| Pigs really can fly at Cowan Auction in Cincinnati |
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CINCINNATI, Ohio — Some little piggie certainly went to market on June 21 at Cowan’s Auctions during the firm’s Summer Fine and Decorative Art Auction.
All eyes were fixed on five little stoneware pigs made in Anna, Ill. Whenever these fanciful, folk art pigs come onto the market they are sure to draw serious attention.
The pig flasks sold for a combined total of $53,475. The top lot of the collection was a stoneware railroad pig that was marked “Cincinnati the Pork City,” which sold for $14,950. Prices include the 15 percent buyer’s premium.
Wallace and Cornwall Kirkpatrick of Anna Pottery are the most well-known creators of pig flasks. They often used the pigs as vehicles to express opinions of topical subjects such as politics and corruption.
This high priced piece of stoneware pork dated to circa 1881. The Albany slip-glazed anatomically correct molded stoneware pig bottle had a hole at the rear, incised hooves and facial details, incised on one side with the inscription St. Louis the future GREAT/ Railroad and River Guide/by Anna Pottery/with a little good old Bourbon in a hog’s—/1881. The rest of the pig was incised with a map of the following landmarks: Mississippi River, Bloomington, Springfield, Alton, O&M R.R., Chester, Grand Tower, Jonesboro, Cairo, G.B.I.C.R.R., Odin, Centralia, Tamaroa, Duquoin, Carbondale, Anna, Junc, Mounds, Chicago the Corn City, and Cincinnati the Pork City. It measured more than 7 inches long and 3.25 inches high.
Next in market price was a 7 by 3.25 inches circa 1884 blue-gray stoneware pig bottle, once more anatomically correct with a hole at the rear, incised hooves and facial details. It was decorated with cobalt incising from Egypt and with a little good old Bourbon in__/1884. It sold for $12,650.
Another railroad themed flask sold for $9,200. In Albany slip it was incised on one side with the inscription St. Louis the future capital/Latest and Only Reliable Railroad and River Guide/with a little good Old Rye in a hog’s—/By Anna Pottery.
The remainder of the pig was incised with a map of the following landmarks: Mississippi River, C.A. & St.L.R.R., Bloomington, Springfield, Alton, O. & M.R.R., Cairo short line, C. & St.L.R.R., Grand Tower, Cairo the Mound City, Anna the Jug City, Carbondale, DuQuoin, Tamaroa, Ashley, Centralia, Odin, I.C.R.R., G.B.I.C.R.R., C. & V. R.R., Vincennes, Chicago the Corn City, Cincinnati the Pork City.
An Albany slip-glazed anatomically correct sow molded stoneware presentation pig bottle with hole at rear, incised hooves and facial details, was incised on the back with the inscription W.K.M. Breckinridge/ol/ Keeps good Brandy in a hogs, and on the belly Anna Pottery Ills. It measured 9 inches long, 4 inches high and had a girth of 14 inches. The piece sold for $8,050.
An advertising pig flask featured an Albany slip glaze. It was incised on one-side St. Louis the future Capital in/From John Gaubatz/No. 115 Christy Ave./St. Louis Mo. Landmarks similar to the other pigs sold were incised on the other side. The United States Federal Census for 1900 shows a John Gaubatz, born in February 1839, living in St. Louis and employed as a hosteler. He died on April 17, 1907. This piece of history sold for $8,625.
Contact: 513-871-1670
www.cowanauctions.com |
| 7/30/2008 |
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