J. B. MAGEE (ATTRIBUTED), OSCEOLA, WASHINGTON CO., VALLEY OF VIRGINIA DECORATED STONEWARE PITCHER, salt-glazed, approximately half-gallon capacity, ovoid body with pronounced double-bead lower neck ring, two incised rings below the plain rim, lightly grooved strap handle, and beaded foot. Brushed cobalt horizontal triple tulip decoration to front and dropped feather off rim flanking spout, additional cobalt around lower terminal of handle. The pottery of John B. Magee (b. 1813). 1870-1883. 8 7/8" H, 4" D rim.
Literature: Parallels Maust-Blosser, Legacy in Clay: Pottery of Washington County, Virginia, unnumbered p. 35, and Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, 11/13/2020, lot 1021.
Provenance: From a Virginia private collection.
Catalogue Note: The present pitcher displays a strong reddish color to the clay, which is the result of it being underfired in the kiln. Many pieces from the Magee pottery exhibit this characteristic. See the above mentioned reference, unnumbered pages 26 and 27 for examples with the same coloration as the present pitcher.
Fine condition with no cracks, moderate shallow chip to interior of rim only slightly affecting the profile, light chipping roughness to spout.