Sold for A$2,200
W. Browns / (English Coat of Arms) / Improved Filter / Emerald Hill. No potters stamp but attributed to Chesterfield Pottery, Footscray. (South Melbourne, Victoria). Pottery. Water Filter. Large round filter receiver tapered from top down to base. Slab seal type applied decoration. Salt Glaze. 3 - 4 Gallon. 405 mm. 1860s
Very Good. (7). There is a chip at the bottom of the tap hole that looks to be about 40 x 15 mm. There are also 3 or 4 cracks in the edge of the tap hole (up to around 40 mm long). Around all this to the bottom half and edge of the top there is some type of glue or resin over it to fill the chip and cracks but there is far more glue then required. Thin hairline continues under the base from the edge of the tap. Inside you can see a fine crack diminishing to a hairline about 95 mm up from the base and then another fine hairline goes across the top of this at right angles for 150 mm or so. There are about 7 chips around the lip. Largest is about 30 x 15 mm and down from there. Generally not too deep and just to the outer lip. Two hairlines down from the back lip, both of around 150 mm. Very solid overall with nice decoration and unusual lettering. A very fine one down the front of maybe 100 mm but hard to see. Very rare early piece of Victorian pottery. This exact item features on Page 160 of "Victoria's Earliest Potteries" by Gregory Hill. . Estimate: $3000-5000