IMPORTANT NEW MARKET, VIRGINIA SLIP-GLAZED REDWARE / EARTHENWARE LARGE BOWL / PAN, single lead-glazed over yellow slip, deep, tapering cylindrical form with flat-top rim and applied arched handles. Probably the shop of John G. Coffman (1803-1889). Circa 1840. 6 3/4" H, 15 5/8" D rim.
Catalogue Note: The overall form and slip-glazed interior of the present bowl are typical of domestic vessels made in France during the 19th century, generally referred to as "tian" bowls. However, its provenance and scientific analysis strongly suggest a New Market, VA origin. 
This bowl descended in Shenandoah Co., Virginia's Henkel/Painter family. It was discovered ten years ago in the family's meat house at Indian Fort Stock Farm, Paintertown, on South Middle Road, between Bowman's Crossing and Mt. Jackson. It was passed down through Ida Florence Henkel Bowman Painter (1978-1935), great-granddaughter of Solomon Henkel (1777-1847) of New Market, VA. According to the family, "Aunt Ida" called this her dough bowl.
On November 9, 2016, Lindsay Bloch performed an XRF analysis of this bowl and other pottery pieces from the Shenandoah Valley, including three one-gallon wide-mouth crocks recovered in close proximity to the current bowl and attributable to John Coffman. Also sampled was a fragment of a red earthenware French Biot storage vessel. Bloch found that while "the elemental results cannot be deemed conclusive,...the results do suggest that the piece has more in common with locally-made pots from the Shenandoah Valley, as opposed to a European origin...Visually assessing the paste of the pan, I (Ms. Bloch) found it to be inconsistent with French products I have examined." A copy of her report accompanies this lot. 
The presence of a decidedly French form emanating from New Market, VA, during the first half of the 19th century is not surprising. The town was initially founded by the Sevier family, Huguenots, who fled France in the late 17th century. Ongoing research by Jeffrey S. Evans has identified a number of French artisans working in New Market beginning in the late 18th century and French design tendencies seen on chairs and other furniture produced there during the 19th century. His findings will be published in his forthcoming tome, Artisans of New Market, Virginia, 1780-1930.

Undamaged, having expected wear including scratches to interior from use.