Bidspirit auction | Bell Family (Strasburg, Shenandoah Valley

Bell Family (Strasburg, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia) Redware Pitcher with Relief-Molded Hunt Scene - Bell Family (Strasburg, Shenandoah Valley of Virginia) Redware Pitcher with Relief-Molded Hunt Scene Metallic brown and red slip glaze over red earthenware, relief-molded Boar Hunt/Stag Hunt scene around body with hand-punched dotted/ball-peened background surface decoration, applied molded bark-textured handle, oval foot with unmarked underside. Probably S. Bell & Son. Late 19th century. Dimensions: 7 5/8” H. Condition: Very good condition with a couple shallow flakes to the rim's top edge, some glaze exfoliation to high points of molded design, and a deep 1” wide chip to lower end of handle on the inner surface. Provenance: The Stradling Study Collection. Purchased at Shupps Grove Antique Market (Lancaster County, Pennsylvania), 08/03/1972. Catalogue Note: This unusual pitcher is a rare example of the popular molded hunt-scene pitchers associated with the Bell family. The first Americanization of the design (originally a Staffordshire product) was modeled in the early 1850's by Charles Coxon for the E. & W. Bennett pottery in Baltimore MD (Goldberg 1994, p. 34). Bennett's pitchers were produced in great numbers, always in Rockingham glaze, with either branch-form or hound handles. It seems the standard body and handle designs were quickly copied for local production in redware (and very rarely, stoneware) by the business-minded Solomon Bell, as multiple sizes and body/handle combinations exist (Comstock 1994, pg. 220-221). They were produced more commonly by Solomon's brother John in Waynesboro, but also by Solomon himself in Strasburg, and later by his descendants. The pitchers were copied wholesale using plaster molds cast directly from the original Rockingham versions - Comstock fig. 5.99 illustrates a mold very similar to the one used to press the current pitcher. The handle, however, is a custom one, which matches that seen on a multiglazed example attributed to the pottery of S. Bell & Son (ibid, p. 245). The extensively punch-decorated surface is NOT a standard feature on these pitchers, and this charming decorative detail also helps to suggest its creation by S. Bell & Son since this late Strasburg ware is well known for having ”considerable handwork and tooling”, as seen on several of the later firm's molded spaniels (ibid, p. 251). 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.