It is debatable if Hugh Robertson’s Chelsea Keramic Art Works (1872-1889), which was established in the
late nineteenth-century in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is the most notable of his
ceramic achievements; although some critics may proclaim that the Dedham Pottery (1896-1943), which was a
spawn of Robertson’s work in Chelsea was more accomplished. The pottery in
Dedham, Massachusetts was certainly the most lucrative and withstanding of the two businesses.
Hugh Robertson (1845-1908) was an American-born potter of
Scottish decent, who trained in New Jersey before he formally went to work for
his father in Chelsea in 1866. The family-run business officially became known
as the Chelsea Keramic Art Works in
1872. The pottery was known for its line of art vases, terracotta products and
a revival of Old World painted Grecian styles. Examples from each of these
product lines are represented in prominent American Museums today, such as the
Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
City and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.
Robertson visited the World’s Fair in Philadelphia in 1876,
where he was inspired by the skill and glaze techniques of the Chinese potters.
Robertson drew from this inspiration; he came home to Chelsea and began to
experiment. He was especially intrigued with the Ox Blood Red and crackled
glazes that he eventually incorporated into products made in Chelsea and later
Dedham (on his experimental vases).
However, reports indicate by 1889, Robertson had weakened
the company’s financial assets to the point that the doors had to close. The
assets were not there for the pottery to continue. Robertson’s most meaningful
contributions to the Chelsea Keramic Art
Works (aside from the products themselves) were his fine line of
experimental, colorful glazes on a variety of formed vases.
Robertson learned from this experience; he soon rebounded
with a new Chelsea business in 1891 known as the, Chelsea Pottery (1891-1895). Pieces were often marked with the
initials C.P.U.S. over a clover leaf
– the initials stood for Chelsea Pottery
US; although by 1894, Robertson had reportedly purchased acreage in Dedham (Boston
Globe – July 30, 1894) and this is where the Chelsea Pottery moved under a new name, the Dedham Pottery.
The products made at the Dedham Pottery were almost
exclusively blue and white earthenware products made for dining, such as
plates, bowls, pitchers, lidded jars and such. Despite the focus towards blue
and white products, Robertson still experimented with colorful glazes usually
on vases. The base on the experimental vases was almost always inscribed with Hugh
Robertson’s initials and depending on the amount of space – the words, Dedham Pottery may also have been
written.
The blue and white products came in roughly sixty different
patterns that ranged from the most common, the rabbit (also the company logo)
to swans, mushrooms, irises, owls, ducks, butterflies and so many more. The
person who applied the patterns or designs was often referred to as the
decorator; the most prolific designer besides Robertson was arguably Maude
Davenport, who came to work at Dedham in 1904 and remained with the pottery
until 1928. There are very few examples of Dedham Pottery that have been signed
by the potter or decorator – or even anything that has been inscribed for a
client; therefore, any form with such an inscription is highly sought after by
collectors and museums today.
Before any of the patterns were formally placed into regular
production – there had to have been an experimental phase. They were tested –
and if approved, the patterns went into a more formal production. Not all of the
patterns were manufactured equally - some were produced more than others and
some were even produced for longer periods of time than others.
Recently in Florida, a Dedham Pottery pitcher was discovered
by a picker in a group shop; the pattern is not a pattern that I recognize - so
I believe this is an experimental pattern that never actually made it to formal
production (or its a very rare pattern). The base is marked with the Dedham Pottery stamp used from
1896-1928; it is also inscribed, “
Made By
H.R. at Dedham Pottery.” This is arguably the rarest piece of Dedham Pottery
I have ever seen; between the pattern, which I am not familiar with - and the personal
association to an important Massachusetts potter (Hugh Robertson) in the form
of an inscription makes this a highly important piece of New England-made
pottery.
Dedham Pottery Pitcher with an Non-Matching Pair of Dedham Pottery Plates - Dedham, Ma
The Pitcher was Recently Found in Florida
The Pitcher is the Subject of This Report
We can date this piece from 1896-1908, since Robertson died
in 1908. This also makes the pitcher an early example of Dedham Pottery that
could potentially date to the end of the nineteenth-century when a handful of
the patterns first went into production. There are very few examples of the
blue and white Dedham Pottery that can be narrowed to such a small production
window today; most pieces are merely dated by the company stamp; the first
stamp was used from 1896-1928 that showed a blue square box with the words, Dedham Pottery over a rabbit; the later
stamp was used from 1929-1943, that includes the word Registered, which was added to what was already seen on the
original stamp.
