1876 John Alexander Stoneware Cooler
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GUEST:
This piece belonged to my grandmother. She had a lot of antiques, but most of them were glass. The kids in the family didn't get to go around those very often, but this one was always out on the floor, and so, as I grew up, this was a part of all the parties and Christmases there. And when she sold her house, the grandkids and the kids could choose different things. And this is the piece that I always wanted, so my name was on this one for a long time, so that was...
APPRAISER:
And when did you actually get it?
GUEST:
About five years ago.
APRIASER: Well, let me tell you a few things about this wonderful piece. We cannot find any maker in Ohio-- it says Ohio Stoneware-- with this maker, so this is a piece that we still need to do some more research on. The fact that it says on the bottom "1876 Centennial," makes me speculate that it might have been used in the Centennial celebration in Philadelphia in 1876.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
The various states had exhibits. And this might have been an example from an Ohio stoneware maker. It's slip cup-decorated, with cobalt. The cobalt was drizzled onto the stoneware before it was fired.
GUEST:
Wow.
APPRAISER:
And this wonderful bird is a peacock. The writing and the decoration takes up the full palette, and that's what we in American folk art look for in a great piece of stoneware. This is wonderful. The date 1876, and it's a little miniature jug, which is a replica of the large jug. And you told me how this handle got broke.
GUEST:
Yeah, my grandmother always said that she bumped it while she was vacuuming.
APPRAISER:
Well, I would just leave it the way it is. It doesn't need any repair, and it really doesn't hurt its value. If I had this at a show, I would have this priced at somewhere between $65,000 and $85,000.
GUEST:
(laughing) Are you kidding me?
APPRAISER:
No, I'm not.
GUEST:
Oh, my God!
APPRAISER:
I think it's an absolutely monumental piece of American stoneware.
GUEST:
Earlier, when I lifted it up here, you said you almost had a heart attack...
APPRAISER:
I did!
GUEST:
...when you saw me grab it by the handles...
APPRAISER:
You were lifting it by the handles, which is just an absolute no-no for a small piece. So never do that again.
GUEST:
I've moved that... I've moved it a couple of times like that. But I won't move it that way anymore.
Appraisal Details
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