Lot 369: Wilmot Hop Beer Colac Stoneware Barrel

Excellent. Spectacular stoneware item. Shallow 17 x 7 mm chip to the edge of the opening at the top. There are also some other small marks around the edge of this hole. To the back right of the outer rim is a 20 x 7 mm chip. On the front of the rim is a 4 x 3 mm chip through the glaze and next to this is a small horseshoe fracture over about 10 x 8 mm. Working down the barrel, the top band of writing has a 6 x 2 mm flake at the top and a 6 x 4 mm flake on the bottom of the T of Wilmot. The middle band has a 3 x 2 mm flake on the second E of Beer and some minor wear to other letters. The bottom band is pretty good with a little wear. There is fine crazing through the whole barrel. At the back near the tap hole some of this crazing is darker coloured and bordering on being hairlines, one to the left of the hole just catches a fingernail or the like when run across it. Silver coloured short scratch to rear mid body, this is on the surface only. The base and base edge are in great shape. All round a superb item in great condition. A centrepiece for any collection. (We sold this same example way back in Auction 12, Lot 410). Grade: 8.3 Estimate: $5000 - 7000