Have a look at what caught my eye on Day 2:
Notice the Small New England Redware Covered Pitcher on the Second Shelf Down
The size, form and cover are all unusual. The maker is unknown.
Price: $3,800
Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer Antiques - Robesonia, Pa
Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer Antiques - Robesonia, Pa
Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer Antiques - Robesonia, Pa
Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer Antiques - Robesonia, Pa
Pennsylvania dealer, Greg Kramer brought a wide range of redware produced in Pennsylvania, Maryland and a variety of northeastern United States makers. His inventory was probably the largest of all the quality Americana dealers exhibiting all week. It is without a question he had more pottery than most dealers combined. The redware all appeared to be early to mid nineteenth-century. A wide range of early American and continental European folk art could also be viewed below the ceilings of his huge roadside tent.
Photo Courtesy: Lewis Scranton - Killingworth, Ct
Connecticut dealer, Lewis Scranton brought a nice selection of nineteenth-century New England made redware. Lewis Scranton is one of the most important names involved with New England redware over the past forty or more years.
Top Left Jar and Flask: Likely Norwalk, Ct
Bottom Lidded Jar: Likely Norwalk, Ct
Right Jar: Possibly Hervey Brooks - Goshen, Ct. A similar formed jar attributed to Brooks is seen in the book, "The Art of the Potter," by Diana and Garrison Stradling.
Top of Picture Black Jugs: South Danvers, Ma - Probably made by the Osborn Family
Nice Selection of Norwalk, Ct Slip Decorated Plates
19th Century
Price: Bottom Plate - $1,175
Photo Courtesy: Lewis Scranton - Killingworth, Ct
Large Handled Stoneware Jar - Likely a New York Maker
19th Century
Price: $4,000
Photo Courtesy: Paul DeCoste Antiques - West Newbury, Ma
Nicely Glazed New England Redware Jug
Notice the nice subtle decoration on the handle
Early to Mid 19th Century
Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Ma
Massachusetts and New York dealer, Samuel Herrup offered this New England made redware jug as part of the dozen or so pieces of redware he and his wife, Sally brought. The jug is fresh to market from a local central Massachusetts home. It's study was very interesting. The glaze is subtle enough that you don't notice much at first, but after close examination, you realize how nicely colored it is. The handle (nice speckled decoration) somewhat resembles the work of John Corliss of Woolwich, Maine. I feel an argument could be made for a Vermont, Massachusetts or Maine attribution. I have never seen the form or possibly the glaze before. It is assumed to be a rare New England maker.
Left: William Pecker Stew Pot - Merrimacport Ma
Late 18th to Early 19th Century
Price: $1,800
Right: Possibly Middlebury, Vt Jar with a Great Glaze
19th Century
Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Ma
Mexican Sgraffito Redware Dish
Made Circa 1830
Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Ma
This Redware dish offered by Samuel Herrup is believed to be a very important example of nineteenth-century Mexican folk art and pottery. It is featured in the 1908 book, "Maiolica of Mexico" by Edwin Atlee Barber. Both the subject and decoration are wonderful!
This example's decoration is partially described as having a use of "sgraffito." The name "sgraffito" developed from the Italian word sgraffiare which means "to scratch." The use of scratch is used in this dish as a means of decoration. This type of design is much more common in stoneware than it is in redware. It was an old world ceramic technique that transitioned with the settlers of the new world. It's use can be seen within the New York stoneware example above that was offered by Paul DeCoste of West Newbury, Massachusetts.
This example's decoration is partially described as having a use of "sgraffito." The name "sgraffito" developed from the Italian word sgraffiare which means "to scratch." The use of scratch is used in this dish as a means of decoration. This type of design is much more common in stoneware than it is in redware. It was an old world ceramic technique that transitioned with the settlers of the new world. It's use can be seen within the New York stoneware example above that was offered by Paul DeCoste of West Newbury, Massachusetts.
Possibly Lorenzo Johnson - Newstead Erie County, NY
Mid 19th Century
Price: $500
I feel I have a general understanding about the pottery produced in western upstate New York, but not enough to call myself an expert of any one particular maker or community. I know the work and basic characteristics of Nathaniel Rochester, Lorenzo Johnson and Alvin Wilcox to name a few, but beyond that, my knowledge is limited. A dealer who I will leave unnamed, offered me this jug for $500. I thought the form, size, skill and glaze were all wonderful. The potter was obviously accomplished in his craft. The jug was in near-mint condition. It didn't look like there was much use to it over the years. I do not believe it to have ever had any restoration. The jug all appeared original.
When I first saw this gold and cranberry glazed jug - I immediately thought it was made by the hands of Lorenzo Johnson of Newstead Erie County, New York. Johnson worked in this area during the nineteenth-century. The form appeared similar to what is expected of Johnson. Part of Johnson's wares are thought to imitate the work of stoneware potters. He produced jugs that were similar in design and common form to a stoneware jug of what is assumed to compete with the great stoneware potters of New York. Johnson is known to have occasionally, if not often used a grey glaze, with blue decoration and a company stamp on his jugs. The example above does demonstrate a stoneware jug in form, but the use of glaze is much-more seen in redware from New York and may be unusual on a jug made by Johnson. See the link in the next paragraph for much more information on Johnson and a fine example of his work. Below is an example of an ovoid shaped stoneware jug made in New York. The characteristics in form between the Brimfield redware jug and the Skinner stoneware jug are similar.
Possibly Albany, NY Stoneware Jug
Early to Mid 19th Century
Sold: $3,500
Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc. - Boston
I was not positive with my attribution, but I had a good feeling about it. I guess you could call this my good deed for the day. I told the dealer he should set the jug aside and do much more research with it. I felt the redware jug he had was exceptional and worth much more than what he was offering it for. Here is an auction link to a similar formed and sized jug that sold at Crocker Farm Auctions in Sparks, Maryland a few years ago. That jug was properly attributed to Johnson's work and sold for nearly $5,500. Unlike the example that sold at Crocker Farm, the Brimfield jug was not signed or stamped by the potter. The stamp likely drove the price up significantly at Crocker Farm.
I feel the glaze on the Brimfield jug was much better. Who knows what it was worth or what it would sell for at auction? I felt the dealer should take a second look at what he had.
Are there any Lorenzo Johnson experts reading this? What do you think? I am not positive this jug is a product of western New York State. I feel it is, but I am not positive. The glaze and form resemble characteristics most-often seen in western upstate New York.
Lorenzo Johnson was also known for traditional styles of redware with colorful glazes - aside from these discussed redware jugs. There will be more on western New York state redware in time. The potters of this area were extremely talented and accomplished in all aspects of ceramic production. Outside of New York state, I feel these potters are overlooked today, on a national redware level.
Another dealer had a large offering of what I would describe as common Pennsylvania and mid Atlantic redware. They were all beginner examples in nice condition and looked attractive all grouped together.
Lorenzo Johnson was also known for traditional styles of redware with colorful glazes - aside from these discussed redware jugs. There will be more on western New York state redware in time. The potters of this area were extremely talented and accomplished in all aspects of ceramic production. Outside of New York state, I feel these potters are overlooked today, on a national redware level.
Another dealer had a large offering of what I would describe as common Pennsylvania and mid Atlantic redware. They were all beginner examples in nice condition and looked attractive all grouped together.
Selection of 19th Century American Redware
I will begin research on a new project this weekend (depending on results, it may be a part of my future writing) as part of an important eighteenth-century archaeology dig happening. I will post more on this subject next week. This site has early ties to colonial Boston and possibly both early domestic and imported ceramics.
Much more research to come...
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