19th Century Folk Art Figural Pottery

Sold for $321.00 on eBay.

Circa 1880 Southern Stoneware African-American Face Vessel

Auction House description:
Very Rare and Important Large-Sized Southern Stoneware Face Vessel of an African-American Preacher, Rock Mills, Alabama School, circa 1880-1890, wheel-thrown figure with clasped hands and brimmed hat, the face with applied and incised features, including eyes with impressed pupils, thick eyebrows with incised hair, a large mouth with incised teeth, a chin, and ears with pierced centers. Reverse of head with applied and lightly-depressed clay representing hair. The figure's hat is wheel-thrown and applied, with heavily-incised rings around the brim, sides, and top. An incised cross on the reverse may represent an individual potter's signature or simply indicate the figure's Christian faith. A circular opening in the reverse, carved prior to the sculpture's firing, is possibly a vent hole to prevent damage during the firing process; it may have also served as a flower holder or granted access to the interior for storage. The figure's robust arms include well-defined fingers and impressed finger nails. Two small impressed holes in the underside of each arm likely served as vents during the firing. Surface covered in a streaky Albany slip glaze, with additional red cold-painted highlights to lips, hat, and eyebrows. John Michael Vleck, in his 1978 book, The African-American Tradition in Decorative Arts, studies a figure likely by the same maker. With similar form, size, facial structure, and virtually identical hat, Vleck describes this second example as "the masterwork among known ceramic torso figures". Vleck writes, “The best of the Alabama trio is called Preacher Man. It is a bulky figure more than sixteen inches high. Lacking a spout or lid, it is a functional vessel and can more easily be interpreted as a graveyard decoration. The torso section of the figure, in fact, has the same bell shape as ceramic supports for grave markes made in Alabama and Mississippi. As in the previously described piece, the hands are folded at the waist. The head is also topped with a hat, but in this case it is an exquisitely style skimmer. ... The face is impressively molded with eyes sockets that penetrate into the empty hollow center of the sculpture. The lips are wide and the nose broad in an apparent attempt to represent Negro facial features. The overall handling of mass and form in this piece is so impressive that it stands out as the masterwork among known ceramic torso figures. One scholar has remarked that the statue projects a kind of sympathy for a black subject. If, indeed, the figure was meant to depict a black man or preacher, it is a competent and well-executed statement. Since the features of this piece tend to favor abstract presentation over naturalism, it might be classed as a black creation. It is not clear how one safely measures such an intangible as ethnicity in a mute work whose only history is rumor. More information here would be helpful, but it would not be surprising to discover Afro-American origins.” (Vleck, pp. 92-93) The vessel Vleck is referring to was previously owned by prominent New York folk art collector, John Gordon, and sold in an auction of his collection at Christie's, New York in 1999. It is pictured in Vleck's book, The African-American Tradition in Decorative Arts, as well as Robert Charles Bishop's well-known book, American Folk Sculpture. As stated, a number of clear stylistic similarities link this face vessel to the example offered at Crocker Farm, Inc., in July. However, the face on the vessel to be auctioned is arguably more well-executed and expressive. Perhaps the greatest single difference between the two sculptures is the construction of the eyes. Gordon's example features sunken eyes assuming a somber tone. The eyes on the newly-discovered figure are bulging and lively with impressed pupils, creating a more pleasant or satisfied visage to the preacher. In addition, this figure's mouth, with its pinched, upward curling ends, creates a sort of smile, which is markedly different than the mouth of the Gordon example. Few American face vessels of this size and quality are ever made available on the secondary market. Even fewer can be described as new discoveries, unknown until only months ago. Most examples from the North, South, and Midwest, were collected decades ago, now part of major public and private folk art collections throughout the country. One of the most significant American stoneware face vessel discoveries of the past several years. Provenance: Recently found in a garage in the Chattahoochee River Valley. Literature: For similar examples, see Christie's, Jan. 15, 1999, The John Gordon Sale of Folk Americana, lots 1167 and 1168; see also p. 220, fig. 412 of American Folk Sculpture by Robert Charles Bishop. For more information on Alabama face vessels and additional photos of similar examples, see also pp. 92-93 of The African-American Tradition in Decorative Arts by John Michael Vleck, University of Georgia Press, 1978. Two large losses to hat. A very stable, in-the-firing separation at wrist. Minor chips to one eye and minor wear to edge of one nostril. Small chips to opening on reverse. H 16 3/4".

Sold for $46,000.00 (w/o premium) at Crocker Farm.

Circa 1830 Stoneware Ring Flask

Auction House description:
Exceedingly Rare and Important Diminutive Stoneware Face Ring Flask with Incised Foliate Decoration, Inscribed "William Peirce" and "W.P. / 1830," probably Northeastern U.S. origin, 1830, diminutive circular flask with applied spout decorated with an applied clay face with pierced eyes, nostrils, and mouth, the eyebrows and hair with incised details. Body of flask decorated with an incised leafy vine. Incised in script below face, "William Peirce". Reverse incised with the initials and date "W.P. / 1830". Surface covered in a brown Albany slip glaze. A wonderful folk art form. One of only two American face ring flasks we have seen, this being the finer of the two. Provenance: A fresh-to-the-market example, purchased in the Northeastern U.S. approximately twenty years ago. A small spout chip and a minuscule nick to face's mouth. L 5 5/8".

Sold for $4,750.00 (w/o premium) at Crocker Farm.

Pottery Bear

18th century Staffordshire pottery bear decanter. Sold at Leland Little for $500.00 (w/o premium).

Ohio Grotesque

19th century folk art clay pipe with the head of a wild man sticking his tongue out. Found in Ohio.

Available at Anonymous Works.

Alienware

This is the first time that I've heard the term "Alienware" (not surprising since I don't collect pottery). I guess the term is used to describe these pottery pieces from the 1920s-1930s that have this crackled fleshy "brain" surface (the best that I could describe it!).

This particular example looks like it came straight out of a 1930's sci-fi movie.

Available here.

Black Head Bank

19th century folk art redware pottery bank of a black man's head.

Available at Anonymous Works.

Masonry Man

Circa 1930's-1940's masonry bust of a man. Found in Ohio. 19 1/2" tall.

Enigmatic Sculpture

Available here.

Baltimore Pottery Bust of a Man

Auction house description:

Very Rare Folk Art Redware Bust of a Man, Carved on Underside "B. KAPP / 76," made at the Perine Pottery, Baltimore, MD, circa 1876, hand-modeled bust in the form of a man with mustache and goatee, wearing a coat with lead-glazed buttons. Carved on underside with the date "76" and the name "B. KAPP," probably referring to West Baltimore potter, Israel Kapp, or a relative. (The name and date on the underside may have been carved after the firing, but are believed to be original to the piece.) Traces of gold paint to surface, and black-and-white paint to eyes. Exceptional figural form. Documented Baltimore redware is highly unusual. Provenance: This sculpture was included with several other Perine items at an exhibit at the Maryland Historical Society in 1955, and was cataloged as being made at the Perine Pottery. The catalog sticker from this exhibit is still on the underside. Base chips. Chip to one ear. H 4 1/4".

Available at Crocker Farm.

1936 Folk Art Bust of a Man in Clay

Early 20th Century Pottery Head of a Football Player

Measures 9" tall x 7" wide and weighs 17 lbs!

"End of Day" Pottery Head

Here's a nice clay figure of a head that's probably an end of day whimsey. Small (2 1/2" tall) and has a hole on the top, so might have been a match holder. Recently sold on eBay for $ 105.83.