E.J. Miller and Son Alexandria VA Merchant Pitcher

Circa 1876-1880: After the last pottery in Alexandria, Virginia, shut its doors in 1876, long time local merchant E.J. Miller & Son began to commission their salt glazed stoneware from the storied Greensboro, Pennsylvania pottery firm James Hamilton & Company. This exceedingly rare pitcher is illustrated on page 296 of Eddie Wilder's Alexandria, Virginia Pottery: 1792-1896 (Walsworth Publishing Company 2007). Measuring 11.25" tall, this wonderful 1 or 1.5 gallon merchant pitcher has survived in essentially as made condition with no chips, cracks, or repairs and only insignificant minor wear and typical manufacturing firing anomalies, including a kiln kiss on the pitcher's face. Besides the present example, we have seen a photo of one other Miller merchant pitcher that shows a different stencil, and we have heard rumors of another one out there somewhere. It's safe to say that there are probably no more than six of these pitchers in existence, making this a great opportunity to add a true once in a lifetime find to your collection.