attributed to the John Bell Pottery, circa 1860-1890, lead oxide, manganese and engobe glaze, figural dog form with highly incised upper body and head, articulated fur, sculpted snout and nose, incised eyes, sculpted basket in mouth containing a jug, mug, and bread rolls, manganese slip to ears, tail, and body, impressed ovals under basket and on base, rounded rectangular base profusely decorated with impressed floral heads around base edge, large impressed floral motif centrally located on base with surrounding vine and oval impressions, 9-1/2 x 10 in.

Provenance: Ex. Collection Lester Breininger, Jr.; John Newcomer; Collection of Dr. George and Connie Manger

Literature: This lot is illustrated in Pottery From The Shenandoah And Cumberland Valleys: Selections from the Manger Collection, by Dr. George and Connie Manger, pg. 27., H.E. Comstock, The Pottery of The Shenandoah Valley Region, pg. 456, plate 4.217.

Exhibited: Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Maryland, May 16th, 2003 through September 14th, 2003; "The Bell Family Pottery," Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, September through November of 2008.

Note: Comstock states in The Pottery of The Shenandoah Valley Region that this particular earthenware dog "...is one of the most intricately decorated of all the known attributed examples of Bell-modeled ware from either Waynesboro or Strasburg, although similar decoration appeared in different configurations on much of the Waynesboro and Strasburg Bell products." For more information see pgs. 152-157.