Edward Pope Cranch (1809-1892) for Rookwood Pottery
earthenware mugs with incised and painted story of Issac Abbott, two, shape number 260 (scenes #3 and #14)
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1886
matte glazed ceramic
impressed factory marks, incised title, painted artist's initials
each: 5"w x 3 3/8"d x 6"h

Provenance:
Cincinnati Art Galleries, Cincinnati, Ohio, 07 June 2009, Lot 1248 (scene #3)

Catalog Note:
In 1886, Cranch discovered an old New England ballad about the sad tale of Isaac Abbott, a man who chopped down a tree, only to have the tree fall on him, ultimately leading to his demise. Robert Clarke & Co. published a booklet entitled The Mournful Ballad of Isaac Abbott that same year with Cranch supplying its 14 drawings, which he then emulated at Rookwood, probably doing all 14 scenes on mugs. Scene #14 apparently shows the body of Abbott lying next to the tree. His neighbor, Mister Brown, and his dog find Abbott, take him home, only to have him die from his injuries. Scene #3 shows Abbott leaving the house to attend to the tree. Cranch's work at Rookwood is most unusual and highly entertaining. Cranch claimed to have heard the Ballad 50 years earlier, sung by Noah Webster.

Scene #3: Multiple rim cracks and the handle has been broken off and glued back.
Scene #14: No crazing, chips, cracks or repairs. Possible small base chip, which may have been in the making.