Item: Salt Glazed Stoneware Jar with Cobalt Decoration
Markings: “J. MILLER / ALEX”
Dimensions: Height 13 ¾” Diameter at Mouth 8 ½”
Capacity: Approx 3 gallons
Origin: Alexandria, Virginia
Circa: 1825
Commentary: With the exceptions of Lewis Plum and Henry Piercy from whom no known marked examples exist, and Tildon Easton with only a single marked example, James Miller marked stoneware is the rarest among the early Alexandria potters. Described in a 2004 article in Ceramics in America as the “Lost Potter of Alexandria, Virginia,” Miller was identified as an associate of Plum and Piercy who first appeared in city records in 1797. Miller appears again in city records in 1800 but disappears from Alexandria. It is not known where or if Miller continued to pot during these years but by 1820 he reappeared across the Potomac in Georgetown where the census of that year shows him as a producer of stoneware employing two hired hands. If this represents Millers first attempt to open an independent operation it was extremely ill timed as the Panic of 1819 had triggered an economic downturn that would grip the nation well into the 1820s. By 1824 Miller had returned to Alexandria, where he took on substantial debt and continued his attempt to operate an independent pottery. Two years later James Miller was in bankrupt and in debtors’ prison. He was released in January, 1827 and seems to have left Alexandria and the business of potting as nothing is known of Miller beyond this time.
Several examples of Miller impressed jars and at least one pitcher are now known. In some but not all instances ALEX is impressed below MILLER and it has been suggested that the pieces without ALEX were produced at Miller’s Georgetown pottery, and only the ALEX marked pieces in Alexandria. As there are no other discernable differences in technique, materials or decoration in the Miller marked pieces with or without the ALEX mark this seems plausible. Only examples of Miller’s work with the ALEX mark can be considered with any certainty to have been made in Alexandria during the short duration of his 1824-1826 venture.
James Miller was among the very first Alexandria potters to utilize cobalt decorations on his pots. Often quite crude, the designs are brush applied depictions of leaf and floral motifs that presage the later, famous Alexandria flower. The handles of this jar are also fully painted and the decorator circled the makers name in blue above the floral design. Five incised lines are traced on the shoulder at the level of the relatively small tab handles.
Like the other known Miller pieces, there is no stamped capacity mark. This jar is nearly identical in size to a Miller jar with a painted “3” and was probably intended to have the same capacity.
Condition: This crock is in excellent condition with strong decoration and markings. There are small chips on one handle and minor base chips.
Price: Sold
