An American Arts and Crafts pottery vase with portrait of a rabbi

baluster form, glazed darker on one side as a ground for the portrait

The vase has been broken into various pieces and restored back with overspray tall over the body. The restoration is well-done.
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.

Rookwood pottery was founded in 1880 as an amateur pottery club in Cincinnati, but developed into a successful firm that won awards at several of the World's Fairs.  Harriet R. Strafer (1873-1935), one of many female painters at Rookwood, was born in Covington, Kentucky, and worked at the factory from 1890 to 1899, when she moved to New York to pursue art studies, but later returned to Covington.

The rabbi depicted may be Jacob Joseph (1840-1902), who was brought over from Lithuania in 1888 by the Association of American Orthodox Rabbis to serve as Cheif Rabbi of this group of Orthodox congregations in New York.  By the late 1890s infighting had stopped even the payment of the rabbi's salary, but his funeral in 1902 brought almost 100,000 out on the streets of the Lower East Side.