The Peabody Essex Museum's collection of early eighteenth and nineteenth century earthenware is primarily made up of local Essex County, Massachusetts makers - but there are examples of eighteenth century English slipware and nineteenth century Connecticut red earthenware. The non-Massachusetts forms were donated from mostly anonymous individuals in the twentieth-century. In those cases, the provenience is not very strong.
The forms that were of most interest to me often showed a mundane glaze - but the uses are rather appealing. The majority of the collection was donated on behalf of local homeowners at the turn of the twentieth-century. Most of the earthenware came directly from its original context in a nineteenth century utilitarian setting. Some examples appear to have been brought into Salem from local potters, while others seem to have been imported from England or elsewhere in New England. All of these examples were introduced to Salem's homeowners when they arrived at the local market offered for sale by Salem, Massachusetts merchants and retail shop owners. Salem's economy thrived in the nineteenth-century from its constant exchange of goods for currency. It was an entire cycle in the city that was really led by Salem's important role in the China Trade. Salem's strong economy probably contributed to the strength of the Essex County potter's industry - and likely why the majority of red earthenware found in Salem in the nineteenth-century was made by local potters.
Yesterday, I wrote about a rare lidded earthenware crock. For me personally, it was the first instance where I had seen a traditional red earthenware crock with an intended lid (see above for link to report). Both forms were removed from the potter's wheel by way of a wire - which is not a characteristic regularly attributed to Essex Country potters. I find it more common with potters working in New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont rather than in Massachusetts in the nineteenth-century.
The museum's collection includes rare red earthenware chamber pots, crocks, jugs, plates, jars, individual lids and bean pots. Possibly the rarest of all forms - is a butter cooler that appears like a jug missing its handle. On first site, the butter cooler's form appears like some red earthenware handled jugs made in Connecticut and Pennsylvania. After simple inspection, the butter cooler's base is evidently unique.
19th Century Red Earthenware Butter Cooler
Possibly Made After 1850
Likely Made by an Essex County, Ma Potter
Donated to the Museum from a Salem, Ma Home
Donated to the Museum from a Salem, Ma Home
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Ma
Inverted Base Seen on Red Earthenware Butter Cooler
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Ma
When I first picked up the jug, and saw the inverted base - I did not know what to think. I removed the cork and saw it appeared like a jug. I was still puzzled as to what its purpose was. The collections manager told me butter was meant to be placed under the jug and cool water was poured into the spout. It acted as a nineteenth-century refrigerator - cool water was continuously added depending on how long the contents had to stay cool for. I think it's safe to say, that an earthenware butter cooler was not limited to only butter - it could have cooled vegetables, fruit, meat and any other perishables. There also may have been different sizes of this form offered for sale.
Butter was Intended to be Placed Underneath the Inverted Base
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Ma
A Cool Liquid (Water) Was Poured Into the Jug to Cool the Contents Below It
It Could Have Cooled Additional Objects than Only Butter
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Ma
This jug or cooler was apart of the donations from local Salem homes at the turn of the twentieth-century. All of the red earthenware that was donated from these residences was purchased by the homeowners and/or caretakers in the nineteenth-century presumably at Salem's marketplace. All the earthenware appears to share characteristics with the typical wares made in South Danvers (Peabody), Danversport and Beverly, Massachusetts. I think it is safe to say this red earthenware butter cooler can be included among this group. The potter is not identified, but it is almost unquestionably an Essex County potter. The form is very rare today.
I have never seen another red earthenware butter cooler made by a New England potter before. It was probably a form that saw less demand than traditional crocks and household utilitarian wares. A butter cooler would have probably seen less daily use than would have more traditional forms. Simply put, it was probably better cared for than most traditional plates, jars, bowls, crocks or pitchers - which were usually used daily, often cleaned daily, occasionally accidentally dropped - or sometimes cracked up against other household objects that caused chips, cracks and even major damage. Those forms were probably handled more. A butter cooler probably sat on a counter or some out of the way place that was not regularly put in any direction of potential harm. It also may not have been considered a household necessity so it may have been a form only upper-class households purchased; however there are always exceptions. All of the homes that donated their belongings to the Peabody Essex Museum, happen to have been high-class eighteenth and nineteenth century households. Regardless of the material culture - its a rather interesting form that I have never seen before.
My curiosities about this piece include how often this form was made, how many New England potters included it in their output and was it strictly a nineteenth century form from American potters - or did it date earlier. The form dates much earlier elsewhere in the world.
Much More to Come...Please Stay Tuned!
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