1942 Thomas Stahl Glazed Brown Redware Small Mug with Handle Powder Valley PA
Description: A nice small brown colored redware mug with an applied ear-shaped handle. This glazed piece is beautiful dark brown in color with lighter and darker colored splotches here and there. The exterior of the mug has an incised central line for decoration. The mug has a round flat base extending beyond the mug sides. The sides are straight and outwards tilted with a slightly flared rim. The rim of the mug is plain while the handle is ear shaped with three ridges on its exterior. The handle starts at the bottom near the base and ends at the top rim. The bottom of the mug has inscription in cursive calligraphy which reads "Made in Stahl Pottery By Thomas Stahl Feb 2-1942 Powder Valley Pa" underlined by straight lines. The mug is glazed on the inside and outside. This is just a great looking and very nice smaller piece made in the Stahl Pottery in Powder Valley Pennsylvania. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: February 2, 1942.
Origin: Powder Valley, Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Size: The mug is ~ 27/8" in diameter at the base, ~3 1/4" diameter at the top, ~4 1/2" at its widest including the handle, and is ~3" high. The piece weighs slightly over 8 ounces.
Maker: Thomas Stahl.
Marks: Marked "Made in Stahl Pottery By Thomas Stahl - Feb 2-1942 - Powder Valley Pa" underlined by straight lines in 8 lines, all incised in cursive calligraphy on the bottom of the base.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: This is a very nice unusual piece in form and color that is in excellent condition after being around for almost 83 years made by one of the best and most famous potters from Southeastern Pennsylvania. Very well done and would display very well in your collection of Pennsylvania redware.
Condition: The bowl is in very good condition with no breaks, cracks, or hairlines. The glaze has crazing throughout that is difficult to see due to the coloring of the piece but is there. The piece has several shallow flea bites and flakes to the surface glaze here and there along the edges especially along the top rim and the top of the decorative ridges on the handle. These can be felt by running your finger on top. There is also a very small chip at the edge of the base, which can barely be seen in the sixth photo at 11:30. Most of these issues are very small and difficult to see, but can be felt. Finally, the piece also has some of the manufacturing defects you would expect in a primitive piece of redware of this vintage such as uneven spots, pops, slubs, areas where the glaze did not fully flow, and unglazed spots (note the spot in the second photo near the top where the glaze did not fully flow). This piece has a few of such issues. Other than that, the piece is just beautiful, great looking, and would display very well in your collection. Please view photos for additional condition information.