Rare Dated 1863 John Bell Lidded Cake Crock

Circa 1863: Dated pieces by iconic Waynesboro, Pennsylvania potter John Bell are extremely rare, and this 9.5"W (handle to handle) by 6.25"H (including lid) one gallon cake crock includes a Civil War era 1863 inscription under one handle. This is significant in that it is the earliest dated John Bell piece we have found on record and was potted the same year as the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address," which took place only 25 miles from Waynesboro. The crock and lid are adorned with two matching classic Bell dotted flowers and signed "John Bell / Waynesboro" on the outside of the base and the inside of the lid. Condition is essentially as made with weight warpage to the base caused by its being positioned near the kiln's bottom, some kiln pulls on its underside, and other typical firing anomalies associated with the manufacturing process but no human made chips, cracks, or repairs. The lid is in fantastic condition with a nice clean rim and finial. The inner flange has two very minor typical flakes but no other apologies. Provenance: purchased at a local auction in Shady Grove PA on January 24, 1998 by longtime John Bell collector Ronald E. Hammer