Sold for A$4,000
John. Barrett / Black Horse / Launceston. No potters mark. (Tasmania). Spirits. Whisky/Whiskey. Flat sided, handled spirt flask. Two tone salt glaze with darker top and handle. Impressed. 1/2 gallon+ 375 mm. 1840s
Very Good. (7). Handle has been restored, an extremely good job. Right outer lip has a glazed over chip which is a making mark. There are a few small glaze flakes around the lip, as in, only just through the glaze. Front left heel has a flake over about 20 x 9 mm. Rear heel has another over about 13 x 12 mm which is quite shallow. Both of the flat sides have a few patches of wear through the glaze. Some other small spots of wear and scratches to be found. This is an amazing piece of Tasmanian history. John Barrett had his Black Horse Inn on the corner of Wellington and Elizabeth Street in Launceston. Newspaper articles mentioning him at this establishment ran from 1838 to 1855, he may have been there for a longer period? This likely dates into the 1840s. A large piece too, this is around 375 mm high, so, much larger than you would expect for this flat sided style of flask. I have graded this higher than usual for an item with a repaired handle due to the great job that has been done and the fact this is such a significant piece even without a handle. Possibly unique, I am not aware of another example, a once in a lifetime opportunity for any jug or pottery collector, especially with the Black Horse Inn also named on there, has everything going for it!. Estimate: $5000-7500. Reserve: $4,000.
