North Carolina, Catawba Valley, stoneware pottery jar with dark brown alakaline glaze and two lug handles. One handle with incised initials "D S" for Daniel Seagle (1805-1867) and the other with a "1" denoting capacity. 10" H. Mid 19th century. Biography: (Courtesy: http://danielseagle.com/the_seagle_school). Daniel Seagle was the first master potter in the Catawba River Valley. He was a Lutheran of German descent who lived in the Vale, N.C., area from 1805-67 and established his pottery business near a creek not far from Trinity Lutheran Church by circa 1824. In the early part of his career, Daniel Seagle made lead glazed earthenware. However, according to the book Turners and Burners, Seagle switched in the 1830s to making stoneware, fired at higher temperatures to hold liquids. Provenance: Private Southern Collection. (Additional high-resolution photos are available at www.caseantiques.com.)

Chip to underside of one handle. 2" x 1 1/2" tight spider line above base.