PENNSYLVANIA EARTHENWARE / REDWARE DIMINUTIVE FIGURAL PIG BOTTLE / FLASK, yellow-orange clay glazed and splotched with manganese decoration, recumbent form with legs tucked underneath the body, a well-detailed pig having delineated eyes and mouth, applied ears and sculpted tail, incised/carved fur, and two rows of incised nipples to underside. Pennsylvania. Mid 19th century. 2 1/8" H, 5" L.
Literature: Larger pig flasks, which might relate to this example, can be seen in Hollander - American Radiance, pp. 150, 151, fig. 114, from the Ralph Esmerian collection and another in Garvan - The Pennsylvania Collection, p. 222, fig 14, from the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, also currently viewable on the Museum's website archived as object # 55553.
Catalogue Note: Resembles a small group of redware pig flasks attributed to the Henne family of Berks County, PA. This pig is considerably smaller in size, however shares multiple features including the carved fur detail, manganese decoration over unusually-light orange ground, and recumbent form. At this time, a relationship between this flask and the larger "Henne" pigs cannot be proven but seems quite likely.

Excellent condition with minor wear to undersides of legs and with a very shallow flake to the pig's rear end/spout.