19th Century Red Earthenware Production in Hollis, Maine

I recently visited a nineteenth century house built by John Alld, an important southern Maine potter in Hollis, Maine, where the goal of my visit was to learn more about Alld's production of red earthenware in the early-to-mid-1800s. To my knowledge, there is no known archaeology available today from Alld's pottery, which defines his production; however, I have seen a number of attributions. I do not necessarily disagree with what is said to have been made by Alld today; although, I would like to see actual evidence that supports some of the attrubutions.

Nonetheless, these are some of the sherds that the home owner showed to me, which were found on the property that I feel comfortable saying were manufactured by Alld. I also want to note that the clay colors vary from pale colors to brick red colors, which is a characteristic that I have seen in the clay beds in southern Maine.

I also recently discovered a red earthenware pan in New Hampshire that closely resembles one of the sherds found on the property of John Alld's house in Maine. I have posted pictures of both objects for a comparison below.

Note: I have also included pictures of a red earthenware butter stamp, which was discovered hidden inside an interior wall in the John Alld House. It is also presumed that this is an object that was made by Alld based on the context, where it was discovered. There are a few of these known today, including one that I acquired a few years ago, as well as another owned privately in Maine and an example owned by Winterthur in Delaware.

Here is also a link to an auction article that shows a matching butter stamp that sold in Augusta, Maine in 2014, which was identified because of the stamp found in the wall in the John Alld House.

Sherds Recovered on John Alld's Property in Hollis, Maine

 Red Earthenware Sherd Found on John Alld's Property in Hollis, ME
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

Red Earthenware Sherd Found on John Alld's Property in Hollis, ME
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

 Red Earthenware Sherd Found on John Alld's Property in Hollis, ME
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

  Red Earthenware Sherd Found on John Alld's Property in Hollis, ME
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

Red Earthenware Sherd Found on John Alld's Property in Hollis, ME
See Sherd Compared to Pan Below
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

Another View of the Sherd
See Sherd Compared to Pan Below
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

 19th Century Red Earthenware Pan Possibly Made by John Alld in Hollis, ME
Pan's Form, Glaze and Clay Color Closely Resemble the Sherd
Pan Recently Found in New Hampshire

Another View of the Glazes

Butter Stamp Recovered in John Alld House in Hollis, ME

19th Century Red Earthenware Butter Stamp Attributed to John Alld in Hollis, ME

Recovered from a Wall at the John Alld House

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

View of the Back

Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

Note: Thomas Truxton Kendrick is another potter in Hollis, Maine, who is not widely understood today. I have seen a lot of attributions for this potter, but there is no archaeological evidence; however, there are a lot of loosely built attributions that suggest Kendrick manufactured a number of known objects. But I believe many of these attributions are questionable today since they are  mostly built on a style of glaze that Kendrick is said to have produced even though similar glazes were manufactured elsewhere in New England, Western New York and Ontario.

Here is a link to an article that further examines a style of production attributed to Kendrick today, but appears to have actually been made in Portland, Maine.

Nonetheless, this is an object that I feel comfortable saying was manufactured by Kendrick since this cup has descended in the Kendrick family since the nineteenth century. It was also on display at the Maine State Museum in the 1970s.

Mug Descended in the Kendrick Family in Maine

19th CenturyRed Earthenware Cup Attributed to Thomas Truxton Kendrick in Hollis, ME
Descended in the Kendrick Family Since the 19th Century
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...