Bidspirit auction | Very Rare Illinois Flint-Enamel /

Very Rare Illinois Flint-Enamel / Rockingham-Glazed Presentation Book Flask / Bottle - Very Rare Illinois Flint-Enamel / Rockingham-Glazed Presentation Book Flask / Bottle Mottled Rockingham glaze with pale blue flint enamel spotting over buff earthenware body, medium-sized book flask copied from a Bennington prototype, incised in script ”Wm. Davis / Coal Valley / Vol. III / 1862” to spine. Circa 1862. Dimensions: 7” H, 5 3/4” x 2 3/8” base. Condition: Good condition with heavy overall wear and several chips including around spout and to corners; the largest chip is glazed over however, as made. Provenance: The Stradling Study Collection. Garths Auction, 07/29/1988. Catalogue Note: This flask belongs to a very small group of Illinois-associated flint-enamel glazed book flasks which has only recently been recognized. The flask's inscription refers to Coal Valley (Rock Island County) which was well known for its production of coal starting in the mid 19th century. Around the same time, coal mining began in nearby Carbon Cliff as well. The miners in Carbon Cliff discovered a source of good quality clay associated with the coal seams on their land, and it was not long before the resource was exploited for pottery production. The Argillo Works - named after a Greek word meaning ”white potters' clay” - was incorporated by Lowrey, Thomas & Co. in 1865. They are known to have produced good quality salt-glazed stoneware and later, massive quantities of fire brick and drain tile. The company operated in some form for nearly 100 years and throughout its lifespan it was the backbone of the local economy in Carbon Cliff. Although the company was incorporated in 1865, the factory was already in full swing by the fall of 1859 - a very detailed November 21st, 1859 article in The Rock Island Argus reveals several interesting facts about the operation, including the identity of the foreman, Edward Tunnicliff, an English-born potter who apparently immigrated to East Liverpool, Ohio originally in the 1840s to work for the Bennett Brothers' factory there (Gray 2022, p. 7). Tunnicliff is probably best known for a small group of molded Rockingham-glazed whippets he produced in Zanesville during the 1850s after leaving East Liverpool (McAllister 2003, p. 76). By the time he was running the Argillo Works he was apparently a very experienced yellowware potter. The company had only been in operation a couple years when on March 27th 1861, the Argus published a notice that Lowrey, Thomas & Co. were currently loading ”a store boat of about 60 tons burthen, with their flint enameled Rockingham ware, manufactured at their Argillo Works”. Given the geographic proximity, it seems likely that the present flask is an example of the ”flint enameled Rockingham ware” being made at the Argillo works at this time. This is especially plausible in light of the other two book flasks identified with the group - one is a Coal Valley example whose inscription reads ”J. Lees / Coal Valley / Vol. 2” above a small image of a miner's pickaxe and hammer. The other is inscribed ”M. Bedford / From / Old England / Here is to him / Long may he / Live / Carbon Cliff / 1862”. A tentative attribution to the Argillo Works is supported by the close proximity of dates and locations on flasks within the group. Hopefully one or more signed Argillo pieces will come to light and further flesh out this little-known company's body of work. 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.