The Iron-Glazed Stoneware Eagle Tankard

A Remix of Two Colonial Masterpieces

This limited-edition piece blends two iconic early American pottery traditions to celebrate 300+ years of patriotic craftsmanship and trade independence.

The Eagle Motif: Moravian Eagle Flask (1819–1830)

• The History: Originally appearing on rare, green-glazed Salem, NC redware flasks, this Federal eagle design marks the era when later pilgrims began adopting and celebrating bold American symbols.

The Tankard Design: Yorktown’s “Poor Potter” (1720–1745)

The History: Operating just miles from the British colonial seat in Williamsburg, Virginia, this illegal industrial site produced America's earliest stoneware—openly defying British mercantile policy and blazing a trail for  economic independence.

The Recreation: In February 2026, Kilian became the first potter authorized by the Department of the Interior to study the historic Swan Tavern Tankards. This vessel is a result of that inspiring research.

3. The Fusion: Blending the Techniques

• The Craft: Kilian meticulously hand-carved a reverse-relief plaster mold to replicate the Moravian eagle.

• The Twist: Instead of casting a flask, the eagle motif is applied directly to the Yorktown stoneware tankard using the "Poor Potter's" traditional spring-moulded relief technique—joining two distinct eras of American craftsmanship into a single piece.