Description:

SCARCE SHENANDOAH VALLEY FOLK ART COBALT DECORATED DIMINUTIVE STONEWARE JAR ATTRIBUTED TO SOLOMON BELL OR S. BELL & SON (STRASBURG, VIRGINIA).
American, 19th Century. Of cylindrical form with tapered, tooled short shoulder, and squared rim. Extensive brushed and slip-trailed cobalt decoration includes a folksy full length figure with hat, pipe, boots, expressive face, and male anatomy; a rooster standing on a dog; a bunch of grapes with the word "GRAPE" written underneath in large letters; and vertical dashes and lines at shoulder and base. Illegible initials on bottom. 6.75"h.

Cataloger's note: Accompanying the jar is documentation including a letter from Tom Thorpe describing the history of the jar as it was relayed to him at the time he purchased it. Illustrated: "The Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley Region" by Harold Eugene Comstock (p. 242 & 243).

Provenance: The Lifetime Collection of the late Nancy Goff (Alliance, Ohio); The Collection of the late John & Lil Palmer, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates (Mt. Crawford, Virginia): April 5, 2014 (lot 28); Bill and Leah Pollard (Aldie, Virginia); Jeffrey S. Evans / Green Valley Auctions (Mt. Crawford, Virginia): March 5 - 6, 1993; Tom and Liz Thorpe (Catlett, VA); the Grant / Craun family (Strasburg, Virginia).

  • Condition: Excellent condition.

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May 1, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
Delaware, OH, US

Amelia Jeffers

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