Bidspirit auction | Brooklyn, NY Attributed Miniature Porcelain

Brooklyn, NY Attributed Miniature Porcelain Oak Leaves and Acorns Creamer / Toy Pitcher - Brooklyn, NY Attributed Miniature Porcelain Oak Leaves and Acorns Creamer / Toy Pitcher Glossy white porcelain, thickly potted, relief-molded decoration featuring oak leaves and acorns surrounding a blank/smooth oval on either side, branch handle, illegible incised mark to underside possibly a script ”C” or a ”2”. Probably Charles Cartlidge & Co. (Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY), circa 1848-1856. Dimensions: 3 1/8” H, 2” D base. Condition: Undamaged with minor to moderate wear around high points and rim. Provenance: The Stradling Study Collection. Purchased in Hartford, Connecticut, 10/03/1976. Catalogue Note: This small but mighty piece appears to be a previously-unknown miniature counterpart to the Cartlidge firm's famous ”Oak Leaves and Acorns” pitchers. Such pitchers are generally considered a high water mark for American porcelain production in this era. Despite minor gripes that the pitchers' form is ”heavy, squat, and inelegant”, the known examples are generally extravagantly decorated and formidable in size, which earns them praise from aficionados as ”expressions of an exuberant concept” (Frelinghuysen 1989, p. 108). That the firm held the design in high regard is indicated by their choice to offer it for use on presentation pieces given to a number of important New York businessmen and politicians, including the Governor. Various sizes are noted - a regular sized creamer (not miniature), also undecorated, can be seen at the Brooklyn Museum under accession no. ”49.126”. The present example is the smallest recorded size in this pattern. Its size probably identifies it as a ”toy pitcher”, the production of which was noted by Cartlidge's descendants (Frelinghuysen 1989, p. 113). It could also function as a single-serve creamer for use in restaurants, a possibility noted by ceramics scholar Meta Janowitz (personal communication, 2026). Its thick potting and dense, hard body would have allowed it to survive playtime in the clumsy hands of a child. These same traits would have suited it well in another possible role in restaurants. For now it is just an intriguing possibility, but it is worth noting that later whiteware potteries in Trenton offered both pressed ”Toy” and ”Restaurant” sized creamers at the exact same price point, according to several 1870s price lists recently consulted at the Special Collections & University Archives in Rutgers University's Alexander Library. If there are differences between the two types of miniatures, they are not noted in the price lists. 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.