ABNER DUNCAN VAN ALLEN Mt. Sterling, OH Incised Folk Art - Zanesville Stoneware

Description

Pictured is a rare incised decorated one gallon jar available for sale.  The brown Albany slip glazed folk art jar
is incised by the maker twice below the shoulder "A. D. Van Allen".  (The second name is nearly obscured by
the excess glaze filling in the incised name.)  Abner Duncan Van Allen potted in Mount Sterling, Ohio, Hopewell Township, Muskingum County, some 10 miles west of Zanesville, Ohio from approximately 1870 - 1895.  The jar
is further incised either "True Wine" or "Vine".  Below that appears an incised small heart & the bust of a bald-
headed man with a long neck & nose.  All the marks perhaps had symbolism & meaning to the maker.  Once
again, the backside shoulder area has a date, but it too is filled in with glaze & is illegible.  The jar measures
8 7/8" in height and 6 3/8" in base diameter.  It's in excellent condition with no nicks, damage or repairs whatsoever.
History:  Abner Duncan Van Allen came from an extensive family of potters along with his father State Bogart
Van Allen & several brothers.  A detailed description of the family of potters can be found in "James Murphy's
Checklist of 19th Century Potteries in Southern Ohio".  Only a very few marked examples of Van Allen pottery
are known to exist.