Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas are known in the south for an accomplished group of nineteenth-century potters. I cannot say the respect is on a national level. If I were to estimate - I would say that not much is known about this regions early potters in the north, but this idea may stand true for wares produced in the north and its knowledge in the south.
The majority of wares produced in these mentioned southern areas was stoneware. Prices can be huge at auction due to the amount of collectors in the market. A long-time, nationally recognized dealer once told me that prices of southern pottery achieve higher than expected prices when compared to other areas because of the amount of collectors and lack of available examples. The amount of working potters was smaller and with that thought, the pottery produced in the south was much less when compared to such areas as New England or Pennsylvania. This idea even stands true for furniture and artwork. Quality southern examples usually achieve much higher prices than similar forms in states where the industries and early demands were much greater. Of course, there are always exceptions.
I recently discovered the following diminutive example of Georgia redware stamped, "Brown Pottery, 76" in Brimfield, Massachusetts this past May. I found it within the first few minutes of daylight on the opening day. The seller told me, he had just purchased the entirety of a lifelong collection from a family in the Buffalo, New York area. I tend to believe what he told me based on the variety of what he had for sale - with relatively cheap prices for each piece of all under a hundred dollars. I bought nearly every piece he had.
It seems unusual to see an example of redware from Georgia - as far as I know, the majority of pottery produced in the south was stoneware. The jar stands 3.5 inches tall. There was likely a lid at one time.
Brown Pottery Redware Jar - Atlanta, Georgia
Signed by the Potter and Dated, 1876
Height: 3.5 Inches
Lid Likely Missing
Nice Variation in Glaze Color
(Note: I was not able to photograph the stamp and date on the bottom. They are both faint and tough to read with glaze covering them.)
Much of the following information came from John Burrison's 1983 book, "Brothers in Clay: The Story of Georgia Folk Pottery."
The earliest known potters in the Atlanta, Georgia area were John and Holland Leopard, who trained in the Edgefield, South Carolina area - before moving to Atlanta to work. They both appear in the 1830 Atlanta census as working-class potters.
The first factory within the Atlanta area appeared in 1846 by the Craven family of potters, who were of African-American decent and actively involved in Atlanta's first black church, the African Methodist.
Bowling Brown apparently had at least three sons and they were all listed as working potters in the 1860 Atlanta census. It is strongly suggested that some of the Brown's may have served for the Confederate Army in the Civil War. That is fascinating to say I own a piece of pottery that was produced by possibly a Confederate soldier after serving in the Civil War.
By the 1870s, Brown and his sons were listed as working in Howell's Mills - which was several miles northwest of Atlanta. The majority of Atlanta's potters worked in this area - of the fifty potters working in nearby Atlanta, about thirty were located in Howell's Mills. "That's where the clay source was and the potters stuck together."
The Brown's are described in period advertising as jug makers. I do not personally have an answer for this, but some of the potters working in the Atlanta area were known African-Americans. On March 13, 1865, the confederacy approved the use of black troops in its army due to the mounting odds against Union troops. It was roughly around 1864 or 1865 when the Brown's served in the Confederate army. I am sure there are some experts out there who know the Brown family of potters background, but if in-fact they were of African decent, what a great piece of pottery to own. It would have ties to early southern potters, the Civil War and African-Americans of the south!
Interestingly, some potters who worked in Georgia - were known to have traveled to work in Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi and Texas - and likewise.
A few years ago, I came across this alkaline glazed canning jar at a country auction in New England. It nicely demonstrates a typical southern alkaline glaze with the initials "JH" incised on both the jar and original lid.
Brandt Zipp, of Crocker Farm Auctions in Sparks, Maryland suggested to me that it may possibly have been produced by an Alabama potter. Jeffrey Evans of Jeffrey Evans Auctions in Mount Crawford, Virginia has suggested the same. I had really hoped the initials stood for John Holland of Salem, North Carolina, but that was an extreme long-shot. Holland is one of North Carolina's most important early potters.
Alkaline Glazed Stoneware Jar - Likely Alabama
Signed "JH" On Both Original Lid and Jar
Likely Made 1840-1860
Height: 9.5 Inches
"JH" Signed on Lid
"JH" Signed on Jar
A similar glazed form is seen on page 90 of Joey Brackner's 2006 book, "Alabama Folk Pottery." It is possibly attributed to Presley Hill in Redland, Alabama. The author says the site may represent a pottery operated by Aaron Evens in 1829. Besides this little information - the book does not provide any information of potters who signed their work, "JH."
Brackner does described each potter who worked in Alabama and through simple speculation of when this jar was likely produced - I was able to narrow my search down to all potters working in Alabama with the initials, "JH." I will guess and say that this jar was made around 1860 and with that idea in mind, I feel one of these potters may have produced my jar. Any thoughts? Suggestions? Are there any southern pottery experts reading this?
John Hutcher - Born: 1836 Died: Not Known
Worked in both Alabama and Edgefield, South Carolina.
James Henry - Born: 1822 Died: Not Known
Worked in both Alabama and Edgefield, South Carolina.
John Hicks - Birth and Death Not Known
He is cited in an 1836 advertisement as a working Alabama potter.
John Franklin Hill - Born: 1842 Died: 1920
Worked in Alabama, South Carolina and George.
John Robert Holcomb - Born: 1837 Died: 1925
Worked in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi.
It's interesting seeing some of these Alabama potters working in the Edgefield, South Carolina area at one time. Each may have received their training there. By today's standards, it is a well-known pottery center with many known accomplished African-American and slave potters of the past.
Aiken County, South Carolina Face Jug
An Early Note Inside of It Indicates It was Made in 1862 By Slave Potters
Sold: $56,000 in 2012
Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc - Boston, Ma
Dave "The Slave" Drake Stoneware Jar
Dated 1857
Sold: $17,250 in 2013
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm, Inc - Sparks, Md
Much more to come...
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