Roland Blaettler und Rudolf Schnyder, 2014
Judging by their form, style and technique, two ink stands, one from the Museum Blumenstein in Solothurn (MBS 1933.9) and the other from the Historical Museum in Olten (HMO 8227), were undoubtedly made by the same workshop.
The Museum of Art and History in Neuchâtel has a third piece of the same type in brown glaze and with the year 1777 (MAHN AA 1470).
The inscription on the piece from the Museum Blumenstein (MBS 1933.9) – “Jocob Bannir – H I O W” – provides an important clue with regard to the origin of the three objects. The Jakob Bannier (or Pannier) mentioned here was undoubtedly a member of a family from Oberwil near Basel. The Historical Museum in Basel has in its collection a jug dated 1737 and inscribed with the words “… made by Johannes p … in Oberwill” (Peter-Müller 1978, Fig. 1, HMB 1878.31).
According to the records held at the State Archive of Basel Land, two cousins both with the name of Johannes Pannier (Bannier) lived in Oberwil during the period of interest to us here. What is not clear, however, is which of them was a potter. One of them lived from 1683 to 1751, the other from 1693 to 1785. The older one had a son called Johann Jakob (1712–1769), who also had a son of that name born in 1736.
Because the ink stand from Neuchâtel was not made until after the death of Johann Jakob senior, we can probably assume that all three objects were made by Johann Jakob junior. This would mean that he was 18 when he made the older piece, which is indeed quite plausible.
Translation Sandy Haemmerle
References:
Blaettler/Schnyder 2014
Roland Blaettler/Rudolf Schnyder, CERAMICA CH: Solothurn (Nationales Inventar der Keramik in den öffentlichen Sammlungen der Schweiz (1500-1950) 2). Sulgen 2014, 48.
Blaettler/Ducret/Schnyder 2013
Roland Blaettler/Peter Ducret/Rudolf Schnyder, CERAMICA CH: Neuchâtel (Inventaire national de la céramique dans les collections publiques suisses (1500-1950) 1). Sulgen 2013, 62.
Peter-Müller 1978
Irmgard Peter-Müller, Geschirr des 18. Jahrhunderts im Kirschgarten aus Basler Besitz. Basel 1978.
