S/4311 Antique 19th Century Pottery Cider Owl

A rare and interesting early 19th century pottery harvest bottle, known as a cider owl, costrel, undoubtedly made in the Verwood Pottery in Dorest. These harvest bottles were typical of that region and made from a pale clay, with the top half being glazed. This one is decorated with three incised lines, with a pinched raised lug either side of the raised neck and spout. Each of the lugs have twin holes to accommodate a leather or corded handle. They were traditionally used to take cider or ale into the fields during harvest time, similar to the iron banded oak costrels that are far more plentiful, as owls could easily be dropped and broken, so very few have survived. Examples may be seen in the Wimborne Museum, Dorset.

Sold 9 in. (23 cm.) High
9½ in. (24 cm.) Diameter English Circa 1830