Jeffrey S. Evans & Assoc., Inc.
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June 27, 2025: Premier Americana: Day Two

Fri, Jun 27, 2025 09:00AM EDT
  2025-06-27 09:00:00 2025-06-27 09:00:00 America/New_York Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates : June 27, 2025: Premier Americana: Day Two https://live.jeffreysevans.com/auctions/jeffrey-evans/june-27-2025-premier-americana-day-two-19850
Jeffrey S. Evans & Assoc., Inc. info@jeffreysevans.com
  • Stoneware/Redware
Lot 1088

IMPORTANT THOMAS VALENTINE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN POTTER ATTRIBUTED, STAMPED "HUGH SMITH & CO", ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA DECORATED STONEWARE JAR

Estimate: $2,000 - $3,000
Starting Bid
$1,000

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $10
$200 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$3,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$30,000 $2,500
$50,000 $5,000
$100,000 $10,000

IMPORTANT THOMAS VALENTINE, AFRICAN-AMERICAN POTTER ATTRIBUTED, STAMPED "HUGH SMITH & CO", ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA DECORATED STONEWARE JAR, salt-glazed, approximately half-gallon capacity, ovoid form with rounded rim, single incised shoulder ring, and beaded foot. Bold brushed cobalt circle with cascading petals from two sides. Impressed serifed "T" to underside for Thomas Valentine. Made for Hugh Smith (1769-1856), Wilkes Street pottery, Alexandria, VA. Circa 1821-1825. 7 1/2" H, 5 1/4" D rim.
Literature: "T" stamp as Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts, 2021-2022, vols. 42-43, "...my friend David Jarboe...": The Unfinished Portrait of an Alexandria Potter, by Angelika R. Kuettner, fig. 21. Smith stamp as Wilder - Alexandria, Virginia Pottery, 1792-1876, p. 319, fig. Mk IV. For cursory information on Thomas Valentine, see Hunter (ed.) - Ceramics in America 2012, "'Stone-ware of excellent quality, Alexandria manufacture', Part I: The Pottery of John Swann" by Barbara Magid, p. 116.
Catalogue Note: Thomas Valentine is one of only a handful of known African-American potters from Alexandria, whether enslaved or free. He was first recognized as an enslaved potter working at John Swann's Wilkes Street Pottery, established in 1815. Swann was recorded as owning Valentine and later selling him to merchant Hugh Smith, who purchased Swann's failing pottery in 1825. Smith manumitted Valentine in November 1829 (recorded in Alexandria Deed Book R-2, p. 466).
The last known reference to Thomas Valentine occurs in a declaration published in the Alexandria Gazette in September 1831. It is unknown if he was still employed by Hugh Smith at this time. Following the Nat Turner Rebellion that occurred August 21-22, 1831, in Southampton County, VA, enslaved and free persons of color suffered from the increased fear whites held of additional uprisings. Results of the insurrection included the adoption of new restrictions and exclusionary policies for free persons of color, and even retaliatory violence. The newspaper article published by the permission of Alexandria's mayor, John Roberts, lists a number of "free coloured inhabitants of the Town Alexandria" (including three known African American potters: Thomas Valentine, David Jarbour, and Michael Morris). The declaration expressed to readers that residents (specifically those of European descent) of the town had nothing to fear from the free African American population, stating "that they would promptly give public information of any plot, design, or conspiracy, that might come to their knowledge, to disturb the peace and jeopard the safety of the community." Presently, no further information has become available on Thomas Valentine after 1831.

Condition

Rim having a chip and two cracks extending to medial body, foot with a chip and a flake, and an approximately 3/4" D hole to base.

Provenance

From the estate collection of Leland Nettles, Syria, VA.

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