Among the most legendary examples of Shenandoah Valley redware is the multi-glazed lamb doorstop. Attributed to J. Eberly & Co., Strasburg, Va., the molded figure of a sleeping lamb has long been studied in such works as “The Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley Region” by H.E. Comstock and “Folk Pottery of the Shenandoah Valley” by William Wiltshire III.
An 1888 J. Eberly & Co. price list advertises “Lambs for Door Stops (sic) per dozen, 3.00.” It is believed this price is in reference to the pottery operation’s standard slip-coated lambs, as opposed to the multi-glazed examples referred in the time period as “fancy.”
The particular 12-inch-long multi-glazed figure sold at Crocker Farm during its sale on March 24 once held the auction record for Strasburg, Va., pottery when it sold for $58,000 at a Green Valley sale in 2002. The buyers at Green Valley were collectors from Virginia and have since both passed away. The couple’s pottery was sent to Crocker Farm (additional pieces will be sold in an upcoming sale). In terms of condition and color, this example likely ranks as the best of a small number of these multi-glazed, ca. 1890 lambs. The buyer at Crocker Farm was a private collector from Virginia bidding online, and it sold for $49,200 (est. $20,000-$30,000). The price reflects a 23 percent buyer’s premium charged for online bidding. It was underbid by Maryland collector Jim Kappler in the salesroom.
To learn more, visit www.crockerfarm.com.