North Carolina Redware Charger: A Fine Example of Early Southern Art

An absolutely wonderful example of early North Carolina redware will soon be offered at public sale through Pook and Pook Auctions in Downington, Pennsylvania.

Here is a link to the listing. Unfortunately, there is no provenance cited, but it is assumed the consignor is an accomplished collector, unless this is the first time it has been offered and as a result, it is fresh to the market. At the moment, I do not know the details.

North Carolina Redware Charger
Early 19th Century
Estimate: $40,000 to $60,000
Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook Auctions

Back of Charger

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook Auctions

Side View of Charger
Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook Auctions

Professional photography in a sense, does absolutely no justice for the quality of what this redware charger represents. This is an idea in which I have always believed. I understand the need and importance of professional photography for cataloging, but for my personal preference, I would rather see a real-life photo. The photo actually takes away the real-life appearance and  demonstrates some-what of a false experience. If you were to look at these photos and then see this example in-person, the reaction would be much different. This is in a pure sense, an absolute piece of work and accomplishment by the potter that can only really be seen for what it is in-person.

I am not an expert on North Carolina earthenware or redware, but I do feel this is one of the better examples of early American made flatware (no matter the region) - to ever be offered at a public sale. 

Pook's is describing the example as a redware charger made in Alamance County, North Carolina. It sits fifteen inches across. The decoration is phenomenal! Notice the three blooming tulips - they are just as I wrote about a few weeks ago (March 29th Report), but this is not a Pennsylvania example. I assume the influence is either German or Dutch. The art work was all applied by hand. There is not much more to be said, other than this being a wonderful example of early Southern folk art that truly speaks for itself.

I own the following two plates as part of my-own collection. I have always felt the decoration in each resembled the work of the North Carolina potters. These plates have been shown  to a handful of nationally recognized southern pottery experts and all have felt the plates are continental (European) made. Regardless of what they are in maker and origin, I can not deny their beauty or craftsmanship.

Early and Finely Decorated Earthenware Plate

Circa 1800
Maker and Origin Not Currently Identified

Early and Finely Decorated Earthenware Plate

Circa 1800
Maker and Origin Not Currently Identified

It is in my opinion that both date towards the early nineteenth-century. Each can be described as more of an earthenware or stoneware product rather than redware. Both measure nine inches in diameter. If anyone has any recommendations for further knowledge, attribution or origin, I would love to hear it.

For more reading on the early potters of North Carolina, I recommend the 2009 Edition of Ceramics in America. The potters of this region can be defined today through an extremely accomplished and in some cases, unique contribution to the study of the early American pottery industry.

I am not going to get into the details, but the Moravian potters of Salem, North Carolina are known for wonderful creations and among those are the well-sought after animal redware bottles. Kelly Young's (Texas Oil) collection recently went up for sale at Crocker Farm Auctions in Sparks, Maryland and as a part of this sale, were two extremely rare animal figurals.

Here are links to each result:

#219 - Moravian Redware Squirrel Bottle

#220 - Moravian Redware Bear Bottle

Salem, North Carolina Redware Flask

Photo Courtesy: American Folk Art Museum - New York, NY

The talented and accomplished potters of the Salem area included many names and of those individuals - are the better known John Holland and Rudolf Christ. Holland and Christ can be described as members of the group of area-potters who were the most talented, experimental and artistic of the period. Plates, jugs, bowls, flasks, bottles and even earthenware cooking stoves were all a part of the utilitarian wares made within the Salem area.

Earthenware Tile Stove - Salem, NC

Made: 1772-1800
Photo Courtesy: Rob Hunter, Ceramics in America and Old Salem Museum & Gardens

These early cooking and what I perceive to be, wood burning stoves - are absolute masterpieces and a utilitarian work of art. There are a handful of examples known to exist today. It is assumed these stoves may have heated homes as well.

The 2009 Edition of Ceramics in America is a wonderful resource for this region and period of potters. The photography in this specific edition is arguably some of the best achieved in all of the series.

Left: Rudolf Christ (Salem, NC) Redware Squirrel Bottle - Early 19th Century
Right: Michelle Erickson Redware Squirrel Bottle - 21st Century

Photo Courtesy: The Magazine Antiques

Even world-class modern ceramist, Michelle Erickson has imitated the work of the Salem potters. She demonstrates in the above example (right) as what I perceive to be a political statement. The figural on the left is a Rudolf Christ original. Many examples of her work are represented in museums the world-over.

It will be fascinating to see what the North Carolina redware charger sells for on April 19th. I have a feeling with prominent collectors, high-end dealers and museums all bidding - the final hammer price will outdo the high presale estimate.

I will revisit this subject soon-after the charger sells.

More research to come...