Bidspirit auction | Cobalt Bee Salt Glazed Beehive

Cobalt Bee Salt Glazed Beehive Jug - 14 inches tall. A salt-glazed stoneware jug of ovoid or beehive form. The vessel is constructed with a hand-applied strap handle and a squared, stepped rim at the neck. The exterior features a classic salt-glazed finish, characterized by a distinct orange-peel texture concentrated on the upper shoulder. The front of the jug is decorated with hand-painted cobalt blue slip. The ornamentation includes a large numeral 3, signifying a three-gallon capacity, positioned above a stylized bumblebee or floral motif. This motif consists of a central spiral flanked by two horizontal loops and terminating in a vertical line. The base of the jug is flat and unglazed. A wooden cork stopper with a decorative woven wicker collar is present in the neck. The surface shows scattered iron spots and pitting consistent with 19th-century kiln firing processes. No maker marks or signatures are visible on the body or base of the vessel.