An Incredible Discovery of 19th Century Beverly, Massachusetts Red Earthenware

Earlier today, I possibly came across one of the most significant discoveries of nineteenth century red earthenware made by the potter, Charles A. Lawrence in Beverly, Massachusetts. It may be one of the more important pieces made on Boston's North Shore after 1820. The jar has never previously been offered for sale - and it is my belief, it has not previously been known about by the redware community. I purchased it from an antique dealer in Salem, Massachusetts who just recently pulled it from a home in Beverly. They had stuck silk ornamental purple orchids and leaves into styrofoam inside the jar to offer it as a Valentine's Day gift. As you may have guessed, the orchids, leaves and styrofoam were quickly removed.

I am not sure how to describe the pot more than it serving an ornamental or decorative need. It doesn't appear to have been used very much. The large pot features a wonderful pie crust-style edge around the lip. Stamped snow flake designs are seen all over the pot. Similar snowflakes were used a few years before at the Safford Family Pottery in Monmouth, Maine. Some sort of tool was used to make these snow flakes. It may have been a stamp hand-carved out of wood made special for this pot. The pot shows four handles, which I do not believe were really intended for an actual carrying purpose because loosely attached to each handle is a ring. It is amazing each of these rings have survived. The basic form is similar to a monumental bean pot made by Charles Lawrence for the first mayor of Beverly in 1891. That pot now sits prominently in the library at the Beverly Historical Society.

Until I see another jar like this - it is my belief it may be one-of-a-kind. It may have been made for a special person and/or occasion. The dealer told me the pot had descended through the family in Beverly. I do not believe the family had any relationship to Charles Lawrence, but there may have been a family connection to the business. More genealogy research may identify more about this pot.

The pot is nine inches tall. It measures thirteen inches from handle to handle. Each ring is three inches in diameter. The entire pot was hand-made. Everything was made from a pile of raw clay. Nothing seen was molded.

I am very hesitant to describe this jar as utilitarian - and its not even a cross over piece from the Arts and Crafts Movement. It's utilitarian in appearance, but its decoration appears strictly ornamental. Its definitely been cared for over the years. I would describe this jar as an extremely ornate bean pot, but with no intentions to ever have been used as a bean pot.

I don't think there is much more to write in this report beyond admiring the wonderful accomplishment seen by Lawrence throughout this pot. My breath was nearly taken away when I saw it! I had complete tunnel vision from everything else that surrounded it. In my opinion, this a masterpiece and certainly museum quality.

 Charles A. Lawrence Red Earthenware Monumental Pot - Beverly, Ma

Ca. 1870s or 1880s

 Wonderful Snow Flake Design

 Wonderful Pie Crust Decoration

 Wonderful Ornamental Rings

 Great Form and Great Decoration

  Charles A. Lawrence Red Earthenware Monumental Pot - Beverly, Ma

Ca. 1870s or 1880s

 The Pot Was Entirely Hand-Turned and Hand-Made

  Charles A. Lawrence Red Earthenware Monumental Pot - Beverly, Ma

Ca. 1870s or 1880s

 Typical Base Seen on New England Red Earthenware

 Charles A. Lawrence Red Earthenware Monumental Pot - Beverly, Ma
Ca. 1870s or 1880s

For more information about Charles A. Lawrence's Beverly business - I suggest reading the report I recently wrote for the January 2014 edition of the New England Antiques Journal. Here is a link.

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come!