A Maine Redware Jug with Characteristics Shared by the Corliss Pottery in Woolwich, Maine

The idea of unknown forms from the redware potters of Maine has always been a concept I have stood firmly by. Regularly, I have considered potters often made multiple forms for any given utilitarian need. For example, the size of milk pans often varied within the walls of any specific potters business. I don't see why that could not stand true for other forms. It seems some potters are only regarded as having made one jug form despite being in business for decades. Why wouldn't they try to mix their product line up for the market's demand and the ever-changing fashion trends? A variety of forms would seem more fashionable and marketable. It seems logical they would have done so. What was in style in 1770 likely changed by 1870 and the same sometimes stood true for products made between 1820 and 1860. There was usually a small alteration or even a drastic change of appearance depending on how an object was viewed by society. This idea definitely stood true for household utilitarian products.

Below is a typical redware jug made at the Corliss Pottery in the Days Ferry neighborhood of Woolwich, Maine between 1820-1860. It features the typical ovoid shape, handle attachment, foot and flattened top usually seen from this business. The Corliss Pottery was one of the most successful businesses in Maine lasting for half-a-century. I cannot recall ever seeing a jug form that varies greatly attributed to this business, but I assume there had to have been a variation in style since the company saw so much success, with a huge yearly output for such an extended period. The Corliss Pottery was arguably the benchmark of all nineteenth century Maine businesses. It is debatable which Maine earthenware business was the most lucrative, but the operation in Woolwich can certainly hold its own to all the remaining redware businesses throughout the state of Maine.

 Typical Corliss Pottery Redware Jug - (Days Ferry) Woolwich, Me

Ca. 1820-1860

Typical Corliss Pottery Handle

Similar Handle Used on a Variety of Forms at Corliss Pottery

If you notice on the Corliss jug - it shows a faint colored cream drip and a body color that reminds me of the inside of a ripe papaya. Throughout the jug - thick black or dark brown dots can also be seen.

A Maine jug of a very different form recently emerged - and it shows the same glaze. The handle is attached at the lip, rather than the body. This jug has a pronounced rounded foot. Its body is not quite as ovoid as the typical Corliss jugs. Overlooking all of the differences, it is rather interesting to see the same type of glaze colors used - with the only difference being a much larger concentration of thick or dark brown spots all over the jug. The color of the clay is also very similar from jug-to-jug.

The newly found jug was covered in dried, thick black material, which may indicate its use for possibly maple syrup. Most of it has been cleaned off, but some still remains.

The handle on this jug is also very different than the other jug in they way it was manufactured. It was likely machine-made and then applied. It would only have made sense that the larger Maine companies would have used a machine to mold some handles as opposed to the smaller potters who were more primitive - and really didn't see a need to make their handles so perfect.

 Maine Redware Jug with Dripping Cream Glaze

May Be Related to the Jug Shown Above

Ca. 1820-1860

Wonderful Applied Handle with Contrasting Glaze Colors

Handle is Similar to Essex County Handles Where it Sways From Right to Left

It seems like these jugs may have some kind of relationship - whether it is by means of a direct relationship through the Corliss Pottery, a potter influenced by the Corliss Pottery or merely characteristics used by some of the potters in Maine. A cream colored glaze was used by the Safford Pottery in Monmouth, Maine, the Corliss Pottery of Woolwich, Maine, the Norcross Pottery in Farmington, Maine and the Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine. It may have also been used by the Weber Pottery in Alfred, Maine. However much cream glaze was used in Maine, it remains very interesting seeing nearly two exact glaze styles on these jugs - and its just not one color, but rather three glaze characteristics. Its even more intriguing knowing one of the jugs was made at the Corliss Pottery in the Days Ferry neighborhood of Woolwich, Maine.

Could the non-attributed jug be a new form never before associated with the Corliss Pottery? Or at the least, not commonly associated with the industry in Woolwich, Maine? I think there's a chance! Its possible there is still a lot more to be learned about the Corliss Pottery's constant output considering the company manufactured tens-of-thousands of pieces of earthenware annually - and the company was in business for decades.

What do you think? I can certainly see a glaze relationship between the two jugs.

Much More to Come...