BELL FAMILY, WINCHESTER, SHENANDOAH VALLEY OF VIRGINIA DECORATED STONEWARE JAR, salt-glazed, approximately two-gallon capacity, ovoid form with three incised rings below the slightly flared neck and plain flat-top rim, lightly grooved, open-loop handles, and beaded foot. Brushed cobalt triple-blossom floral decoration on each side, additional cobalt at handle terminals. Peter, Samuel, or Solomon Bell, Winchester, VA. Circa 1830-1845. 12 3/4" H, 8 1/2" D rim, 7 3/4" D base.
Literature: Form is identical to Comstock - The Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley Region, p. 242, fig. 5.131 which is stamped "BELL" in large letters.
Provenance: Descended in the family of Casper Rinker (1789-1861) of Gainesboro, Frederick Co., VA.
Property of a Rinker family member.
A history of the descent of this jar is included with the lot.
Catalogue Note: H. E. Comstock originally attributed the large BELL mark seen on the jar referenced above to S. Bell and Son in Strasburg, circa 1892-1915. However, all of the pieces recorded with this distinctive stamp are of a much earlier form. It is now thought that this mark was used by the Bell family during their time in Winchester. The solid Frederick Co. provenance of the jar offered here adds strong evidence to the new attribution of the mark.

Very good as-found condition, two shallow chips to rim, small chip to edge of foot, jar is solid but displays networks of very fine hair/craze lines throughout.