Bidspirit auction | American Flint-Enamel / Rockingham-Glazed Figural

American Flint-Enamel / Rockingham-Glazed Figural ”Toby on a Barrel” Yellowware Flask / Bottle, - American Flint-Enamel / Rockingham-Glazed Figural ”Toby on a Barrel” Yellowware Flask / Bottle, Possibly Bennington VT Drippy blue and brown glazes with fantastic mottling amidst a thick clear lead glaze, cylindrical relief-molded bottle in the form of a jolly Toby holding a beer pitcher and drinking glass astride a barrel, unmarked. Probably Lyman, Fenton & Co. (The United States Pottery Co.), Bennington, VT, or a later firm re-using one of their molds. Third quarter 19th century. Dimensions: 10 3/4” H, 4” D base. Condition: Undamaged except for a nick to hat brim and a shallow flake to base of pitcher in the figure's hand. Three rough spots at rear where kiln furniture/stilt was detached, as made. Provenance: The Stradling Study Collection. Skinner Auctions, 03/22/1998. Catalogue Note: A variety of British and American factories created Toby bottles depicting the character riding a barrel, including an interesting group of yellowware examples apparently depicting Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet. This particular mold is perhaps the largest, best-known, and most desirable type because of its close association with Bennington (Barret 1958, p. 323). Signed examples are pictured by Barret in a few different glaze styles, and one even has applied lettering matching the Bennington type (it is in the Bennington Museum's collection with object no. ”1965.184”). The glaze on the present example is not typical of Bennington ware, but the mold is certainly the one used at Bennington. It could be merely a late Bennington product, but the Stradlings theorized that it could also possibly be a product of the American Pottery Co. (operated 1859-1863 in Peoria, Illinois) which employed a number of Bennington workmen after the closure of the United States Pottery Co. in 1858. This group of workmen included Decius Clark, the superintendent, and Daniel Greatbach, the chief designer and mold maker, not to mention Christopher Webber Fenton himself who masterminded the operation (Mansberger and Mounce 1990, p. 5). Presumably, Bennington molds were taken to Peoria and used there to create a product very similar to what had been made at Bennington. If more signed Peoria pieces were known then perhaps some definitive characteristics of the ware could be established; but for now, this Bennington-type Toby gets to carry the cutting-edge Stradling attribution of ”Probably Bennington, possibly Peoria”. 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.