Bidspirit auction | American Brown-Glazed Relief-Molded Redware /

American Brown-Glazed Relief-Molded Redware / Earthenware Teapot and Sugar Bowl (Possibly - American Brown-Glazed Relief-Molded Redware / Earthenware Teapot and Sugar Bowl (Possibly Philadelphia, PA) Mottled brown manganese and lead glazes over buff or red earthenware bodies, the teapot a high-styled ”London type” oval/rectangular form relief-molded with gadrooning around lower half of body, reeded neck/collar above bladed shoulder with rope-textured impressions plus applied stars and floral sprig-molded decorations, molded arching double-ogee handle applied off center with crudely formed medial ridge, oval foot with recessed unglazed underside showing the raw clay; the sugar bowl is round and ribbed with a fully-glazed underside with rough remnants of triangular kiln furniture removal. Each with matching cover. First half 19th century. Dimensions: Teapot: 5” H. Sugar bowl: 3 5/8” H. Condition: Teapot: Moderate overall wear and areas of glaze exfoliation to body, no chips or cracks; cover with heavy chipping and glaze loss to finial. Sugar bowl: Very good condition with shallow flaking/chipping to rim, with similar shallow flaking to cover's lower 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's buff clay, brown glaze, and astoundingly crude manufacture set it apart from anything else in the group, but it can be compared 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”). In general form and style they share similarities, although the molding and relief decoration on this brown-glazed version is not nearly as competently executed. From the irregular decoration and sprigging to the lopsided handle (of a type sometimes seen on English feldspathic stoneware or silver lustre teapots), the general impression is of a valiant but unsuccessful effort to emulate refined English earthenwares. The same can generally be said of the sugar bowl which does have a red clay body and which might be related to lot 29 in this sale, although it is set apart from the rest of the group by the lightness of its brown (not black) glaze. 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.