This bottle find is a real pig ... need help IDing.

[tigerbeetle]

This bottle find is a real pig ... need help ID'ing.

Having hunted bottles since the mid-1960s, I thought I pretty much knew all bottles on sight. This piggly find threw me. I know of pig bottles but does anyone have any insights into this suspected-ancient stoneware specimen? It gets tougher for me because I dig in Southern NJ, which has a slew of bottle and stoneware manufactures dating back hundreds of years, meaning this could be some end-of-day, after-hours work done in towns like nearby Millville.

 

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[TxThunter]

Anna Pottery pigs are the most prolific and desirable pig bottles. The majority have maps depicted on them. Those can fetch thousands. There are some serious pottery and glass pig collectors out there, so if you are selling, don't take the first offer. Definitely take time to do some research. I am not saying your's is worth thousands, but it could be. I believe Jim Hagenbush is a serious pig collector and may could give you some insight as to what you have found. I cringed watching you clean that pig up the way you did praying that it didn't hit a rock or something. This could possibly be the best thing / bottle you ever dig or dug so please treat it that way. RC

 

[yakker]

I was trying to find something like it, but failed. However, there's a Tennessee pottery write-up-- VERY long, which may offer clues. Here's the site- and the pig is on page 370.

https://www.tn.gov/environment/docs/arch_rs18_tn_potteries_2011.pdf

Not spotted, but something about the eyes seemed similar. Is it a bank? or a bottle. I ask because of the cork-butt. But I couldn't tell if there was a slot in the top. I'll keep looking for N.J. potteries. Something might come up.

Good luck-- and HH! Yakker
p.s. Found this (a whole page of google images... sorry)--
https://www.google.com/search?q=19t...ottle-Midwestern-late-19th-century%2F;600;393

Anna pottery is a little more rounded- softer edges, but this has similar features, but again, not speckled. How about a cleaned-up picture?

 

[TxThunter]

My bad for the misspelling. James or Jim Hagenbuch. He founded the Glassworks bottle auction. He has one of the finest pottery pig collections and is the one to ask about it. RC

 

[epackage]

First one I've seen where the front legs are extended and lifting the pig off the surface, I hope it's something super rare for you...

 

[sunrunner]

I've been studying pottery for 30 year , and that is the first pig bottle I've seen that looks like that . one of a kind!

 

[tigerbeetle]

Wow, you guys rock. Got me going in the right direction. Recently showed my pig to an avid collector and he offered a pretty penny -- sight uncleaned, to to speak. Got home and he had upped the offer, via phone message. Expectedly, he's begging me not to do more than remove surface dirt. I've actually been decades in the archaeological excavating business -- though more on the actual digging side -- so I know when to NOT push the cleaning envelope. Like many/most of you, I'm not in it for the money -- at least not until I get to look at a find to my heart's content. Once my heart is contented, then I ponder a sale. Thanx again for insights. I'll keep this forum posted on any further insight I gained.

 

[epackage]

I may have an interest in that milk if available...

 

[TxThunter]

Please send some pictures of it to Mr. Hagenbuch at Glass Works. I am very curious as to what he says about it. A pig in Glass Works #94 back in March of 2012 sold for $20,000+. RC

 

[TxThunter]

When I first saw the picture, I thought I was seriously looking at a dead baby pig. lol I personally think something like this should deserve a banner vote, imho. RC

 

[yakker]

If it's what we're all hoping it is, I'm in. Just have to get a little more info, I suspect. Yak

 

[BENTHOR]

WHAT A GREAT FIND! GOOD FOR YOU! I WAS ALSO CRINGING WHEN YOU WERE HOLDING IT BY THE TAIL AND WASHING IT.....I'D WRAP THAT THING UP IN ALL THE BLANKETS I HAD UNTIL FURTHER PURSUING ANYTHING WITH IT! THANKS FOR SHARING.

 

[Tnmountains]

I sure would gently clean and take care of that. I agree some cleaned up pictures might help the more knowledgable than me members give you an identification. Very nice pig!

 

[sunrunner]

don't be afraid to clean it . it looks like salt glazed stoneware.

 

[bdsawyer]

Any news on this? Really hope it turns out well for u