A large and significant example of Dave Drake's (ca. 1800-1873) alkaline glazed stoneware production from Edgefield, South Carolina sold earlier this week at Freeman's | Hindman in Philadelphia for $292,600 including the buyer's premium. The shoulder of the jar was inscribed "Lm April 7, 1859 / Dave," while the reverse side was inscribed with three slashes: https://hindmanauctions.com/auctions/6332-american-furniture-folk-and-decorative-arts/lot/191.
Working in the Edgefield area, Dave was an enslaved masterful craftsman capable of producing some of the largest vessels possible by one man. The earliest of Dave's known inscribed stoneware jars (which span 1834-1864) from Edgefield, South Carolina is dated "June 12, 1834," and bears the word "Concatination." This jar sold at Sotheby's in New York City on May 19, 2005; the jar retained a lengthy documented history of ownership dating back to around the time the jar was made, although it sold as part of the Dr. and Mrs. Jack V. Buerkle Collection: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2005/important-american-folk-art-furniture-and-silver-including-the-gary-gold-dinner-service-n08097/lot.149.html.
According to Sotheby's, "The use of the word concatenation; meaning "to chain together; to connect as by the links of a chain; union by a series or a chain" may be profound reference to Dave's condition as an enslaved man. Certainly it is a testimony to his education, intelligence and eloquence."
This jar also retained a lengthy documented history of ownership, whereas it was reportedly first owned by Ralph Jones (1821-1890) and Susan Elizabeth Morton Jones (1847-1939) of Eatonton, Georgia. According to Freeman's | Hindman, "It is unclear how the family of Susan Jones came into possession of this storage jar, but according to family lore, it is certain that the jar has been in the possession of the Jones family since 1859."
19th Century Dave Drake Stoneware Jar from Edgefield, South Carolina
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