ADA Deerfield, Mass Antiques Show Brochure
October 11 & 12, 2014
A Home that is Part of the Historic Deerfield, Ma Community
Looks at the Size of those Gourds!
Another Home that is Part of the Historic Deerfield, Ma Community
The House Was Originally Built in 1742
It Was Left Unpainted Until 1802 When It Was Originally Painted Blue
On may home this evening, I was in desperate need of gas; I pulled off Route 2 in Orange, Massachusetts to search for a gas station. And as my gas tank neared empty, I found a Cumberland Farms with gas pumps; however across the street was an antique shop that closed at 5pm and it was 4:45pm. The shop was called, North Quabbin Antiques (the shop was in Orange). I decided to investigate. The shop owner told me her parents own the business and everything in the shop was purchased/discovered by her family. She said it was not a multi-dealer shop. She told me that everything comes from local homes by way of her family, local pickers and a weekly auction held every Friday. Inside this shop - I found a wonderful earthenware vase in a beautiful variegated blue glaze. I was told the vase was found in a home in Orange in the past week. It's a form made by many art potters at the turn of the twentieth-century, but this specific form was different from a lot of those products.
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
North Quabbin Antiques - Orange, Ma
The Vase as I Found it in the Antique Shop
As soon as I picked the vase up, I knew exactly who the potter was who made it - Wiliam J. Walley ran a pottery in West Sterling, Massachusetts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth-centuries. Walley was a traditional red earthenware utilitarian potter who altered his product line to meet the demands of the marketplace after 1890. It should also be noted that West Sterling is only about thirty-miles east of Orange. The weight of the vase and glaze colors are both characteristics that I would expect to see on a product made by Walley. It's not Walley's most prolific or detailed work, but it is still a very nice example of an important Arts and Crafts potter in Massachusetts.
William J. Walley Earthenware Vase - West Sterling, Ma
Ca. Early 20th Century
Found Today in Orange, Ma
Stands 2 1/4" Tall
Measures 3 3/4" Wide at Opening
Wonderful Blue Glaze
Also in this shop, I found a very interesting brass lamp base with an ovoid red earthenware body. The brass base features four feet that are decorated in some kind of bird of prey's claws. It is also heavily decorated in brass flowers. I have never seen anything like this before. I am confident that a lamp maker and a red earthenware potter collaborated together on this product; although I have no idea where to start with who that potter may have been. It appears like a late nineteenth-century product. I'd like to believe this is an American product that was possibly made in New England, but I have no actual proof of that yet. It will certainly serve as a fun research subject for me in the future. For now, I will probably repurpose it into a bowl.
The best part about my stop at this shop: both of these products only cost me twenty-five-dollars.
Likely 19th Century Red Earthenware and Brass Lamp Vase
I Am Hoping it was Made in New England
Found Today in Orange, Ma
Measures 6 1/2" Tall
View of the Interior
Notice the Detailed Decoration on the Brass
Now without further hesitation - here is the red earthenware ring flask that I purchased today at the Deerfield Show. The small hole is where liquid was poured into. A cork would have been used to seal it. This form was often used by field workers, who would have been in need to quench their thirsts throughout the day - and this flask served an easy way to fill that need. I have little doubt this was made in New England in the nineteenth-century. It is only the sixth ring flask made in New England that I have seen; the others all reside in private collections today - three of those are attributed to Massachusetts and the remaining two were made in Maine. I have not made up my mind yet where I think this ring flask was made; however I am ruling out Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The decoration is wonderful! It is glazed with manganese and slip - as well as a clear lead glaze, which creates a three colored composition. It's just a great piece, with a great form and in great condition. I love it!
19th Century New England-Made Red Earthenware Ring Flask
Wonderful Colors - Manganese and Slip Was Spread All Over the Flask
Purchased from Pennsylvania Dealer, Greg Kramer
Measures 8 1/2" in Diameter
The Hole is Where Liquid Was Poured Into
It Would Have Been Sealed with a Cork
View of the Back - This Side is Actually Flat
Today was a great day - filled with fun conversations with dealers and collectors. The atmosphere was made up with really nice, educated people. If you haven't been this year and you have an interest - I would highly recommend going to the show. You won't be disappointed. There's lots to see - all of which I promise is museum quality.
Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...
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