A Brief Background of Vermont Potters - And a Newly Found 19th Century Jug

Relatively, not a lot is known of nineteenth century Vermont red earthenware potters today. The industry was dominated primarily by the Fenton and Farrer families, but there were probably a small number of potters that worked in small country atmospheres, who are few and far between common knowledge today.

Vermont's utilitarian potter's industry is most known for its stoneware products. Clays were brought in from New Jersey and New York that allowed potters to work with stoneware creations. This movement was led by the potters who worked in Bennington, Vermont; however, red earthenware potters did work in areas throughout the state, which were probably led by the potters who worked in the Greater Middlebury area. The towns of Hinesburg, Poultney, New Haven, St. Johnsbury and Dorset were also thought to have had a solid output of red earthenware. The red earthenware industry in Vermont was probably smaller than that seen in Maine or New Hampshire. It was arguably the smallest industry in New England - in front of only Rhode Island, which did not really see any nineteenth century red earthenware businesses.

It's my belief the Maine and New Hampshire potters had more travel routes to export their wares - and that is partially why more potters prospered in these states. The Maine potters were surrounded by an enormous seacoast with many rivers. New Hampshire potters had many opportunities to sell to small communities throughout the state - along with a few important cities; such as Portsmouth, Exeter and Concord. Portsmouth may have also served as a community that helped distribute products made by New Hampshire potters.

There were two major liabilities the potters in Vermont saw - the first, was the largely succesfull stoneware industry that supplied much of the state. Many people from Vermont may have seen stoneware as a product that was durable, lasted longer and over-time, the product saved the consumer money since it did not break as easily as red earthenware. The products to the west in upstate New York were also dominated by stoneware potters - stoneware probably supplied much of those households with utilitarian wares. Not a lot of red earthenware is thought to have been made in that part of New York, and the preference likely remained with the local stoneware. Its doubtful much red earthenware was imported into that part of New York. The stoneware products made in upstate eastern New York may have also been sold in parts of Vermont.

The second obstacle potters in Vermont had to compensate for were mountains, which really, in most cases blocked much of Vermont from the rest of New England. This made any distribution routes to the east difficult to travel across by foot or wagon. As a result, red earthenware potters were probably very limited in the amount they could export to areas at a great length outside of the region. Based on the affect seen from Vermont's landscape and the impact the stoneware industry had on the state's red earthenware potters, it is my belief locally produced red earthenware was usually only intended for the local market.

I also believe nineteenth century Canadian utilitarian pottery was probably imported into parts of northern Vermont.

I can only imagine any type of Vermont-made red earthenware is very rare today. I do know some of the state's red earthenware can be crude, while others can be extremely refined with colorful glazes. Vermont red earthenware can also be mistaken for Maine potters, which the same - can be mistaken for Vermont products.

Vermont potters made the usual traditional forms like jugs, pitchers, milk pans, maple syrup cruets (not as traditional), crocks, stew pots and related kitchen wares. A form they did make that is not common to potters elsewhere in New England are butter churns and vases. Churns and vases were made in a variety of sizes and glazes. Examples of Vermont red earthenware are represented in such museum collections as the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. and the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois.

Edwin William Farrer Red Earthenware Jar - Middlebury, Vt

Ca. 1840-1860

Photo Courtesy: Art Institute of Chicago - Chicago, Il

An interesting cream and salmon glazed jug recently emerged from an attic in a house that was built in 1787 in Barnet, Vermont. Barnet is west of the White Mountains in New Hampshire. Its roughly sevently miles east of Burlington and about a hundred miles away from the Middlebury area, which was the area's largest industry of red earthenware potters. I can imagine its a rather rural area - with no reason why a jug from elsewhere in New England would appear in an attic in such an early home.

The jug reminds me of a southern Maine glaze and form. The handle reminds me of potters who worked in Essex County Massachusetts and parts of New Hampshire. Potters in northern New England were known to have had a strong influence from the industries in Massachusetts - and this may be an example of that.

Red Earthenware Jug Found in Barnet, Vt

Ca. 1840-1860

Measures 7 1/4 Tall

Handle Similar to Some Essex County, Ma and NH Potters
Overall Form Similar to Some Southern Maine Potters

I personally feel this jug was made in Vermont before 1850. I do not have an attribution because there is still a lot more to be learned about the potters in that state. I will say that St. Johnsbury is only ten miles north of Barnet - and there was an output of red earthenware products there; however, not enough is known about that business. The context the jug was found within suggests a Vermont potter is very likely. I thought the form, size and glaze may be of interest for those who of you who enjoy Maine and Vermont potters.

For those you who also understand upstate western New York red earthenware; this glaze is very-much similar to some glaze styles used by Lorenzo Johnson in Newstead, New York around the mid-nineteenth century - but the form is not associated with that area. It is still interesting to see the glaze comparison.

Much More to Come..