Images(2)

Pitcher

MakerMade by Sidney Risley (American, died 1875)

Dateabout 1840-1860

MediumMold-formed stoneware with a dark brown slip glaze

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including handle x depth): 10 3/8 x 10 1/4 x 6in. (26.4 x 26 x 15.2cm)

ClassificationsCeramics

Credit LineMuseum purchase

Object number1957.28.8

DescriptionLarge, octagonal, buff-colored stoneware pitcher with a nearly opaque dark brown slip glaze, or Albany-type glaze. The pitcher has an octagonal foot and sides that maintain the octagonal shape while swelling, then narrowing at the shoulder and neck to form a plain rim. At one side of the rim, a spout curves up and out. Opposite the spout, a molded and applied handle connects the rim and the widest point of the body of the pitcher. The primary decoration on the pitcher consists of raised motifs. A group of raised berries and leaves, perhaps a bunch of grapes, decorates each panel of the octagonal pitcher. They are located along the shoulder and widest point of the pitcher. Above this, raised shells decorate six of the eight panels, between the rim and the raised berries and leaves. A smaller cluster of grapes decorates the panel on either side of the spout. There is raised decoration on the spout as well, consisting of a scroll and abstract shell. There are many imperfections in the surface of the pitcher, caused by an irregular stoneware surface, bubbling, and underfiring of the glaze to the lower right of the handle. There is a cream-colored, rectangular paper label adhered to the pitcher to the lower right of the handle. Inside a scrolled border, the label reads, "George S. McKearin/ Collection/ of/ American Pottery/ No. 681". All the words are printed and the number is hand-written in blue ink.

There are some slight chips to the glaze on a lower protruding portion of the handle, as well as near a projecting corner to the left of the handle. There are light scratches at some of the corners of the pitcher.

Status

Not on view