Signed John Bell 3 Gallon Decorated Storage Jar

Circa 1850-1880: Of all the people in the long line of Bell family master potters, John Bell is considered the best of them, and this highly decorated and superbly thrown three gallon storage jar is an excellent example of his work. The 13.75" tall jar is big and beefy with a well designed lip that makes room for tying a cheesecloth with twine to help preserve the jar's contents. Bell's applied handles are also well made with attractive tooling and are large and wide enough to hold all four fingers. It's no wonder this awesome jar has survived in nearly as made condition with one small nick on the inside lip and no other damage. The decoration is also stunning with two of Bell's signature dotted flowers bordering the graduated cobalt brush strokes (so common in Mid Atlantic stoneware) on both sides of the jar with a large cobalt dot under each cobalt accented handle. To top it off, there is clear "John Bell / Waynesboro" stamp under one handle. This piece has all the classic bells and whistles of Bell's Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, day to day utilitarian salt glazed stoneware output and is just about as nice as they come.