Description:
In early America hot chocolate was a favorite breakfast beverage. Ceramic chocolate pots are much more rarely encountered in comparison to their metalware counterparts. Pottery vessels may have proved too fragile for vigorous stirring and frothing of the heated chocolate, but some like this rare example do survive. Unglazed, thrown red stoneware baluster-shaped chocolate pot and domed lid, lid has a domed shape with a slightly flaring edge, there is a quarter-sized diameter hole in top of the lid for the insertion of a chocolate mill or molinet, the finial for this object is missing, the body of the pot has a curving baluster shape with a narrow base and flared circular foot, the rim of the foot is decorated with a rouletted Grecian key motif, attached grooved strap handle with applied floral sprig at the top of handle, and molded mask-shaped snip for a spout high up on the rim of the pot, the lid and body are both engine turned all over the surface (except the narrow area above the foot) in a wavy, basket weave appearance, the underside of base is stamped with a square Chinese-like character mark. In April 1771 the Pennsylvania Packet printed a notice for the sale of "Red Engine Lath China" which could have been similar to this type of object. Ceramic and glass merchant Frederick Rhinelander of New York City also sold glazed and unglazed red china teapots in 1778.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2012.44 |
