Outstanding Five-Gallon Stoneware Crock with Cobalt Cow Decoration, Stamped "J.C. WAELDE / NORTH BAY", NY State origin, circa 1860, cylindrical crock with tooled shoulder, semi-squared rim, and applied lug handles, decorated with stenciled design of a horned cow, applied with a sponge, flanked by an abstract, slip-trailed wavy-line-and-spot motif. Sponged ground below, edged in slip-trailed spots. to animal's left and right. Slip-trailed "3" with flourish above. Slip-trailed above with a large script "5", underscored by dashes. Base with stylized, spotted flower blossom, flanked by foliate devices. Brushed cobalt highlight to maker's mark. The largest, and one of the most heavily decorated, examples of Waelde animal-motif stoneware that we have ever offered. Significant restoration to exfoliation on right side and reverse of jar. Some scattered exfoliation to front, as well as restoration to exfoliation and a horizontal crack to front shoulder area, covering much of the cobalt-script "5". Additional restoration to exfoliation covering some of the wavy-stripe-and-spot design to the animal's left. Decoration is otherwise untouched. A restored crack in underside.