Bidspirit auction | Signed E. & W. Bennett

Signed E. & W. Bennett (Baltimore, MD) Relief-Molded Rockingham-Glazed Toby Shaving Mug - Signed E. & W. Bennett (Baltimore, MD) Relief-Molded Rockingham-Glazed Toby Shaving Mug Mottled brown Rockingham glaze dripped with clear lead glaze over yellowware body, cylindrical molded form decorated in relief with images of a portly Toby seemingly holding a razor and brush on either side, foliage embossed at front to hide the mold seam, applied shelf inside rim, stamped with large stamp to underside reading ”E. & W. BENNETT / CANTON AVE. / BALTIMORE, MD.”. Circa 1849-1858. Dimensions: 4 1/4” H, 4” D base. Condition: Undamaged except for some wear to interior of shelf, surface staining, and a thin 3/4” area of very shallow glaze exfoliation at rim. Provenance: The Stradling Study Collection. Purchased from A&R Gardiner (Stamford, CT), 05/06/1971. Catalogue Note: The design for this mug is credited to modeller Charles Coxon, who modelled a large number of well-regarded Rockingham and yellowware pieces during the time he spent employed at the pottery of E. & W. Bennett in Baltimore. He would later make similar mugs in New Jersey after leaving the Bennetts' firm. The two styles can be distinguished by their glazing but they can perhaps be told apart most easily by their handles - the Bennett examples have a smoothly curved branch handle like the one seen on the present example, while the NJ versions seem to have a doubly-angled style seen on the mugs elsewhere in this sale in lots 69 through 72 (Goldberg 1994, pg. 59-60). 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.