A Wonderful 19th Century Red Earthenware Umbrella Stand that Recently Emerged From a House in Salem, Massachusetts

"The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of America, when the great seal of the United States was adopted; it was also chosen because of its long life, great strength and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent...It is said the eagle was used as the national emblem because at one of the first battles of the American Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests in circles over the heads of the fighting men; all the while giving vent to their raucous cries. 'They are shrieking for freedom,' said the patriots."

Since 1782, the eagle emblem has been used on a countless number of platforms in the decorative and utilitarian arts communities; that notion includes amateur and professional artists and rural and urban craftsmen. In some instances, an eagle may have been requested by a customer for a special or custom order. In keeping with this website; the eagle is arguably more prominent on stoneware than it is on American-made red earthenware today. For example, a stoneware jug made in New Haven, Connecticut in the early nineteenth-century, which was heavily decorated with an eagle and other designs sold for more than $400,000 a few years ago. Pictured below is an example of how an early nineteenth-century stoneware potter (likely upstate New York, possibly Albany, New York) applied an eagle to an ovoid jug. I came across this jug at a local flea market earlier this year before it went to a collector and dealer in the greater-Albany, New York-area.

 Likely Upstate New York, Possibly Albany-Made Stoneware Jug

Ca. Early 19th Century

The Jug is Decorated with an Incised Eagle and Blue Cobalt Decoration

This is How I Found the Jug at a Coastal Massachusetts Flea Market this Year

It was Brought to the Flea Market by a Maine Antiques Dealer

Side View of the Jug

I thought about it all morning; however I cannot recall many examples of red earthenware that bear any sort of eagle emblem - even though I do know of many examples seen on important pieces of furniture, folk art and stoneware. From my research, I believe that the nineteenth and twentieth-century red earthenware potter, Jacob Medinger, who worked in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania may be the potter who could be credited today with using the eagle emblem the most of all American red earthenware potters. Another red earthenware potter, John Betts, who worked in Oneida County, New York in the early nineteenth-century was also known for his eagle designs on prolific handled jars. Besides these two potters, the Stahl family of potters in Pennsylvania in late nineteenth and twentieth-centuries are also known for occasionally applying an eagle design. Other notable nineteenth-century potters with surviving examples today, which incorporate an eagle are Solomon Bell in Virginia and John Bell in Pennsylvania. There are also a few platters and plates today that bear an eagle design with no defined attribution, but overall it appears to have been a rare design from the American red earthenware community.

The most prominent New England example (and really the only example) that I know of is seen on a wonderful colored lidded jar inscribed by its maker and place of manufacture in Amherst, New Hampshire in the early nineteenth-century; on the front of the jar is a finely drawn detailed eagle. It's a remarkable example that some people reading this probably have seen at some of the recent shows here in New England and in York, Pennsylvania. Beyond what I have already mentioned, I cannot recall any other examples.

While picking my way through Salem, Massachusetts recently - I was made aware of a hand-thrown red earthenware umbrella stand found in a Salem house by a local antique dealer, whom I have purchased a handful of quality pieces from in the past year. This dealer has a great eye - and he's found a number of locally-made pieces in recent months.

This umbrella stand is a special piece. It is entirely hand-thrown. The interior is glazed in a traditional utilitarian red earthenware manner with a clear lead glaze. The exterior decoration is what's so special; the top is heavily decorated with oak leaves, oak branches and acorns. The base is decorated with painted horse shoes. Placed prominently in the center is a bald eagle perched on a pair of oak branches; below the eagle is a painted three loaf clover - and below that is a scroll. The umbrella stand has been almost entirely left without a glaze on the exerior, but there are some areas that have been painted green. There is also quite a bit of scratch decoration around the eagle. As wonderful as all of this is - it's in my opinion, that the most important part of the umbrella stand is what is written inside of the scroll; the name John W. Newman is written in cursive. It's very possible that the scroll, the name and the clover may be some sort of a family crest.

Heavily Decorated 19th Century Red Earthenware Umbrella Stand

Definitely American-Made, Possibly New England-Made

Recently Found in a House in Salem, Ma

Ca. 1860-1895

Stands 27 1/2" Tall

Close Up of the Oak Leaves, Oak Branches and Acorns

Bald Eagle Perched on Oak Branches

Close Up of the Bald Eagle

Close Up of Shamrock, Scroll and the Name, John W. Newman

Close Up of the Horse Shoes

View of the Interior

View of the Interior Glaze

View of the Back

I haven't done a lot of research into who John W. Newman was yet - or the significance of his name on a hand-thrown umbrella stand, but I hope to reveal more about the significance of this piece in the future. For now, I posted it so people could see this wonderful piece!

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...