W.H. Crisman Strasburg VA 1 Gallon Cream Jar

Circa 1883-1885: Because Strasburg VA stoneware merchant William H. Crisman had a mere two-year run in the pottery business, it is always a treat to come across an interesting example of his work, and this scarce 7.25" tall one gallon cobalt decorated cream jar certainly fits the bill. Crisman was primarily a merchant, used George Miller's shop for production, hired out local potters to job for him, and used his own stamp, making it difficult to attribute any individual piece to a specific potter's hand. Eugene Comstock, on page 393 of his groundbreaking study The Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley Region, published by MESDA, theorizes that the "comma with pointed tail" decoration present on this cream jar, the most common style of painting from this pottery, may have been decorated by Chrisman himself. This Shenandoah Valley of Virginia stoneware cream jar is in excellent condition with minor chipping on the inside and outside top rim of the jar as photographed and no cracks or repairs.