Lura Woodside Watkins conducted a study of the Robertson
family and the Dedham Pottery in her book, Early
New England Potters and Their Wares; “In
Dedham, the crackle ware (blue and white) composed almost the entire output of
the Robertson pottery. Plates, bowls, mugs, cups, saucers and many other forms
were produced in quantity and held their popularity year after year. The
painted designs, although drawn from natural forms, were highly conventionalized
and were most often applied as a band of pattern around the vessels. Such
motifs as the rabbit (the most common), the lion, swan, crab, tulip, magnolia,
iris, water lily, grape and dolphin were utilized. The popular rabbit border
was designed by Joseph Lindon Smith, the lion by Denman Ross. Of other patterns,
many were originated or adapted by Charles E. Mills, who had a noteworthy
influence on this pottery.”
Pictured in Watkins collection in the
Smithsonian in Washington D.C. (and her book - Early New England Potters and Their Wares) is a bowl made in 1895 as a gift from Hugh
Robertson to W.G.A. Turner in the traditional Dedham colors decorated with blue
wheels and belts representing a pottery machine. This product was possibly made
in Chelsea at the Chelsea Pottery or
more likely, in the beginning months of the Dedham
Pottery. This is obviously a highly important piece for discernible reasons
- and I would hold the Dedham Pitcher recently found in Florida in the exact
same regards.
Dedham Pottery Blue and White Earthenware Bowl - Dedham, Ma
Made in 1895 as a Gift from Hugh Robertson to W.G.A. Turner
Decorated with Very-Rare Wheels and Belts from a Pottery Machine
Resides in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. (Watkins Collection)
Photo Courtesy: Early New England Potters and Their Wares, Watkins, 1950, Harvard University
The base of the newly found pitcher reads more than only “
Made by H.R. at Dedham Pottery.” Unfortunately,
I have taken high resolution photographs of the base from a number of angles, I have taken a few clay molds of the base and I have even tried 3-D imaging of the base and none have
produced complete results. I believe it is also written that this pitcher was
made for a specific person because it appears like the word, “
Born” with a possible date is also
inscribed; however, I have not been able to decipher what is actually written.
It may be a person’s full name with their date of birth, which would be incredible! Unfortunately, the
blue Dedham Pottery stamp has really acted as a road block towards learning more about this piece. I had hoped a clay mold of the base would work, but the
words were too faintly inscribed – and then the glaze that was added afterwards
added to the confusion. Regardless of all that - here is the remarkable piece that I have described.
Dedham Pottery Pitcher with Rare Design - Dedham, Ma
Ca. 1895-1908
Very Possibly a 19th Century Product
Recently Found in a Group Shop in Florida
View of the Handle
View of the Second Side
View of the Front and the Pouring Spout
View of the Interior
Here are three pictures of the inscribed base under special lighting that I feel brought the writing out the most of all the tests that were used.
View of the Inscription and the Company Stamp
Another View of the Inscription and the Company Stamp
And Another View of the Inscription and the Company Stamp
This is a picture of a catalogue published by the Dedham Historical Society in 1968, which gives and in-depth study into the Robertson family of potters in Chelsea and later in Dedham. Interestingly, there are sixty patterns shown in this book that depict the variety of styles used on Dedham Pottery products; however, the blue patten shown on this pitcher is not included in the book. This leads me to believe that this pattern is either very rare or it was possibly, experimental.
Dedham Pottery Company Catalogue Published by Dedham, Ma Historical Society in 1968
Surprisingly, the Pattern on the Pitcher is Not Pictured with the 60 Patterns Shown in this Book
That Leads Me to Believe that this Pattern is Either Very Rare or Experimental
It is my firm belief that this pitcher is a highly
important piece of pottery from the American Arts and Crafts Movement - from a
business, where very few pieces of pottery from the regular production line were ever signed by the business’ creator and owner (Hugh Robertson). As a result, I hold this Dedham pitcher equal to
all of the most important pieces of Dedham Pottery known today, which includes the
example that is part of the Smithsonian’s collection in Washington, D.C.
Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come…
