
MFA, Boston Article: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/03/now-on-display-at-mfa-boston-hear-me.html
Note: For the rest of the pottery in yesterday's sale - see the auction catalog: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/340483_southern-pottery-and-folk-art-extravaganza/.
A Good Selection of Edgefield, South Carolina Stoneware
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