Brimfield, Massachusetts Day 1 - Early American Redware

I spent the day yesterday, picking through all the antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts. The weather was nice and what is expected of a spring day in New England. It wasn't too hot or cold and the skies were clear - and most importantly, rain free. I won't share at this time, but I came across a few good finds of early New England redware. In the meantime, I will share a few of the many photos I took in the miles of fields I hunted through.

Norwalk, CT Jar - 19th Century
Price: $2,950

Photo Courtesy: Nancy & Gene Pratt - Victor, NY

It is in my opinion - this jar is the finest example of nineteenth-century Norwalk, Connecticut pottery produced through a combination of form, decoration and glaze. The jar can be considered museum quality and extremely rare with its style of slip decoration on this specific Norwalk form. An early English influence is almost seen through the glaze color and use of slip.

For us in the redware world, Norwalk slip decorated plates with statements such as political ones like, "Washington and Lafayette" or a random person's name slip decorated on a plate or loaf dish are available in the marketplace and private American collections. I had never seen a slip decorated jar like this example produced at the Norwalk potteries before yesterday. This particular jar was featured in an early "Old Time New England" magazine nearly a century ago. The association of Old Time New England, adds an extra wonderful provenance to an already exceptional example. The jar had not sold as of yesterday. Such an important example deserves to be a part of a prominent and well-respected collection.

Possibly Post Revolutionary War Charlestown, Ma or Portsmouth, NH Redware Pitcher

Very Late 18th or Early 19th Century

Photo Courtesy: Anita and Ed Holden Antiques - Sherman, Ct and Naples, Fl

I will release more information on this type of pitcher in time. For the moment, I will tell you the form is unusual and so are additional characteristics that are not seen in the photo. The potential work of this potter is involved with my ongoing research.

South Danvers, Ma Redware Jug - Early 19th Century

Possibly from the Osborn Family Shop

This is the most-common South Danvers, Massachusetts (today known as Peabody) nineteenth-century jug form produced by the hands of the Osborn family. This style features an ovoid shaped body and a handle that is attached at the lip.

The Osborn and South Danvers handles are interesting - they usually demonstrate a right to left movement and an attachment from the lip to the body. Colorful glazes were also used on Osborn made jugs. The particular jug was priced at a bargain price of only $45. It had sold by 6:30am - moments after the field had opened. It came from a bottle dealer who does not typically deal in pottery.

Possibly Elijah Lowell - Orange, NH Redware Jug
Price: $260

Early to Mid 19th Century

A similar jug sold as part of long-time collector and auctioneer, Dan Olmstead's collection in September of 2008 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. All of his redware had been picked from local New England homes in the 1970s and 80s.

Olmstead's collection was made up of wonderful examples of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine redware. The pottery collection seen in the Bennington, Vermont's Museum's booklet, attributed a similar form and glazed jug to the work of Elijiah Lowell in nineteenth-century Orange, New Hampshire. However, an argument could also be made for an Essex County, Massachusetts attribution.

American Made Redware Handled Jar
Price: $325- Cracked Down One Side

Early to Mid 19th Century

I find the decoration on these forms very interesting. Many dealers and collectors feel these examples are likely foreign made, but I disagree. A similar jar sold at Freeman's Auctions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania not too long ago and it was attributed to the Pennsylvania Quakers. The jar is likely mid nineteenth-century. The decoration is great - notice the use of tulips, which is an often-seen characteristic of Pennsylvania potters.

Nice Selection of American Made Redware

All Likely 19th Century

Photo Courtesy: Robert Perry Antiques - Buffalo, NY

Top Shelf Far Left: Wonderful sized redware spice jar with original lid. It is likely a New England maker. This was one of my favorite pieces from Day 1.

Top Shelf Middle: Most-likely a very rare Massachusetts maker.

Top Shelf Far Right: Possibly a New Hampshire maker.

Bottom Shelf Far Left: Very rare Georgia redware potter. The jar is signed by the potter on the bottom and dated "1876."

 

Small Pennsylvania Redware Plate
Price: $350

Very Nice Size!

The dealer called this plate a product of the Norwalk, Connecticut potters. He said it was found in Connecticut. I feel it was instead, likely made in Pennsylvania. This is how a lot of people attribute a piece of redware by where it was find. The attribution can often be right on or not even close when this idea is used. Form, style and glaze should be the first ideas taken into consideration before "where  an example was found" is used for a proper attribution. Provenance does often play an important influence in origin and attribution, but it is not the most important.

Huge Redware Bowl! - 19th Century
Price: $225

Likely American Made, Possible English

This bowl or basin was huge! It must have weighed a lot when it was full of whatever its previous uses were. I am not exactly sure where it was made. It is possibly an American product of the nineteenth-century.

More photos from Day 1 and additional from Day 2 in Brimfield will most-likely be posted tomorrow. While my focus is early redware, I'll try and seek out some early ceramics and stoneware later today. Stay tuned!

More research to come...