American & Southern | September 23, 2026
Wed, Sep 23, 2026 10:00AM EDT
Lot 20
Rare Early Six Gallon Exhibited Dave Drake Attributed Edgefield, South Carolina 1839 Dated Stoneware Jar
Estimate: $15,000 - $25,000
Sold for
$20,000
Sold Price excludes BP
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $100 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
Edgefield District, South Carolina, attributed to Dave Drake at the Pottersville Manufactory, greenish tan alkaline glaze, some greenish glaze drips down from handles and shoulder, tapered bulbous ovoid form, inscribed "mar 20th 1839" at front shoulder, faint upside down "U" mark adjacent to handle, six tiny vertical slash marks to reverse of jar indicating capacity, 5-1/2 in. arching lug handles applied to opposing shoulders, straight neck with curved tooled rim, fingerprints to lower base edge in glaze, 15 in. tall, 44-1/4 in. circumference
Provenance: Private South Georgia Collection
Note: Fresh to the market example, recently found on a farm in Georgia. This impressive six-gallon vessel represents a significant example from the final year of Dave's known production at the Pottersville Manufactory site. This jar would be around the 16th earliest known dated form attributed to Dave according to the "Known Dated Vessels Signed by or Attributed to the Slave Potter Dave" list in the article "Beneath His Magic Touch: The Dated Vessels of the African-American Slave Potter Dave", by Arthur F. Goldberg and James P. Witkowski, Chipstone, Ceramics in America (2006), pg. 67-70. Similar form jars with similar dated scripts have sold in recent years at auction including one that sold January 27, 2018, lot 188, at Case Auctions in Knoxville, Tennessee, with a script of "April, 3, 1840" and "LM". That jar had a very similar "3" and open bottom "8" in the date that match this jar we are offering.
Exhibition: Selected for prominent exhibition at the Georgia Museum of Art, where it was displayed from May 19, 2023, through July 3, 2026.
Available payment options
Purchased items will be available for pick up or shipping from our Asheville, North Carolina auction facility within ten business days of the auction, or will be assessed a storage fee of $5.00 per day, per item. Purchaser agrees that packing and shipping is done at the purchaser's risk and that the purchaser will pay in advance all packing expenses, materials, carrier fees and insurance charges. At our discretion, items will either be packed by an agent such as a packaging store or Brunk Auctions. Please allow two weeks for shipping after payment is received. Shipment of large items is the responsibility of the purchaser. We are happy to provide names of carriers and shippers if a purchaser so requests. Brunk Auctions will have no liability for any loss or damage to shipped items.
Private South Georgia Collection
glaze voids and anomalies as made, reapplied 2-1/4 in. rim chip, 3/4 in. hole patch to exterior of jar, evident in interior, 1-3/4 in. chip to edge of one handle, some grim under handles, base edge wear, red residue and green paint drips in interior base, circular hairline around interior base, very little wear to exterior of jar, very good presentation and overall condition for a rare early form Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.
