Rare Double Signed West Virginia Merchant Churn

Circa 1870s-1890s: Decorated top to bottom with five freehand stripes, a capacity mark, and rarely encountered stencil decorations for both potter and merchant, this beautiful 16" tall four gallon churn has a great gray coloration and contrasting dark blue cobalt. Storied Greensboro, Pennsylvania, pottery firm Hamilton & Jones manufactured this churn for Thomas Medford, Huntington, West Virginia's first crockery merchant. Condition is superb with only some typical minor nicking on the inside rim, some minor nicks on the handle, a thick salt glaze, and two super tight and nearly invisible underglaze factory firng lines that do not go through to the interior. This is a great piece of West Virginia advertising stoneware.