Bidspirit auction | American Black-Glazed Relief-Molded Redware Teapot

American Black-Glazed Relief-Molded Redware Teapot and Sugar Bowl (Probably Philadelphia, PA) - American Black-Glazed Relief-Molded Redware Teapot and Sugar Bowl (Probably Philadelphia, PA) Lustrous metallic black/dark-brown glaze over red earthenware body, high-styled ”London type” oval/rectangular forms relief-molded with gadrooning around lower half of body, bladed shoulder with rope-textured molding (teapot only), teapot having applied molded arching handle with squared medial ridge and feathering to top surface (only up to thumbrest), oval foot with recessed fully-glazed underside with wiped footrim having remnants of buff clay stilts/kiln furniture, bowl having rough curved adhered red clay with no evidence of stilts. Each with matching cover. First half 19th century. Dimensions: Teapot: 7 1/8” H. Sugar bowl: 5 1/2” H. Condition: Teapot: End of spout poorly restored, cover with a large poorly-restored chip to one corner. Sugar bowl: Very heavy overall wear and scattered chipping plus a 2 3/4” Y-shaped crack to body, cover with scattered chipping to flange. Provenance: The Stradling Study Collection. From the private collection of Dr. Jane Perkins Claney (Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania). Catalogue Note: Lots 24 through 34 in this sale are primarily from the collection of ceramics scholar and author Jane Perkins Claney (1931-2018). It is believed that these pieces were generally acquired at flea markets and antique shows in the suburban Philadelphia area. Claney assembled the group in hopes of making the pieces available for in-depth study by future researchers - an earnest hope which is shared by Diana, who became the group's caretaker a number of years ago. Scholarship of the past decade has already vastly increased our knowledge of the previously-overlooked American-made ”black-glazed” refined redwares of the early 19th century - the diversity within Claney's thoughtfully-curated group shows that this area is indeed quite ripe for study by those interested in the early 19th century Philadelphia ceramics industry. This teapot, accompanied by a not-quite-matching sugar bowl, is related to a teapot at Colonial Williamsburg (object no. ”2022-54,a&b”) which was formerly in the collection of Susan H. Myers (former Smithsonian Curator of Ceramics and Glass and author of Philadelphia ceramics bible ”Handcraft to Industry”). Both pieces should be compared to another example (illustrated in Miller 2019, fig. 30). The pieces differ mainly in minor details including handle forms and the occasional incorporation of decorative bands of beading or ribbing. For reasons outlined in previous lots in this sale, it may be difficult to definitively attribute any such pieces to a particular maker, at least not without deeper investigation. But still, this fascinating and alluring ware, an important staple of the Philadelphia pottery industry which ”remained in regular production at least until midcentury”, stands on its own merit, and the myriad forms do a nice job illustrating its ”adaptability to changing market demands” as the century progressed (ibid, p. 13). Auctioneer's Note: We are thrilled to bring the Stradling Study Collection to market in partnership with Connor Rush of SFR Antiques, whose help and scholarship enabled the completion of this session's catalogue. A bibliography for the sale can be found here: ( https://bit.ly/3RYodeh ). For questions about lots 1 through 111 in this sale, or for help accessing the bibliography, please reach out to connor@nyeandcompany.com. Condition: Condition reports are not provided in catalog descriptions. The absence of a condition report does not guarantee that the lot is in good condition or free from damage and wear. We encourage you to request a condition report and/or additional photos prior to bidding on any lot. We also recommend asking for a shipping quote before bidding. CASH, CASHIER CHECK, MONEY ORDER, AND WIRE TRANSFER ARE THE ONLY METHODS OF PAYMENT ACCEPTED FOR JEWELRY.