The potters in New Hampshire were primarily known for black, brown, orange, yellow and green glazes. The focus typically remained with partially glazed crocks - and entirely glazed jugs, storage crocks, pitchers, stew pots and sometimes milk pans.
Maine was really led by its industries in Woolwich, Monmouth, Portland and the region which existed in the most southern part of the state. Each of these regions were mostly unique through form and glaze - but similar in the manner each business approached its craft. Milk pans and partially glazed crocks were a major emphasis. Almost all potter's output included a major attempt to manufacture forms intended for the state's dairy industry. I feel that based on a per capita demand - Maine possibly produced more milk pans than any other state in the nineteenth century.
My recent studies at the Bickford Pottery site in Buxton, Maine have revealed a large amount of milk pan shards. I personally do not know of many milk pans which have been properly attributed to the Bickford Pottery, but I will share a photo of a possible milk pan that was certainly manufactured in Buxton or at one of nearby businesses in southern Maine. A special emphasis should be shown to the local industries of Limington, Alfred or Windham, Maine due to facts seen within the Buxton shards.
In the top center of the the following photo you can see a green dot which was possibly the result of copper impurities in the local clay supplies. Similar green dots were seen in Harrisville, New Hampshire or Cheshire County. The earthenware of that region was produced in an area commonly known by collectors today as merely Chesham - which is a neighborhood in Harrisville. Massachusetts potter Rick Hamelin and, Connecticut collector and historian Jonathan Richard have provided information in the past about the meaning behind these dots. Similar green dots are seen in additional regions of the country, but in this particular manner it is typically attributed to the southern Maine potters.
Maine Redware Milk Pan - Possibly Either Buxton or Alfred, Me
Early to Mid 19th Century
Notice the Green Dot Seen at the Top Center of Pan
Back of Milk Pan
Pale Colored Clay - Common for the Potters who Worked in Southern Maine
The following shards demonstrate a number of characteristics that all relate to the milk pan. It is either through form, clay color or glaze. I personally feel the milk pan was made by the Weber family in Alfred, but the similarities to Buxton are apparent. There is only a twenty mile difference between both areas. Each business probably sold to a related marketplace. The shards really show how potters were influenced by other potters in the same region. This is probably the case with potters all over America - they were primarily influenced by their heritage and secondly, by their surroundings and piers.
Redware Shard from Milk Pan
Similar Glaze Seen on Milk Pan
Redware Shard from Milk Pan
Similar Glaze Seen on Mik Pan
Similar Clay Color Seen on Milk pan
Redware Shard from Milk Pan
Similar Rim and Clay Color to Shard
Exact Glaze Color when Compared to Milk Pan
Redware Waster from Milk Pan
Similar Rim to Milk Pan
Redware Waster from Milk Pan
Redware Milk Pan Shard
Similar Clay Color to Milk Pan
This next group of photos show the milk pan in comparison to some of these shards. There are many strong similarities to suggest the milk pan was made in Buxton; however, I do believe it was made in Alfred. I can only speak for myself - I do not know of another milk pan that has been properly attributed to Alfred, either. The potters of southern Maine really did share many characteristics, especially with businesses to the west of Portland, Maine in the greater Saco River Region.
Redware Milk Pan Rim (Top) in Comparison to Buxton, Me Milk Pan Shard
Redware Milk Pan Rim (Exterior) in Comparison to Buxton, Me Milk Pan Shard
Redware Milk Pan Rim (Interior) in Comparison to Buxton, Me Milk Pan Shard
Milk Pan Glaze and Glaze Found on Shard in Buxton are Very Similar
Redware Milk Pan Rim (Top) in Comparison to Buxton, Me Milk Pan Shard
There will be more to come about the potters of Southern Maine in the future - including an extremely rare redware plate that was manufactured in Maine. The plate is possibly a product of the Weber family, too. This is the only redware plate I have ever seen made in Maine. Stay Tune….
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