Important Early Dave Drake Attributed Inscription Jar

WINGARD COLLECTION

November 21, 2020 09:00 AM EST Asheville, North Carolina

Estimate: $40,000 – $60,000

(Edgefield, South Carolina, b. circa 1800, d. after 1873) made at the Pottersville Stoneware Manufactory, Edgefield District, South Carolina, 1836, attributed to Dave Drake, runny tan and dark brown alkaline glaze, greyish brown mottled glaze runs at shoulder, five glass like runs in various spots around shoulder, fingerprints in glaze on base edge, various dark glaze runs to lower body, “12 April 1836” inscribed just below rim under glaze mottling, “Catination” (sic) inscription across shoulder under mottled runny glaze, two nicely shaped and placed lug handles, short neck with rounded rim, 14-3/4 in.

Note: This jar is an exceptional early surviving example of Dave Drake’s work. According to the Arther F. Goldberg and James P. Witkowski article “Beneath His Magic Touch: The Dated Vessels of the African American Slave Potter Dave”, published by Chipstone Foundation in Ceramics in American 2006, edited by Rob Hunter, this jar is the eighth earliest known dated work, and the fourth earliest known to hold an inscription. Believed to be a companion work of the earliest known scripted piece dated June 12, 1834, holding the phrase “Concatination” (sic)

Provenance: Collection of Dr. Joseph T. and Gaile E. Wingard, Jacksonville, Florida

Condition: glaze voids and anomalies as made, firing anomalies to interior as made, very fine star hairline to glaze at belly likely due to slight bump, old residue to interior and exterior, wear to base edge consistent with age and use, remnants of residue on base, great condition