George Jones Majolica Rustic Server, Squirrel with Nut, English, ca. 1873
George Jones Majolica Rustic Server, Squirrel with Nut, English, ca. 1873
A George Jones Majolica Quadrilobed sandwich tray, molded with leaves, ferns, and hazelnut blossoms glazed in green, chartreuse, and turquoise on a rustic ground, the handle formed as an applied naturalistic model of a crouching squirrel eating a hazelnut, raised on branch-form feet; the reverse with impressed marks, 'GJ' monogram, British Registry mark for August 1873, with black painted pattern number to the thumbprint reserve, '2521' which corresponds to 'Squirrel Nut Tray with two large and two small pans' as found in the George Jones Majolica Pattern Books preserved in the Victoria and Albert Museum, Wedgwood Collection at World of Wedgwood, Barlaston, UK and reprinted in Cluett.* We have been among the preeminent specialists in fine English majolica for thirty years. Book references: *Robert Cluett, George Jones ceramics: 1861-1951. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 1998, p. 270. (George Jones Pattern Numbers reprinted in Appendix 4, pp. 269-272.) Marilyn G. Karmason and Joan B. Stake, Majolica: A Complete History and Illustrated Survey, New York: Harry Abrams Publishers, 1989, illustrated, p. 94 (color illustration). Jeffery B. Snyder and Leslie Bockol, Majolica: British, American & European Wares. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 1994, p. 104 (color illustration). English Majolica From a Private Collection, Sotheby's, New York, Tuesday, March 11, 1997, Sale Number 6958. Lot number 276.