The first was found in a shop directly on Route 1 in Wiscasset. It may be one of the most important examples of Maine red earthenware I have found to-date. It is unglazed, but modeled with a hound-handled pitcher and decorated with cherubs and fruited vines around the top. Similar earthenware hound-handled pitchers were made in parts of New Hampshire, Vermont and New Jersey; however this is a red earthenware product, which makes it much rarer. It was also made in Maine, which makes it that much better. The only other region I can recall that made similar red earthenware pitchers was in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia by such businesses as Solomon Bell & Sons in Strasburg and John Bell in Pennsylvania. The pitcher I found could be a much-rarer story - since no modeled red earthenware pitchers like this have ever been attributed to the potters who worked in Maine before. That's not to take away from the Virginia products because those are exceedingly rare and important, as well.
Hound-Handled Red Earthenware Pitcher
Purchased in a Shop in Wiscasset, Me
Stands 10" Tall
Ca. 1840-1860
Nicely Decorated in Cherubs and Fruited Vines
Nicely Accomplished Pouring Spot with More Decoration Directly on the Front
I asked the shop owner where the pitcher came from - and he told me it was found in a home in Newcastle, Maine. The reason I asked is because the pitcher has an obvious stamp on its base. It's marked with an unmistakable snowflake - a mark that the Safford Pottery in Monmouth, Maine is known for, but never before - have I seen a form like this attributed to any Maine red earthenware potter before. The distance between Newcastle and Monmouth is only about thirty-five miles - so it is possible this pitcher is original to the home it was found inside of. All the evidence suggests to me that this pitcher was made in Monmouth and the snowflake stamp is indicative of that. Very exciting!
Base is Stamped with a Snowflake
The Safford Pottery in Monmouth, Me was Known for Using Snowflake Designs
The Pitcher Was Found in a Newcastle, Me Home
Safford Pottery Handled Jar - Monnmouth, Me
Nicely Decorated in a Cream and Raspberry Glaze
Front is Stamped with Snowflakes and the Safford Pottery Name
Ca. 1820-1840
Photo Courtesy: Maine State Museum - Augusta, Me
Luck was still on my side as I traveled home - I stopped into a vintage shop (not exclusively an antique shop) in downtown Bath, Maine - where I found a nice small red earthenware pitcher made at the nearby Corliss Pottery in Woolwich, Maine. Woolwich is the next town over and the important Corliss Family Pottery worked in the Days Ferry neighborhood in the nineteenth-century.
The shop keeper told me she just purchased the contents of a home in Bath. She said everything her and her business partner purchased had been with the family for generations and this little pitcher was included with the sale. She said she knew nothing about it. The pitcher is in a very-rare small size with an unusual Corliss Pottery glaze. I have seen similar formed pitchers attributed to the Corliss Pottery with more traditional glazes. I love the rounded foot or base. It's just a wonderful form.
Corliss Pottery Red Earthenware Pitcher - Woolwich, Me
Purchased Today in Bath, Me
Recently Removed from a Bath, Me Estate
Stands 4 3/4" Tall
Ca. 1820-1860
My adventures did not stop here. As I continued on my way home, I stopped at an indoor flea market just south of Bath - where I met a local potter who sold me four pieces of incredible pottery he had just removed from his home. He told me they were all probably foreign products, but I have since been able to attribute them all to C.A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts. One in particular you will be amazed with! I promise! I will try and write about this experience tomorrow.
Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...
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