Colonial Era Stoneware Flask Sells

For $72,000

By Karl Pass

Last week, we looked at an interesting Harrisburg, Pa., decorated stoneware batter pail that did well at Crocker Farm’s recent ceramics auction. This week I want to highlight a very early stoneware flask with incised and impressed decoration, attributed to the Crolius Family in Manhattan, N.Y.

The rare survivior brought $72,000, selling to a Pennsylvania private collector. “It’s an important piece, we were happy with the price, and it shows how proper dating, attribution and cataloging is everything,” noted Mark Zipp of Crocker Farm.

Dating to the second or third quarter of the 18th century, wheel-thrown, foursided with flattened front and reverse, and salt-glazed surface, the flask ranks among the earliest examples of American stoneware to hit the market. According to the Zipps, the family of owners and operators at Crocker Farms, the work’s combination of freehand incising and stamped decoration link it to the craft’s emergence in Manhattan during the second quarter of the 18th century. The flask previously sold for $2,394 on April 22, 2022, at Pook & Pook.

A four-sided tea canister ($18,880) sold in Crocker Farm’s Nov. 3, 2018, auction and was made by the same potter as the flask, bearing similar stamped decoration accompanying incised flowers, appearing to have been rendered by the same hand. Moreover, related juxtaposition of profuse stamping and freehand incising can be noted on the well-known William Crolius heart-shaped inkstand, dated 1773, in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This William Crolius, son of the William Crolius who immigrated from Germany to Manhattan in the first quarter of the 18th century, is the man who enslaved, and later freed, the family of people that included a young Thomas W. Commeraw, set free

Continued on page 5

04/24-29/23, KEENE, SAT., AT

12:00 NOON, Spring Country

Americana Auction - Online Only!

Includes 350+ lots of 18th & 19th

Century Country Furnishings & Accessories, art, stoneware, clocks, and more. Previews April 24-28, 10 am - 5 pm and day of sale 9-11 am. online bidding at www.liveauctioneers.com and www.invaluable.com., online only, Keene Auctions

04/29/23, PHILLIPSBURG, SAT.

AT10AM, NJ glass/ antq. collector- Qty. 18th/19th cen. Amer./Euro. blown glass, bottles, flasks, decanters, stemware, stg. jars, apoth., Boston & Sandwich Glass, Pittsburgh Glass, candlesticks, lamps, inkwells, 30+ blue dec. stonewr. crocks, jugs, pitchers, redware, Wagner Pottery flower pots, quilts, carved birds, paintings/ watercolors, & more!, 2481 Belvidere Rd., Hartzell's Auction Gallery, Inc.

04/27/23, EPHRATA, THURS.

AT12 NOON, 309 Lots of Coins & Currency. 14 pcs. U.S. gold, 23 bullion gold coins, approx. 100 silver dollars in singles + mult., early Standing Liberty qtrs.- better grades, 21 pcs. small $10 Nationals, Colonial, fractional + C.S.A. currency, trade dollars, etc., Horst Auction Ctr., 50 Durlach Rd., Horst Auctioneers

04/27/23, KINZERS, THURS. AT

10AM, Fine & Cost. Jewelry, Qty.

Watches, Sterling Tablewares. Sev. qty. diamond & gemstone 14kt. gold rings, qty. gold & sterling silver, beaded jewelry, pins, rings, earrings, bangles, nice costume jewelry, signed pcs. Rolex mens/ womens watches, many pocket watches, etc., Live & Online: 5336 Mine Rd.; embassyauctionsinternational.com; liveauctioneers & invaluable.com, Embassy Auctions

International

04/29/23, EPHRATA, SAT. AT

9AM, Outstanding Firearms & Military Collec. & Access. 276 lots firearms, 507 lots hunting/ fishing/ military collec. & access., Horst Auction Ctr., 50 Durlach Rd., Horst Auctioneers

AUCTIONS SHOW & FLEA MARKET CALENDAR

04/29/23, GORDONVILLE, SAT. AT8AM, Wdn. wash machines, walking plows, lg. Coca-Cola collec., signs, lg. calendar / poster collec., Dazey butterchurns, crocks, Dietz lanterns, cast iron items, signs, tins, wdn. adv. items incl. Budweiser box w/lid, lg. Mr. Peanut Planters cookie jars, 2 wdn. Conestoga Wagon jacks (1854), Aaron Zook ptg., sampler, and more!, Gordonville Fire Hall, 3204 Vigilant St., Double E Auction Service

04/29/23, HARRISBURG, SAT.

