VIRGINIA MERCHANT'S STENCILED STONEWARE JAR, salt glazed, approximately one-gallon capacity, cylindrical form with rounded shoulder, flat-top rounded rim, beaded neck ring, Albany-slip glazed interior. Crisp, dark cobalt stenciled "LIPSCOMB & / SOMERVILLE, / STAUNTON, Va." 1876-1882. 9 1/2" H, 5 5/8" D rim.
Catalogue Note: John Sinclair Lipscomb (1836-1907) and Curran B. Somerville (1846-1930) opened their merchant business in Staunton, VA in 1876. The store sold a wide variety of goods including assorted household items and appliances, pottery including stoneware (like this jar), Rockingham and Yellowware, silver-plated items, and metal piping. By 1882, the pair separated and a new firm was established, C.B. Somerville & Co.

Excellent, mostly undamaged condition, except having two tight T-shaped hairlines to base edge.