Blue and White Avenue of Trees Pitcher Inscribed c1912

Pottery : Brush-mccoy

 

This pitcher often goes unidentified and is best known to Blue and White collectors as the "Avenue of Trees". The pitcher is a Brush-McCoy product and is from their Woodland line. These pitchers went into production in 1912 and continued for several years and can be see in the Sanfords Guide to Brush-McCoy Pottery, Book 2 on page 46.

This particular pitcher is the largest size, standing 7 and 3/4 inches high and 7 and 3/4 inches from spout to back of handle. It is in outstanding, little (if ever) used condition. There are several small manufacturing defects, but NO post-production damage; no chips, cracks, or repairs. There is a small scrape on the top of the handle that happened in the kiln, and 2 small glaze pops, the worst being on the "road" visible in the first picture. The top rim and spout as well as the bottom foot have little if any signs of wear. The interior is pristine with no indication this pitcher was ever used.

And there may be a reason this pitcher was never used. There is an inscription scratched into the glaze on the bottom of the pitcher that had to have been done when the glaze was wet and unfired during the production process. The inscription reads:

VERA WILSON 202 GUTHIE LOUISVILLE

I have done some research and I am continuing to research the inscription. No state is indicated on the bottom and there are several states that have a town named Louisville (Missouri has two!). However, none have a Guthie Street. I have done searches with variations on Guthie and have found that Louisville, Kentucky does have a Guthrie Street. Currently there is a parking lot at 202 Guthrie Street. I have found that there was a building there in 1912 but have not been able to find out what kind of building or if a Wilson family was associated with it.

I did find that a 2 year old Vera Wilson died south of Louisville, KY on 12/28/1912. This is during the production period for this pitcher. Also a 25 year old Vera Wilson died in Louisville in 1932. Therefore my working hypothesis is that this pitcher was marked in memory of the 1st very young Vera or as a dedication to the other young Vera who would have been between 5 and 12 years old during the production of the pitcher. In either case, the pitcher was cherished and put on a shelf and never used. This could explain it's near pristine condition.

Shipping will be by Priority Mail with insurance for $25.00 to the lower 48 states. Other destinations at cost.

Item ID: BMcC-131 pitcher