AT10AM, Motorcycles & parts, furn. incl. barrister bookcases, steamer trunks, DR sets, BR suites, marble-top tables, music cabinet, empire chest, antq. bar, hh, lighting incl. Pottery Barn, art ptgs./ prints, George & Martha Washington prints, maps, Thomas McNickle, +others, collec., records incl. The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Who & more!, Online Only: www.CordierAuction.com, Cordier Auctions & Appraisals

04/29/23, LIMERICK, SAT. AT 9AM, Antiques, collec., glassware, china, furn., cost. jewelry, pottery, lg. collec. Hummels & Byers Caroler dolls, +much more!, Wm. Penn Estates, 106 Presidential Dr., JR's Auctioneering

04/29/23, MYERSTOWN, SAT.

AT9AM, Lawn equip., tools, collec. trucks, Christmas items, guitars & banjos & pers. property., 441 Hilltop Rd., Harry H. Bachman, Auctioneer

04/29/23, NAZARETH, SAT. AT 10AM, Dolls & Artist Bears! 400+ lots incl. collections from Gettysburg, PA& other PA/ NY/ NJ. Dolls- Tete Jumeau, soldiers, 14 R.J. Wright creations, 2 Kenner Blythe dolls, antq. bisque dolls- vty. manu., 5"-30"tall, Madame Alexander, Vogue dolls. Vty. of Artist Bears incl. BarbaraAnn, Kreft-Bar, Woodland Teddies, Rachel Rolfe & others., Live & Online: 330 W. Moorestown Rd. (Rte. 512); LiveAuctioneers.com, Dotta Auction Co., Inc.

Red Bank

Antique Center

Daily 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays 12 noon-5 p.m.

100 DEALERS - ALL SPECIALTIES

RED BANK, NEW JERSEY

THE PEOPLE’S STORE

Quality Antiques, Fine Art, Furniture, Estate Jewelry, Mid Century Modern & Industrial

OPEN EVERY DAY 10 AM to 6 PM

4 Floors (Including 2 Artist Galleries) 28 North Union Street

04/30/23, SPRINGTOWN, BUCKS CO., SUN. AT10AM, Country & Small Collec.: Art Mitchell signed duck carvings, Vict. pickle canister w/plated silver holder, collec. Royal Doulton Toby mugs, collec. belt buckles, country furn., set stools by Hunt Country Furn., Sheraton drop leaf table, Fire Co. collec., 2 Ross bicycles & more!, Springtown Vol. Fire Co. Bqt. Hall, 3010 Rte. 212, Robert H. Clinton & Co., Inc.

05/01/23, SPRINGTOWN, BUCKS CO.,, MON. AT3PM, Approx. 70 lots of Coins: gold, vty. silver dollars, other silver pcs. Vtg. paper/ docs., adv. items, 19th & 20th cen. books incl. approx. 15 travel books by Harry A. Franck, Vict. era Bibles, Bucks Co. Vict. photo album, vtg. photos & mini tintypes, vtg. prints/book plates, etc., Springtown Vol. Fire Co. Banq. Hall, 3010 Rte. 212, Robert H. Clinton & Co., Inc.

05/11/23, EPHRATA, THURS. ATNOON, Coin Sale! 343 lots coins/currency. 12 pcs. U.S. gold, approx. 9 pcs. U.S. bullion gold, var. wts., 1880-S silver dollar NGC MS 68 w/CAC sticker, $5 silver cert. series 1923, etc., Live & Online: 50 Durlach Rd.; horstauction.com; hibid.com, Horst Auctioneers

05/11/23, REINHOLDS, THURS. AT6PM, Historical Bechtel's Mill Res. Property. Sandstone 2 1/2 story mill on Harnish Creek., 1700 Texter mt. Rd., Witman Auctioneers, Inc.

