AMERICAN MAJOLICA CERAMIC ARTICLES, LOT OF THREE, each having bright polychrome decorations, comprising a begonia leaf-form dish/tray and two pitchers including one having pineapple form and one featuring a blooming hawthorne branch with molded branch handle. Marks to underside include two having impressed "GSH" monogram mark encircled by "ETRUSCAN / MAJOLICA" and each having hand-brushed museum accession number. Together with a porcelain begonia leaf dish/tray with polychrome hand-painted floral image featuring butterflies and a grasshopper, having red hand-brushed Asian characters to underside. Four pieces total. Griffin, Smith and Hill, Phoenixville, PA; and other. Fourth quarter 19th century. 8 1/8" HOA.
Literature: Parallels Katz-Marks - The Collector's Encyclopedia of Majolica, hawthorne pitcher p. 55, fig. top right and leaf dish p. 97, fig. top right.
Provenance: Deaccessioned by Bennington Museum, Bennington, VT. All proceeds will go toward the museum's collections acquisition fund.
Porcelain leaf dish undamaged, except having minor scattered wear to raised areas; pineapple pitcher mostly undamaged except having two glaze flakes to lower body, a flake to underside foot ring, and some discoloration to interior; hawthorne pitcher having chip to rim above handle and a minor hairline to lower body; majolica leaf dish having two underside rim flakes.