Pitcher 1848 - 1880

This is a stoneware pitcher made by John Bell Pottery around 1848 to 1880. Its muted gray surface is punctuated by cobalt blue floral designs. The pitcher’s form is a study in balance, a gently curved body rising to a cylindrical neck. The handle echoes the body’s curve, providing both a functional and aesthetic counterpoint. Blue floral motifs create a dynamic tension, with larger blossoms anchoring the design and smaller buds adding rhythmic variation. The color, a simple yet effective binary, enhances the contrast, drawing the eye across the surface. Consider the floral design not merely as decoration but as a sign. What do these stylized blossoms signify? Perhaps a connection to nature, a yearning for beauty in everyday life, or even a subtle critique of industrialization through the handmade object. The pitcher is not just a vessel but a carrier of cultural meaning. It invites us to consider how the simplest forms can embody complex ideas and values.