Description : An antique Little Brown Spice Jar or Crock with Sgraffito handscript and original fitted lid, attributed to one of the Norton Family potteries (Bennington VT or Worcester, MA), c. Wheel-thrown, cylindrical form with eased shoulder, rounded rim with integrated inner ledge for a lid.
Dip-Decorated in a rich brown, Albany Slip. Scratch-Inscribed on the body in large fancy script: Cream Tartar.
Background : This white powdery acid is also known as potassium hydrogen tartrate. Cream (of) Tartar was/is used for a variety of cooking and baking applications, including stabilizing egg whites & whipped cream; also as an anti-caking and thickening agent.Condition : Very Good to Excellent overall with minor imperfections noted below. Original Lid with a small chip on the button finial and small perimeter nick; otherwise Very Good. These lids are extremely scarce in any condition. Upper Jar Rim with slight wear and nicks on inner/outer edge, as shown. Fingerprints noted at the heel on opposing left and right sides.
Note: these prints are fairly typical on most slip-decorated miniatures, Little Brown Jugs, etc. Inherent glaze, surface and firing imperfections noted for complete descriptive accuracy.
Note : Any white highlights are surface reflections from natural light. See photos for complete details and close-ups and please consider them as part of the description.
Approximate Half-Pint capacity; measures only 4-1/8H x 3-1/8W overall. Diameter of outer Rim: 2-5/8. Good Luck, thanks for watching, and be sure to bookmark my Auctions, listed and ending daily.
The item "19thC Sgraffito Stoneware Spice Jar Cream Tartar Scratch Crock, Bennington VT" is in sale since Friday, June 19, 2020. This item is in the category "Antiques\Decorative Arts\Ceramics & Porcelain\Jugs". The seller is "mgs1971" and is located in South Dartmouth, Massachusetts. This item can be shipped to United States.