Rather Unusual Incised Shards Found in Peabody, Mass

Essex County Massachusetts saw a great-amount of experimentation from 1870 to 1895 in its potter's industry. The whole notion of the Greek Revival Period  began a transformation of many companies throughout New England. A great search for new innovative products led companies like Charles Lawrence's Pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts; Joseph Reed's Pottery and Moses Paige's Pottery - both of Peabody, Massachusetts to experiment into new product lines. Unglazed and painted thickly potted terra-cotta wares became a main objective in Beverly. The potter, Edwin A. Rich's talent for turning untraditional formed wares helped Lawrence and Paige's companies transform as did the industry.

The production of redware was certainly in the decline by the third quarter of the nineteenth century. It was a shadow of its former self and how the industry once appeared in the final years of the eighteenth century. The Industrial Revolution had changed the utilitarian potter's industry in New England forever. Those businesses who wished to compete, had to find new ways to adapt with the ever-changing demands of the marketplace. The population had grown by huge numbers since the eighteenth century. The industry's needs changed from a potter's business that could sustain a smaller marketplace with more accomplished wares in urban environments - into a market, where many potters changed their motives and objectives towards mass production. This led to many molded wares that could easily be produced in a much-greater fashion than could a traditional potter behind a potter's wheel.

Charles Lawrence's business in Beverly made a unique line of wares in the 1770s that were unusual to any other business of its time in the region.

Charles Lawrence and Moses Paige both trained at the Reed Pottery in Peabody before advancing into their own ventures. Charles Lawrence crossed into Beverly to create his own business. Moses Paige eventually purchased the Reed Pottery and ran his own company. The Paige building (and really the entire neighborhood) had originally been home to the Osborn family pottery for generations that began before the American Revolution and continued past the 1850s. The Osborn family was really responsible for much of the earthenware industry that flourished in the greater Essex County area from the 1780s well into the nineteenth century. More than a hundred potters were employed in the area over a half century.

Edwin A. Rich's talent reportedly allowed Lawrence's business to expand into areas it may not have seen if it were not for his ability. A thickly potted, but highly accomplished line of unglazed, glazed and painted wares emerged that were extensive and really unpredictable today. It is surprising to see the forms this company produced in a short ten year period. I have purchased some very unexpected forms recently that include a candle stick, a vase and an oddly formed flower pot. All have an unusual feel that is really only seen in Beverly. There will be more on these forms to come.

I have previously written about the experimentation at the Charles Lawrence Pottery in the 1870s.

Charles Lawrence Pottery Report 1
Charles Lawrence Pottery Report 2
Charles Lawrence Pottery Report 3

Edwin A. Rich eventually left Lawrence's Pottery and began to work at the Paige Pottery back in Peabody. The output at Paige Pottery was similar to that in Beverly. The companies shared a focus towards the production of flower pots that were likely marketed towards greenhouse owners, gardeners and floral shops. Unlike some of the larger manufactories in the Boston area who molded their products - both the Beverly and Peabody businesses mostly hand-turned their wares. Both of these businesses kept the traditional beliefs of the utilitarian potter alive without having to fully adapt to the Industrial Revolution's demands and needs. The feat was unusual for any business of the period - especially those of New England. Surprisingly, Paige Pottery kept production alive well into the twentieth century with Rich employed at the business.

I recently discovered a half dozen or so shards from a thickly potted pot in Peabody, Massachusetts. They are more expected of what was made in Beverly than that in Peabody. Each shard was located next door to where Joseph Reed once lived and about a hundred yards from the old Paige Pottery. The hand-drawn incised design on each reminds me of decoration or design that may have been applied in ancient times.

Redware Shards Discovered in Peabody, Ma 

Possibly a Product of the Reed or Paige Potteries

Likely Second Half of the 19th Century

With so-little information in publication today of the potteries who worked in latter years of the nineteenth century in Essex County - it really is a learning experience through discovery of what was made where. These shards all appear like the manufacturing style seen at the Lawrence Pottery of the 1870s. Could they be a product of Edwin A. Rich's work in Peabody? It would make sense that he may have taken his experiences with him from Beverly to Peabody. Peabody really became known as a place of flower pot production from the final years of the nineteenth century into the twentieth century. The fact there is hand drawn incised decoration leads me to believe the shards are an earlier Essex County product before the mass production of terra-cotta and imports began in America on a global scale in the twentieth century. Today, terra-cotta flower pots are easily seen in stores like Walmart and garden centers that were molded in China.

 Nicely Applied Incised Decoration

 Incised Decoration and Lip of Jar

Likely a Flower Pot

 Interior of Shard

 More Incised Decoration

Interior of Shard

The form appears to me to be a flower pot. Moses Paige's Pottery was especially known for making flower pots in the nineteenth century. But, terracotta flower pots were made in many areas of Massachusetts that included West Sterling, Boston and Newburyport.

I have previously written a number of reports about Moses Paige's Pottery and the business' flower pot production. If you would like to read more, you can use the search option above. Below is the first report.

Moses Paige Pottery Report 1

It's interesting to see and imagine the possibilities behind these shards. I do not have an attribution. It is very-possibly the work of Edwin A. Rich in Peabody, but I have nothing to compare it with since I have never before seen anything like it. Maybe I will find a whole example one of these day that will provide a better understanding!?

Could these shards be a part of the work that Charles Lawrence produced while working at the Reed Pottery? I think that's an unlikely, but still interesting theory. Could they be imports from Charles Lawrence's business in Beverly? It's possible.

Please stay tuned...more to come!