Marked 19th Century Kiln Furniture Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine

This is a piece of kiln furniture, which was recovered at the site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine, circa 1825-1880. I would normally say that it is just another piece of kiln furniture; however, this is a special piece, where it appears that one of the potters was using it for math when it was still wet or green.

It is tough to say what these numbers exactly mean, but it would be exciting to learn if these numbers were related to the number of pots that were thrown on a particular day in the 1800s or even how many pots were needed for the kiln. But the numbers may also pertain to supplies that were used at the Bickford Pottery. Nonetheless, this is an exciting piece of kiln furniture!

I have also shown a colorfully glazed red earthenware pot that I believe was made at the Lorenzo Johnson Pottery in Western New York in the mid-nineteenth century. But this pot is also pictured with sherds that were recovered at the site of the Bickford Pottery that are decorated in basically the same glaze. This is why an attribution should be developed with the form first and then a glaze can sometimes help afterwards when it is compared to archaeological evidence or known objects.

Note: This is an amazing site in Buxton, Maine that is privately owned today; whereas, the location remains a secret until the property owners and the State of Maine determine how they want to proceed with the site. I have visited this site on a few occasions and I feel this site can really contribute extensively to what is known about the nineteenth century southern Maine potter's industry today.

Kiln Furniture Recovered in Buxton, Maine

19th Century Kiln Furniture
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine
A Potter Used this Object for Math
Circa 1825-1880
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 A Closer Look at the Numbers

Another Look at the Numbers

Western New York Object with Sherds from Buxton, Maine

19th Century Pot Attributed to Western New York
Sherds Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine
The Glazes Match
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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...