Covered Tobacco Jar 1849 - 1858

This covered tobacco jar, produced by the American firm Lyman, Fenton & Co. between 1849 and 1858, is an excellent example of American stoneware. The jar's brown and yellow mottled glaze, known as "croaking" or "spatterware," and the decorative reeded pattern are distinctive features of 19th-century American pottery. The jar's rounded form and practical design make it a classic example of a utilitarian object elevated to an aesthetic level. This object, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, showcases the creativity and craftsmanship of American potters during a period of significant industrial growth.