Signed A&W Boughner 4 Gallon Storage Jar

Circa 1852-1864: The Boughners were the first potters to open shop in Greene County, Pennsylvania, and Daniel Boughner retired in the early 1850s, leaving the pottery in the hands of his sons Alexander and William, who ran the pottery together for 12 years until Alexander Boughner bought out his brother's share of the business at the end of the Civil War. Signed Boughner pieces are scarce and desirable, and this extremely clear mark sits on the front of the jar in plain view, making this stamped "A & W Boughner Greensboro PA" with four gallon cpapcity mark an especially worthwhile example of Southwestern Pennsylvania stoneware. The 14.75" tall jar itself is skillfully freehand decorated from top to bottom with three huge classic Boughner flowers and accompanying leaf and vine decoration, a stripe underneath the top lip, and a 4 in the bottom center flanked by three stripes on either side. This outstanding storage jar has an unusual light brown coloration due to oxygen depletion in the kiln as it cooled, which, combined with the beauty of the decoration and its excellent contrast, make this a uniquely attractive piece of Greensboro PA stoneware. The jar is in excellent condition with one minor flake on the inside of one handle and an extremely minor flake, most probably a kiln pull, on the underside of the jar. Boughner stoneware doesn't get much better than this.