William P. McDonald (1864-1931) & Unknown Artist for Rookwood Pottery
Limoges style earthenware jar with a single sparrow and Asian grasses, augmented with splashes of fired on gold to cover up glaze flaws, shape number 47A
Cincinnati, Ohio, 1885
high glazed ceramic
impressed factory marks, incised McDonald monogram over which E.H. has signed in gold
5 3/4"dia x 8"h

Catalog Note:
It is virtually impossible to say who E.H. might have been, perhaps someone who found a slightly flawed vase and tried to make it better. Was it someone at Rookwood? Although the unknown artist's identity will likely remain a mystery, the sprig of grass in the bird's beak makes this embellished McDonald example a partial success.

Faint crazing. Areas of glaze loss in the Asian grasses, which are covered with fired on gold, E.H.'s contribution along with a few leaves and a sprig in the mouth of the sparrow. Missing lid.