A very rare David and John Philip Elers silver-gilt-mounted red stoneware mug circa 1695

the slip-cast cylindrical body applied with a flowering prunus branch flanked by two small scroll motifs within lathe-turned reeded borders at the rims and applied beneath the grooved strap handle with a thumb-pinched terminal, mounted in contemporary silver-gilt, probably German, with gadrooned borders and engraved leaf tip base bands, the hinged cover with a leaf-cast scroll thumbpiece and inset with a white silver medallion embossed and chased with a merry toper above the engraved inscription Ich Schencke bier und Wein für dich und mich, the mounts apparently unmarked.

Please note: the mug has not been examined beneath its silver mounts. Apart from two very minor pinhead chips to the rim (mostly to the interior), the visible stoneware is in generally good condition.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

David Elers (born in Amsterdam in 1656) and his brother, John Philip (born in Utrecht in 1664) came to England sometime during the 1680s. Silversmiths by profession but also trained as potters, the brothers began their careers in London in 1686 selling silver. Sometime during this period they also etablished a pottery at Vauxhall, producing salt-glazed stonewares, until their move to Staffordshire in about 1691. It was here that they started a new pottery works at Bradwell Wood (near Burslem), making use of the local red clay to produce finely slip-cast red stonewares until about 1698 when, on the verge of bankruptcy, the brothers returned to London.  A number of contemporary and later accounts describe the fine red stonewares produced by the Elers during their short tenure at Bradwell Wood. These are cited in full by Gordon Elliott in his monograph of the Elers brothers lives and work, John and David Elers and their Contemporaries. Elliott discusses the distinctive group of slip-cast and lathe-turned wares, which are, despite the absence of any firm documentary or archeological evidence, attributed to the brothers. This group was first identifed by W. B. Honey, 'Elers Ware', English Ceramic Circle Transactions, No. 2, 1934, pp. 7-16, on stylistic grounds, and the pieces attributed by him for the most part remain unchallenged. A beaker and a cylindrical mug applied with flowering branches identical to the present example are illustrated ibid., pl. Ib and c. A teapot with identical decoration is illustrated by Gordon Elliot, op.cit., pl. 2A, as well a mug of the same form but differing decoration, pl 6A. Another similar mug, from the Collection of Bertram K. and Nina Little Fletcher, was sold in these rooms, October 21, 1994, lot 551.