I recently visited the museum to study its collection of earthenware. What I found were many examples that appear to have been made in Essex County, Massachusetts. It seems like the potters who worked in South Danvers (Peabody), Danversport and Beverly were the dominant suppliers in Salem in the nineteenth century. All three communities border Salem with an abundance of local rivers probably acting as a means of transportation into Salem's harbor. These are the results I also found when I reviewed the archaeological collection at the Narbonne House in Salem. The Narbonne House is a late seventeenth century home that remained a middle-class occupancy throughout the twentieth century. Many examples of red earthenware were uncovered in privies in the backyard in a nineteenth century context. All appeared like the traditional forms and glazes usually associated with the industry in South Danvers. The Narbonne House is located on Salem's waterfront directly across the street from the docks. The collection of ceramic artifacts at the house probably represent the types of wares brought into Salem's harbor, which middle-class families could afford during the period.
As part of the red earthenware collection at the Peabody Essex Museum, are a group of classic formed utilitarian crocks; however one example had an unexpected feature that I have never seen before. Placed on top was an earthenware lid.
Essex County, Mass Red Earthenware Crock with a Lid
Ca. 1800-1860
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Peabody, Ma
Essex County, Mass Red Earthenware Lid Intended for a Crock
Ca. 1800-1860
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Peabody, Ma
Instantly, I did question if the crock and lid were native to each other, but after seeing the base of each display a similar wire cutting technique - I felt both were originally intended together by the potter. The lid does fit well inside the crock.
The potter used a wire to remove each form from the potter's wheel and this is what caused the rough surface that is seen. I don't know about others reading this report, but this is the first time I have even considered the idea that this form of utilitarian earthenware potentially possessed a lid. I have never seen a comparable lid placed on crocks made by potters from Virginia through Maine before - they may have been made, but this is the first time I have ever seen it. I had always assumed utilitarian crocks were used for either storage or food preparation - and if necessary, a cloth was tied with a rope across the top to seal it like a cover. I assume a lidded crock would have cost more than a crock which was lidless. It's surprising more lids have not survived, which may indicate this was a rare form.
Essex County, Mass Red Earthenware Lid Intended for a Crock
Notice the Wire Crutting
Ca. 1800-1860
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Peabody, Ma
Essex County, Mass Red Earthenware Crock
Notice the Wire Cutting
Ca. 1800-1860
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Peabody, Ma
Shard evidence seen at the old Osborn neighborhood in South Danvers (Peabody) leads me to believe this crock and lid were made at the Osborn Pottery around 1840. I own a similar formed crock, where I found an identical form and glazed shard beneath pine needles on the property of the original Osborn business. Here is a link to that report (see photos 23-25). Could it also have had a lid?
Traditional Brown Glazed Interior on Red Earthenware Crock
Probably Made at the Osborn Pottery - South Danvers, Ma
Ca. 1800-1860
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Peabody, Ma
The crock without the lid looks like a traditional utilitarian jar. I wonder how many of the surviving American red earthware crocks today originally did have a lid? That's the biggest question that came to my mind when I saw this crock at the Peabody Essex Museum. It's certainly an interesting concept to consider!
Much More to Come...
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