Uncommon Green Dots Seen in Early American Redware

Curiosity and fascination have recently sparked an interest into the origin of the green dots commonly associated with Maine potters; however, similar dots are seen in Pennsylvania and southern nineteenth century American redware. It is not entirely known, but these same dots may be present in Western New York and Vermont, too. It could be an unexpected decoration noticed in Canadian utilitarian earthenware as well. The dots may have been intentionally applied or an unexpected surprise after a kiln firing.

I have heard two possible ideas why the green dots appear on some redware in abundance of some forms; while other forms show no more than twenty spots made in the same area as those that are greatly exposed.

I own a huge 19 inch milk pan possibly manufactured in the Saco River region of Maine that shows no more than ten small spots (Milk Pan Report), but I have seen milk pans covered in spots from the same area.

A Maine archaeologist said in casual conversation yesterday that the spots may have been the result of a potter intentionally applying a copper oxide decoration that was splashed on by its maker. More have suggested the dots may have been caused from copper impurities in the local clays that reacted with the glaze and heat from the kiln. It should be taken into consideration - no matter the size or form, the dots almost always appear in a similar size. I cannot recall ever seeing a larger spot than the ones pictured in this report from the Limington, Maine site owned by Maine antiques dealer, Bill Kelly.

Green Shards From Liminton, Me with Green Spots

Probably Early 19th Century

It appears the form had been dipped twice into a cream colored glaze that achieved the stronger yellow color immediately below the rim; however, the green dots appear to have developed from the clay. In the areas the glaze is entirely removed the green dots still remain. It seems to be a subject that is open to debate. The clay color seen in Liminton is not the expected color of most redware in Maine. A Maine collector recently taught me that nearly all Maine redware shows a darker colored red clay. Here we see a softer colored clay that appears much more pale than the reds most commonly associated with Maine. The clay source is believed to be local in Limington. The clay used by the accomplished potters around the Saco River may have been unique compared to the rest of Maine. Could the Saco River have affected local clays? May an overflow of material not native to local clays have caused impurities to the soil? Is an unexpected abundance of natural copper in the local clay responsible? Could these spots be intentionally applied? 

I feel the cause is more likely a result of scattered pockets of copper in clays of the Saco River area. It  would be hard to believe these same techniques were used by potters living in Maine and Pennsylvania, but very little in between, but it's not ridiculous to rule out either.

What do you think? Are these spots intended by the potters or unexpected impurities in the clay that reacted to the heat of the kiln? In the instance of the Limington shards, the spots all appear to me to have developed from the clay.

I have seen the green dots on a number of glazes that included dark brown, brown, tan, yellow, green, cream and orange. The spots are barely noticeable on the darker glazes.

 Green Dots on Limington, Me Shard

Very Light Colored Clay

Early 19th Century

 Green Dots on Limington, Me Shard

Early 19th Century

 Green Dots on Limington, Me Shard

Yellow Glaze

Early 19th Century

Clays of Essex County Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire had a similar affect when exposed to kiln heat, but the overall affect was much more dramatic.

Massachusetts or Southern NH Redware Jar

Late 18th or Early 19th Century

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Ma

Like previously written, a similar decoration was seen with potters working hundreds of miles south of Maine. Those potters likely had no contact with the potters of the Saco River area. The green dots on the following pitcher appear to have been intentionally applied, but similar to those seen in Maine.

American Redware Pitcher - Possibly a Southern Pennsylvania Potter

19th Century

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Ma

It's also very likely this was a decorative technique, but if so - what was the inspiration? It seems unlikely and certainly lacking tradition of what many potters adopted for techniques of the nineteenth century. It certainly shares a creative mind if intended as decoration.

What do you think? Applied decoration versus an unexpected abundance of copper in the clay? I think it could be a very good subject of discussion of what exactly occurred.

Much More to Come....