VIRGINIA MERCHANT'S STENCILED STONEWARE JAR, salt-glazed, designated six-gallon capacity, cylindrical form with slight shoulder, flat-top rounded rim, incised and beaded neck ring, applied arched handles, Albany-slip glazed interior. Stenciled cobalt "E.J. MILLER & CO. / WHOLESALE / DEALERS IN / QUEENSWARE, CHINA / GLASSWARE & C. / 65 KING ST / ALEXANDRIA. VA", brushed cobalt "6" flanked by triple-leaf ornament, stripes and wavy line designs above and below stencil, and additional cobalt to handle terminals. James Hamilton, Greensboro, PA for Elisha Janney Miller (1827-1895), Alexandria, VA. Circa 1876. 16 5/8" H, 10 1/2" D rim.
Catalogue Note: Elisha Janney Miller was born into an Alexandria, VA merchant family. His grandfather, Mordecai Miller, and father, Robert Hartshorne Miller (1798-1874) were each prosperous importers and wholesalers. Elisha began working with his father in 1856 at his No. 65 King Street establishment and nine years later, he inherited the business after his father's retirement. At this time, Elisha entered into a business partnership with the Milburn family pottery on Wilkes Street. The pottery provided the merchant with assorted stoneware forms including jars, cuspidors/spittoons, jugs, milk pans, and cake crocks until its closing in 1876. Following the closure of the Alexandria pottery, Miller began procuring stoneware from James Hamilton in Greensboro, PA. Vessels featured his business name, address, and sometimes additional advertising information in stenciled cobalt. Elisha J. Miller managed the business until 1895, when he passed away from Bright's disease at the age of 67. The mercantile company continued in the Miller family until sometime before 1917.

Collection of the late Al and Billy Steidel, Alexandria, VA.
Dorothy Burnette, Alexandria, VA, 1/9/1983.

Excellent condition, having a radial hairline below one handle, does not affect resonance, and scattered glaze wear from use.