A rare Moravian pottery figural flask circa 1820

Rudolf Christ (1750-1833) was master potter of the Moravian community of Salem, North Carolina, succeeding Gottfried Aust after his death in 1788. Christ was first apprenticed to Aust probably in about 1766, training and working with him until 1786 when he returned to Bethabara to establish his own pottery. Following his former master's death Christ petitioned to be appointed to the postion of master of the Salem pottery. Returning to Salem in 1789, Christ took over the pottery, began a program of improvement and expansion and continued his experimentations with Queensware, tin-glazed pottery and stoneware.  He began production of press-molded bottles in the forms of fish, squirrels and other animals, as well as the more unusual little dolls or girl-form bottles and casters, in about 1800. These remained popular throughout the early 19th century and are generally attributed to Christ's Salem pottery. Bottles and casters in the form of a girl are known to exist in at least three sizes.  A 6 3/4 -inch 'middle-size' bottle was sold in these rooms, October 13, 2001, lot 69, where a larger caster, of the same form as the present example, in the collection of Old Salem, Inc., is illustrated in the sale catalogue.