05/13/23, BANGOR, SAT. AT 10AM, Christian Bixler 8-day gfthr. clock, Walter Baum oil on canvas, Charles Linford oil on canvas, local Easton memorabilia, Lehigh & Lafayette items, furn., Vict. marble-top, walnut 2-pc. corner cupboard, Limoges china, silver plate tea sets, 19th cen. samplers + needlept., framed photos, Philco radio, dolls, & more!, Online Only: www.hartzellsauction.com, Hartzell's Auction Gallery, Inc.

05/13/23, EPHRATA, SAT. AT 9AM, Spring Tool Sale, incl. edge tools, wdn./metal planes, meas. devices, machinist tools, Cooper's tools, saws, drilling, prim./antq., parts, repair projects, etc., Live & Online: Horst Auction Ctr., 50 Durlach Rd.; horstauction.com; hibid.com, Horst Auctioneers

05/26-27/23, COGAN STATION, FRI. & SAT. AT10AM, Ptd. furn., lighting, dec. stoneware, redware, other pottery, primitives incl. wdn., granite, tin, & iron, lg. Match Safe collec., fish gigs, coverlets/ quilts, slot machine, silver cash registers, marbles, iron & tin toys, paintingstheoroms, gold pocket watches, postcards, ephem., early photos, etc. Approx. 400 lots ea. day!, Live & Online: 3530 Lycoming Creek Rd.; invaluable & auctionzip.com, Roan, Inc.

05/11-14/23, ATLANTA, THURS.-SUN., Antique Market, 3650 Jonesboro Rd. SE, Atlanta Expo Center, North Bldg.

06/08-11/23, ATLANTA, THURS.-SUN., Antique Market, 3650 Jonesboro Rd. SE, Atlanta Expo Center, North Bldg.

05/06/23, LEBANON, FRI. 9-5 & SAT. 9-3, Indy Antique Advertising Show, 1955 Indianapolis Ave., Boone County 4H Fairgrounds

05/09-14/23, BRIMFIELD, TUES.-SUN., Brimfield Antique & Collectibles Show & Flea Market, Show Fields - Rte. 20 betw. Exits 8 & 9 off the Mass Pike (Rte.90), Brimfield, MA

04/30/23, WAYNE, 9:30 AM -

3:30 PM, EARLYBUYER AT 8:00 AM, Mechanical Music Extravganza, 1 PALDrive, Wayne Police Athletic League

05/21/23, HAMMONTON, SUN. 9AM-3PM, Spring Antiques & Bottle Show, Hist. Batsto Village, Wharton State Forest, Hammonton, NJ

04/29-30/23, STORMVILLE, SAT.-SUN., 8AM-4PM, Antique Show & Flea Market, 428 Rte. 216, Stormville Airport, NY

Flask

Continued from page 4 when he was approximately 8 years old. In “Commeraw’s Stoneware: The Life and Work of the First African-American Pottery Owner,” Brandt Zipp notes the close relation between the aforementioned canister and the Met’s inkstand, stating that it “was probably made on the same property that once housed young (Thomas Commeraw) and his family” (Zipp, pg. 42). Today, the pottery located in Lower Manhattan is on the grounds of the Metropolitan Correctional Center. For related treatments and decorative elements found on Crolius and Remmey family sherds, dating ca. 1720-65, see Meta F. Janowitz, “New York City Stonewares from the African Burial Ground,” published in “Ceramics in America 2008,” figs. 28, 33, 36, 37, 40, and 41.

It’s an exciting time for the field of American ceramics, and the Zipp family deserves credit for its tremendous role.

To learn more, visit www.crockerfarm.com.

05/27-28/23, STORMVILLE, SAT.-SUN., 8AM-4PM, Antique Show & Flea Market, 428 Rte. 216, Stormville Airport, NY

06/02-04/23, BOUCKVILLE, FRI.-SUN., Madison-Bouckville Antique Week, 13 Showfields & Stores along Rte. 20, MadisonBouckville Promotions

04/08/23 TO 12/31/23, BERWYN, EVERYSAT. & SUN, 9-4, Indoor/Outdoor Vintage Flea Market - Now Open Year Round!, 270 W. Swedesford Rd, Berwyn, PA

04/26-30/23, ADAMSTOWN, WED.-SUN., Spring Extravaganza, Route 272, Reading Rd., Lancaster Co.-Along 7 miles of Route 272

04/28-29/23, KUTZTOWN, FRI.SAT. 9-4, Antiques & Collector Extravaganza, 740 Noble St., Renningers Kutztown

04/28-30/23, PHILADELPHIA, FRI.-SUN. AT11AM, The Philadelphia Show, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia Museum of Art

Hall

IN

PRINT

Rich Penn

working condition, and a dramatic backdrop for the seven classic cars selling, to include a restored 1971 Mustang Fastback, a 1958 Mercury Turnpike Cruiser and an original 1964 Ford Galaxie 500.

