EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: The 47th Annual Keene, New Hampshire Bottle Show and Picking for EarlyPottery in New Hampshire

Monday, October 13, 2014

The 47th Annual Keene, New Hampshire Bottle Show and Picking for EarlyPottery in New Hampshire

Yesterday marked the 47th annual gathering of the Keene, New Hampshire bottle show; a show that I attended in hopes that there would be an opportunity to purchase pottery that was recently discovered. For some reason, American-made utilitarian bottles and utilitarian pottery go hand-in-hand with many bottle shows; stoneware is often found at these types of shows - and occasionally so isn't red earthenware.

Location of the 47th Annual Keene, NH Bottle Show - Keene High School

This was Taken When I Arrived at 7:45am

I arrived at the show just before the early buyers were aloud in at 8:00am. When we were let in - I walked around quickly peering all-over the tables in search of what may be a hidden gem at the show; however I didn't see a whole lot. The show was loaded with all sorts of incredible glass - and even some stoneware, but nothing I had to have. I did see a nice pair of New England-made nineteenth-centuyr painted tin boxes for only $40 that eventually ended up on glass auctioneer, Norman Heckler's table, but I didn't have to have those either. Then I came across one of the finest slip decorated red earthenware strainers I have ever seen. The dealer told me he just found it in an attic in an upstate New York home. It was very cheaply priced - so I didn't hesitate to purchase it. The dealer told me he didn't know anything about red earthenware; although he was happy it was going to a collector (I will show pictures of this at another time).

The Early Buyers Line Just Before 8:00am

The Lobby to the Show

The 47th Annual Keene, NH Bottle Show

Norman Heckler Auctions was at the Show - Woodstock Valley, Ct

Glass Works Auctions was at the Show - Lambertville, NJ

American Glass Gallery Auctions was at the Show - New Hudson, Mi

Sample of the Red Earthenware and Stoneware at the Keene, NH Bottle Show

By 8:30am, I had seen just about everything the show had to offer. I wanted to pick my way through the shops in this part of New Hampshire as I traveled home - unfortunately it was Sunday and none of the shops were open until 10:00a - so I passed the time by chatting with some of the dealers in the room who I am friends with like Jeff and Holly Noordsy and Matt King.

Before I left, I did one last walk around the room - and surprisingly, a dealer had put out a piece of (red?) earthenware that was not out on the table when I initially walked around the room. This piece was also very fairly priced. I also purchased this piece. It is in the form of a molded George Washington head that is intended to be used as a pitcher. It is decorated in an Albany slip glaze (brown) with gold-leaf paint carefully placed.

The dealer told me it has a long history in an elderly woman's home in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts, which is in Plymouth County not too far from New Bedford. She said she just recently purchased it directly out of the house. The pitcher was still covered in dirt and dust when I found it at the show.