Preliminary identification
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Overview
This is a charming ceramic wall-hanging salt box featuring a hand-painted cobalt blue American eagle and the historic date '1776'. It is topped with a warm, turned wooden lid and a ceramic knob, designed to be mounted near a stove for easy access to salt while cooking. This piece represents a massive wave of American pride and historical nostalgia that swept the nation during the 1976 Bicentennial.
Story
In 1976, America celebrated its 200th birthday, sparking a massive revival of early American folk art. Families across the country sought out hand-crafted stoneware and colonial-style kitchenware to bring a piece of history into their modern homes.
Maker / Origin
During the mid-1970s, major American potteries like Pfaltzgraff, along with hundreds of smaller regional workshops, produced commemorative stoneware. They drew inspiration from 18th and 19th-century salt-glazed crocks, replicating the classic cobalt blue slip decorations that early American settlers used.
Condition & Value
The ceramic body appears to be in excellent condition with no visible chips, cracks, or crazing. The wooden lid shows a beautiful, gentle patina from age. Excellent preservation of both materials helps keep this at the higher end of its value range. Value is driven by nostalgia and the ongoing popularity of farmhouse kitchen decor.
Full Research
Sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance pulled from recent auction results.
Build on this identification
Layer in sold comps, value drivers, and venue guidance.
Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.