Art News

A rare Moravian pottery owl bottle, circa 1800-1820 to highlight Bonhams sale

NEW YORK, N.Y.- Bonhams to have a rare Moravian pottery owl bottle, circa 1800-1820, to highlight their January 2012 American Furniture and Decorative Arts auction. This newly discovered and important example of an early American press molded animal bottle is one of only five known to exist. Brooke Sivo, Bonhams Director of American Furniture and Decorative Arts states, “Pottery animal bottles, especially from this region, are highly sought after, so when they surface they tend to do very well. There were only four known bottles in the owl form and this is the fifth example, making this form one of the rarest animal shapes. We anticipate not only private interest but also interest from American museums and institutions because of its extreme rarity.” European descendents introduced Old World ceramic traditions to the North Carolina backcountry, specifically Salem, and this lot is a prime illustration of Moravian craft