Previous Report on Early Charlestown, Ma Lard and Dye Pots at NH Auction
According to Josiah Wedgwood and Thomas Ormsbee's 1947 book, "Staffordshire Pottery," "All the early master potters were hardy men of many trades. They made their pots in sheds at the "backsides" of their dwelling houses, alongside the cow shed. They dug their own clay, often in front of their own front doors...It was a peasant industry, carried on by the family, among the pigs and fouls; and when they were not making show pieces for presentation they made (such simple) wares that included butter pots...The peasant farmers "fired" and "drew out" one over a week. They drew the cold over on Monday; refilled it with new ware about Thursday, and fired it on Friday, giving it a last stocking up on Saturday morning, after which it cooled till Monday again...The ware produced was sold to the traveling packman, and, at great cost, distributed on horse back throughout the country. Everything was course and elementary."
Pottery production was extremely limited in colonial America. "During the 17th and 18th centuries, locally produced redware was usually utilitarian and sometimes of poor quality. From the 1680s through Revolutionary War, potters were restricted by the British from making fancier wares and could only make the more basic forms such as chamber pots, pans, butter pots and other common pieces found in the kitchen and pantry. These types of wares were not economical to ship from Europe and so local production was tolerated." (American Potter - Julia Smith)
All other forms of ceramics were imported into the American colonies from foreign countries. The imports were a global effort. Stoneware was a major import that eventually helped contribute to the demise of redware. If stoneware production were not banned for much of the years that made up colonial America, redware may never have emerged as an American industry.
After America's independence was earned, redware potters had the freedom to produce what they wanted. The design and form were not limited. With independence, Charlestown, Massachusetts' stoneware industry emerged. Clay was imported from nearby New York state. A stoneware industry in Charlestown had been attempted fifty-years prior, but the duties and taxes really prevented such a venture's success. With the cost to import proper clay at a much lower expense - Charlestown potters Jonathan Fenton and Frederick Carpenter began a business in 1793. Fenton worked in a German stoneware style - while Carpenter's technique was English. The company closed in 1796 and Carpenter worked on his own in Charlstown from this point on.
Carpenter and Fenton are described as having both a decorative freehand and stamp technique in the Colonial Williamsburg book, "Salt-Glazed Stoneware in Early America."
It is suggested that Fenton and Carpenter's pieces were spelled "Boston" in upper case letters of equal size from 1793 to 1796. Carpenter's work from 1796 to 1799 spelled the word "Boston" with a larger "B" than the rest of the letters. Examples with the word "Charlestown" spelled are also known. Carpenter's area work continued into the nineteenth-century - while Fenton had disappeared from the area.
Carpenter and Fenton Stoneware Jar with Original Lid
Likely Made Between 1793-1796
Notice the Word "Boston" Spelled With Same Size Letters
As part of Gary Wallace Auctions sale last weekend in Ossippee, New Hampshire - were a few examples of early Boston and Charlestown stoneware, likely made by both Fenton and Carpenter. I feel the hammer prices were reasonable. The prices cited below are before premiums were added on at the checkout.
Early Boston, Ma Stoneware Jug
Likely Frederick Carpenter - 1796-1799
Sold for $975
Close Up of "Boston" - Notice the "B" Is Larger Than the Rest of the Letters
This particular jug reminds of the Bellarmine style with its short neck.
This particular jug reminds of the Bellarmine style with its short neck.
Charlestown, Ma Made Stonware Jug
Marked with a Less Common Cross Mark
Likely Made Between 1793-1799
Sold for $650
Charlestown, Ma Made Stoneware jug
Marked with a More Common Heart Stamp
Likely Made Between 1793-1799
Sold for $500
Charlestown, Ma Made Miniature Stoneware Jug
Very Unusual Size
Likely Made Between 1793-1799
Sold for $575
Additional and lesser early examples of Boston and Charlestown stoneware sold for $110, $250 and $475.
Aside from the early Charlestown dye and lard pots that I wrote about on Monday - a Thomas Seymour pie plate brought $310, a matching pair of South Danvers, Massachusetts redware jugs went for $290 and a very common milk pan brought $65. There were a few more examples of early Massachusetts redware that I will save for a later report.
The collection also included the following redware jugs - both of which had basic, but interesting style glazes. The jug pictured to the top appears to have been from a Maine or New Hampshire maker, while the bottom jug may have been an eighteenth-century Massachusetts maker. Both were in decent condition.
Jug Top: Possibly 19th Century Maine or New Hampshire - Sold for $275
Jug Bottom: Probably 18th Century Massachusetts - Sold for $475
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