Victorian era lighting, porcelain, glassware and furniture including centuries-old pieces are coming from the United Kingdom estate of the late Richard Lyon-DalbergActon, 4th Baron Acton and Member of the House of Lords. Furnishings from his Iowa summer home are 17th and 18th century pieces. “It will be another wonderful auction with a very wide assortment for collectors. There are a number of great pieces in this auction that we’ve never sold before. It’ll be a fun education watching them sell,” commented Rich Penn. “The newly renovated Waterloo Convention Center is just 100 yards from our office. The center is a great facility and is connected to a hotel and parking ramp by an enclosed skywalk. It’s within easy walking distance to some great restaurants. The hotel gives our guests a special $84 room rate, and I think we’ll have some other fun things lined up too. We’re really looking forward to it! The site is conveniently located in downtown Waterloo, just one block off the freeway,” added Penn.

For those who can’t make it, Penn offers multiple bidding options, including absentee, telephone and live bidding online through LiveAuctioneers.

For additional information, contact Rich Penn Auctions at 319-291-6688 or visit www.RichPennAuctions.com.

CONSIGNMENT & ESTATE AUCTION ONLINE BIDDING - PREVIEW BY APPOINTMENT

SATURDAY, APRIL 29 AT 10 A.M.

Motorcycles · Furniture · Art · Collectibles · House & Home

MOTORCYCLES: Multi-Color Custom Harley-Davidson Style Motorcycle with S&S Motor: 15268.5 Miles. VIN 1D9SS64D2XH251520. Z8391 Engine. Make:

SPCNS (Specially Constructed Vehicle). Black Custom Harley-Davidson Style

Motorcycle with S&S Motor: 32.5 Miles. VIN 96CGLD500818FGEV0. X0011

Engine. Make: SPCNS (Specially Constructed Vehicle). Motorcycle Parts:

Fenders, Front End Forks, Handle Bars, Seats, Saddlebags, Headlights, Chrome Exhaust Piping, Helmets, Outer Primary Cover, So: Tail Swing Arm

Cover and More!

FURNITURE: Maitland-Smith Leather Top Coffee Table; Library Tables; Barrister

Bookcases; Steamer Trunks; Brass Bed; Cast Iron Outdoor Bench; Dining Room

Sets; Leather Office Chair; Globe Bar; Empire Chest of Drawers; Wingback Chairs; Marble Top Tables; Tilt Top Table; Music Cabinet; Wardrobes; Bedroom Suites; Savonarola Chairs; Settee; Dough Box; Room Divider; Sleigh Bed;

Antique Bar; Lighting: Table, Floor and Hanging incl Pottery Barn.

ART: Paintings and Prints. Richard Eilliott; Simon Bull; Barbara Neville;

Virgil Sova; George and Martha Washington Prints; Kathy Koop; Margaret Woosnam; Nelson Oestriech; Joan Duncan de Griswold; Temple Rubbings; Thomas McNickle; David Ludwich; Benjamin Harjo Jr.; Vanity Fair Prints; Maps.

COLLECTIBLES: Studio Ceramics Collection; Stoneware; Books; Clocks; Sterling Boy Scout Eagle Scout Medal; Dresser Boxes; Royal Doulton Toby M ugs; Rosenthal; Globes; African Masks; R. Duwyenie Kachina; Pueblo PoDery; Steins; Advertising; Trains; Military Insignia; Cloisonne; Imari; Cut Glass; Records: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Who and More!

HOUSE & HOME: Husky Metal Cabinets; Basketry; Outdoor Lantern; Cookware; Small Kitchen Appliances; Elna SU

Sewing Machine; Typewriters; Stereo Equipment; Wicker Sleigh; Bose Music Systems; Dinnerware: Dansk IHQ, Thomas Flammfest, Lenox British Colonial, Royal Doulton Spring Zephyr, Noritake Azalea, Castleton Sunnybrook.