Extremely Rare Three-Gallon Stoneware Jug with Elaborate Cobalt Starface Decoration, Stamped "JORDAN," probably Justus McBurney, New York State origin, third quarter 19th century, semi-ovoid jug with tooled shoulder and flattened spout, decorated with a large slip-trailed design of a face surrounded by four heavily-applied rays. Additional wavy line and spot decoration to the left and right. Slip-trailed "3" below decoration and cobalt highlight to maker's mark. This iconic New York State decoration is significantly rarer than the well-known Thompson Harrington starfaces of Lyons, New York. We can find no auction record of a Jordan starface selling within the last decade or more. Few examples of this decorative quality are known from Jordan, NY, and the maker's mark, "JORDAN", is unusual in and of itself. A similarly-decorated jug is in the collection of the Jordan Museum and appeared in a 1974 article in the Syracuse Herald-American newspaper. The finest example of Jordan stoneware we have ever handled. Provenance: Descended in a New York State family. Very nice condition. Some small spots of fry to cobalt. A small iron ping near base. A 1 1/2" hairline from spout on front. A 5" hairline from spout on reverse. A 1 1/2" diagonal hairline in lower handle terminal. A 2 3/4" T-shaped line to shoulder. An in-the-firing contact mark to left side of jug.