Wednesday, October 22, 2025

A Great Selection of Southern Stoneware Sells at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina

An incredible selection of southern stoneware sold today at Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina, as part of the Sally and Paul Hawkins Collection from Atlanta, Georgia. The collection included makers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama, along with twentieth century stoneware made by Lanier Meaders (1917-1998) and other members of the Meaders family, etc. 

Overall, the collection included museum type objects made in Edgefield, South Carolina with outstanding examples from Dave Drake (ca. 1800-1873), Thomas Chandler (1810-1854) and Shaw's Creek, along with a great Miles Mill Manufactory face jug, among many other objects.

The most sought after lot was a giant stoneware jar made by the enslaved potter Dave Drake in Edgefield that sold for $100,000 plus the buyer's premium. The jar was inscribed "Feb - 25 - 1857," "Dave" and "LM" - https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/216196334_outstanding-signed-and-dated-dave-drake-edgefield-sc-stoneware-jar-asheville-nc.

Another notable object was a pre-Civil War nineteenth century face jug made in Edgefield, which brought $48,000 plus the buyer's premium - https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/216196366_outstanding-edgefield-south-carolina-stoneware-face-jug-asheville-nc.

The results were quite strong across the entire collection with many of the modern pieces selling for strong prices, although one other lot that I want to mention is a circa 1840-1850 six gallon slip decorated jug made at Shaw's Creek in Edgefield, which sold for $55,000 plus the buyer's premium -https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/216196322_rare-and-exceptional-six-gallon-collin-rhodes-attributed-edgefield-sc-decorated-stoneware-jug-asheville-nc.

Nonetheless, for the rest of the pottery in today's sale - see the auction catalog: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/390274_our-premier-autumn-auction-session-ii/.

Note: For more information about southern stoneware - see a feature story I wrote for the October 4, 2019 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Thomas Chandler's Pottery Production: The McKissick Museum Of The University Of South Carolina Holds Innovative Exhibition - http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2019/10/thomas-chandler-story-in-oct-4-2019.html.

A Great Selection of Southern Stoneware

19th Century Stoneware Face Jug Made in Edgefield, S.C.
Stands 4 3/4" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions

20th Century Stoneware Jug Made by the Brown Bros. in Adren, N.C.
Stands 5 1/4" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions
19th Century Slip Decorated Stoneware Made in Edgfield, South Carolina
All Likely Made at Shaw's Creek in Edgefield
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions
19th Century Stoneware Made by Dave Drake in Edgefield, South Carolina
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions

19th Century Slip Decorated Stoneware Made in Edgfield, South Carolina
All Likely Made by Thomas Chandler
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

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