Rare Johnston Littell Stoneware Butter Crock

Circa 1865-1875: Stenciled "J. Littell. Greensboro. Pa." and covered with four freehand stripes and two lines of freehand leaf and vine decoration, this petite one gallon butter crock or bowl is one of the finest surviving examples from potter Johnston Littell's short-lived manufactory. On page 158 of his highly regarded Big Ware Turners (Westerwald Press 2002), author Phil Schaltenbrand explains about Littell that "in the mid 1860s the former tavern keeper moved to Greensboro and started his stoneware enterprise," which "may have occupied the former Boughner complex." Schaltebrand goes on to assert that Littell "does appear in the 1870 Federal Census of Manufacturers" but "does not appear as a property owner in Caldwell's 1876 map of Greensboro." Measuring 6 1/8" in height and 8 1/2" in diameter, this exceptional stoneware bowl or butter crock is in fantastic nearly as made condition with typical factory firing anomalies, one minor flake on the base, and no additional chips, cracks, or repairs. This museum quality piece of southwestern Pennsylvania stoneware has resided in several advanced collections over the last 40 years and was obtained directly from celebrated Washington PA antiques aficionados Frank and Susan Swala.