Discovery: "New Hampshire" Redware Butter Churn

In a previous discussion, the idea and use of the early American redware milk pan was analyzed for its importance within the history of the American household. The notion of use behind the utilitarian ware was defined as both a kitchen and dinner table ware. A redware or stoneware butter churn is similar to the redware or stoneware milk pan, as it too, was essential in the early American homestead. It is assumed that the butter churn not only served a purpose for butter production, but included dry good storage through a means of hollow ware.

The butter churn's body was not exclusive to clay as a medium - additionally, there are many early wooden forms known to exist today. Beyond clay and wood, churns were likely made from other substances as well. The butter maker's use has been purportedly dated as far back as 2000 BC with biblical works. The idea behind the butter churn and its practice was created by a means of converting cream to butter through a mechanical process. In the case of a stoneware or redware example, the lid would have a pole inserted through it and with rapid up and down movements, cream would eventually be turned into butter. A wooden churn's cream to butter mechanics varied, depending on how the device was manufactured.

Redware Butter Churn Discovered in Stratham, NH
Churn Measurements: 14.5 Inches Without Pole, 44.5 Inches With Pole

This fine redware example pictured above, was just recently discovered in a Stratham, New Hampshire estate. According to the previous owner, this was the place of its residence for many years. The churn's exterior clay-type does somewhat resemble an English example of redware, but the interior glaze leads me to believe it was the product of a domestic potter.

Interior Before Cleaing

The interior of the churn was extremely dirty. I took a damp cloth (with water) and I carefully cleaned the sides in the same manner that the potter's hands once turned the jar. The following picture was the result after cleaning.

Interior After Cleaning

The wooden plunger's age and wear can clearly be seen in the next photo. I believe the butter churn, lid and plunger to all be original and native to each other.

Bottoms of Wooden Plunger and Redware Lid

Massachusetts redware potter, Rick Hamelin and myself exchanged a few emails in regards to the origin of the churn. Without seeing it in person, Rick suggested the Old Exeter Pottery Works and the Lamson Family of potters in Exeter, New Hampshire as a potential attribution. I was leaning more towards the Plymouth and Moultonboro, New Hampshire areas for attribution, but after consulting my library, I agree with his suggestion.

On page 63 of Diana and J. Garrison Stradling's book, "The Art of the Potter" and on page 28 of Everett C. Lamson Jr's book, "The Old Exeter Pottery Works" a group of utilitarian ware's from the Lamson Pottery are shown. Of all the the pieces, the most unusual is a chimney safe, which is described as a redware form that was set in the wall for a stovepipe to pass through. The pictured chimney safe is nearly identical in form to the butter churn. The clay type looks similar, too. The exterior of the butter churn resembles the early twentieth-century sewer tiles that occasionally wash up on coastal river and ocean shores. Based on this picture, the form and apparent clay-type - I feel an Exeter, New Hampshire attribution is likely. Stratham and Exeter basically border each other and with that idea, the home the churn was found within is only a matter of minutes or miles of where the old Lamson factory used to operate.

Lamson Pottery Chimney Safe - Exeter, NH

Photo Courtesy: The Art of the Potter - The Stradlings

The history of the Exeter Pottery Works began in 1771 with Jabez Dodge and continued into the twentieth-century with the Lamson Family of potters. Exeter, New Hampshire is one of the more overlooked potting communities in New England. The culture was rich and the early nineteenth-century wares were extremely accomplished in color, form and skill. 

I have never seen a butter churn like this before. I assume it is rare. It could possibly be the only one to exist today. I am quite happy with the find!

Left: Lamson Pottery Dye or Lard Pot - Exeter, NH

Right: Likely Lamson Pottery Butter Church - Exeter, NH

Both Circa 1860-1890

Stoneware was the most prominent of all the early pottery butter churns and the best arguably were made in New York followed by the Norton Pottery in Bennington, Vermont.

 J. Burger Jr - Rochester, NY

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions - Sparks, Md

 T. Harrington - Lyons, NY

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions - Sparks, Md

J&E Norton - Bennington, Vt

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions - Sparks, Md

A potter by the name of Abner S Wight also reportedly made butter churns in nineteenth-century New Hampshire. Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire sold a wonderful example of Wight's work a few years back. I guess it is feasible to say that the butter churn discovered in Stratham could be a creation of Wight's or the potters working in Moultonboro, but I feel much stronger about the Exeter attribution at this time.

I'm not ruling out the idea of another unknown New Hampshire potter producing the butter churn, however, for now - I feel the argument for Lamson Pottery is strong.

For more information on the earthenware industry in Exeter - see this newspaper article.

More research to come...