J. EBERLY & CO. (ATTRIBUTED), STRASBURG, SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA EARTHENWARE / REDWARE WATER COOLER, lead- and copper-glazed over a slip wash, neo-classical urn form with molded and applied ornaments including a swagged drape and tassel above an animal mask forming the spigot hole, two twisted-rope bail-like handles at shoulder, all raised on a circular stepped foot. Attributed to the pottery of Jacob Eberly (1830-1908) and Daniel Letcher Eberly (1859-1919), Strasburg, VA. Fourth quarter 19th century. 18" H, 16" DOA.
Published: Comstock - The Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley Region, p. 284, fig. 5.227.
Provenance: From a New York City collection.
Catalogue Note: Comstock devotes an entire paragraph to this water cooler. He notes that Jacob Kern purchased a cooler for over six dollars from Eberly and comments "it is likely that a molded cooler and an elaborate shell base (fig. 5.227) was delivered to Kern. This water cooler is one of the Eberly shop's most unusual products." He also makes note that this cooler was made to fit into a shell-shaped base, however, there are no manufacturing features that suggest a missing lower element.
Condition
Very good condition with some expected glaze losses and wear, primarily to the reverse of lower reservoir and high spots, probable restoration to animal mask.