In-fact, I have developed a theory and arguement that this use began in early eighteenth-century Essex County, Massachusetts and through training and influence, the idea spread to other regions of New England.
Essex County, that at the time included Salem, Danvers and South Danvers, Massachussetts (among other cities and towns) produced wonderful examples of this exceptional decoration. It is assumed that some-type of comb device was used for application. Many of the Essex County examples have been left without an attribution.
By the late 1700s, there were more than seventy potters working in Essex County and because of this, attributions are based loosely on popularity of a last name with many of the working potters real names left unknown. I feel the safest attribution is the use of "Essex County" rather than naming a specific potter. There are too many eighteenth-century Essex County potters who are not known. It is likely that they manipulated and imitated each others style. With so few of these examples surviving today and no real archaeological sites left, an exact potter's attribution in many cases will be tough to properly determine.
Below are a group of examples that show this detailed technique.
Covered Redware Dish - Essex County, Ma
Made Circa 1760
Photo Courtesy: “Ceramics and Glass at the Essex Institute”
by Mudge, Nylander, Montgomery, and Barter, page 50
Redware Terracotta Flower Pot - Essex County, Ma
Narbonne House Archaeological Collection (Salem, Ma)
Made Before 1780
Photo Courtesy: Norm Eggert for Northeast Museum Services Center
Nicely Decorated Redware Jar - Essex County, Ma
Likely 18th Century - Very Thinly Potted
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions - Sparks, Md
Peter Clark is considered by many to be one of the more outstanding eighteenth-century potters of early Massachusetts. According to Lura Woodside Watkins' book, "Early New England Potters and Their Wares," Clark was born and trained in Danvers before setting out on his own and moving to Braintree, Massachusetts to begin his career. Clark's Braintree examples have often been found with a wavy and straight line incised decoration similar to the Essex County types. This idea leads some to believe his Danvers roots are likely the reason for his use of this technique rather than a Southeastern Massachusetts influence. The form of the following jar has arguably been copied by potters that followed Clark's work on Massachusetts south coast. It is believed to be eighteenth-century and possibly made by Clark.
Possibly Peter Clark Redware Jar - Braintree, Ma
Likely 18th Century
Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH
Clark eventually left Braintree to work-out the remainder of his life's work in Concord and Lyndeboro, New Hampshire. The following example is from Clark's career in New Hampshire, which demonstrates the wavy line incised decoration that was apparently a constant detail in much of his work no matter his location.
Peter Clark Redware Jar - Concord, NH
Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH
The redware industry that worked alongside the Taunton River in Southeastern, Massachusetts has produced a similar decoration. The following example descended through the family of Charles D. Cook and was a long-time focus of his important collection. Skinner, Inc of Boston offered it more than ten years ago and more recently, Northeast Auctions did the same in 2011 with the elaborate pitcher selling for tens of thousands. While I have no proof of who exactly manufactured this wonderful pitcher, I would still consider a strong argument for an Essex County influence within its decoration.
Southeastern, Massachusetts Redware Pitcher
Ex Collection of Charles D. Cook - Cape Cod, Ma
Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, NH
Early Vermont potters are believed to have used this same technique as well. My belief is that this type of incised decoration all began on Boston's North Shore and of all the New England potters who practiced the technique, the Essex County potters worked with it most-often.
Incised decoration was used all over American up through the latter years of the nineteenth-century. In most cases, the degree of the decoration's use was lesser. The type and excess of Essex County's technique was not comparable to any other regions of America beyond New England. It really is a beautiful technique that is hardly seen today.
I have briefly seen this style surface within the artifacts of the Charlestown, Massachusetts collection. However, I do strongly feel that the practice first began in the American colonies within the communities that made-up Essex County, Massachusetts. It's a decorative technique that really became exhausted by the nineteenth-century. Any examples today are considered rare and if you ever have the priveledge of seeing such an example, be sure to take a moment and carefully look over the detail and craftsmanship that went into the form. I am personally fascinated with the technqiue for its history, rarity and overall skill. The previous examples not only demonstrate a wonderful incised design, but the overall accomplishment of the glaze, leads one to believe the idea of the wavy and straight line technique was saved for the overall best examples of hollow ware from the potter.
It is in my opinion that the earthen ware industries of Danvers and South Danvers were the most influential in New England. The influences really have been that compelling. This report is only a small example of what was potentially happening through training, culture and influence to New England's large redware industry by the hands of Essex County.
More research to come...
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