A Freshly Discovered Museum-Quality Example of Blue and White Crackled Earthenware Made in Dedham, Massachusetts

It is debatable if Hugh Robertson’s Chelsea Keramic Art Works (1872-1889), which was established in the late nineteenth-century in Chelsea, Massachusetts, is the most notable of his ceramic achievements; although some critics may proclaim that the Dedham Pottery (1896-1943), which was a spawn of Robertson’s work in Chelsea was more accomplished. The pottery in Dedham, Massachusetts was certainly the most lucrative and withstanding of the two businesses.

Hugh Robertson (1845-1908) was an American-born potter of Scottish decent, who trained in New Jersey before he formally went to work for his father in Chelsea in 1866. The family-run business officially became known as the Chelsea Keramic Art Works in 1872. The pottery was known for its line of art vases, terracotta products and a revival of Old World painted Grecian styles. Examples from each of these product lines are represented in prominent American Museums today, such as the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

Robertson visited the World’s Fair in Philadelphia in 1876, where he was inspired by the skill and glaze techniques of the Chinese potters. Robertson drew from this inspiration; he came home to Chelsea and began to experiment. He was especially intrigued with the Ox Blood Red and crackled glazes that he eventually incorporated into products made in Chelsea and later Dedham (on his experimental vases).

However, reports indicate by 1889, Robertson had weakened the company’s financial assets to the point that the doors had to close. The assets were not there for the pottery to continue. Robertson’s most meaningful contributions to the Chelsea Keramic Art Works (aside from the products themselves) were his fine line of experimental, colorful glazes on a variety of formed vases.

Robertson learned from this experience; he soon rebounded with a new Chelsea business in 1891 known as the, Chelsea Pottery (1891-1895). Pieces were often marked with the initials C.P.U.S. over a clover leaf – the initials stood for Chelsea Pottery US; although by 1894, Robertson had reportedly purchased acreage in Dedham (Boston Globe – July 30, 1894) and this is where the Chelsea Pottery moved under a new name, the Dedham Pottery.

The products made at the Dedham Pottery were almost exclusively blue and white earthenware products made for dining, such as plates, bowls, pitchers, lidded jars and such. Despite the focus towards blue and white products, Robertson still experimented with colorful glazes usually on vases. The base on the experimental vases was almost always inscribed with Hugh Robertson’s initials and depending on the amount of space – the words, Dedham Pottery may also have been written.

The blue and white products came in roughly sixty different patterns that ranged from the most common, the rabbit (also the company logo) to swans, mushrooms, irises, owls, ducks, butterflies and so many more. The person who applied the patterns or designs was often referred to as the decorator; the most prolific designer besides Robertson was arguably Maude Davenport, who came to work at Dedham in 1904 and remained with the pottery until 1928. There are very few examples of Dedham Pottery that have been signed by the potter or decorator – or even anything that has been inscribed for a client; therefore, any form with such an inscription is highly sought after by collectors and museums today.

Before any of the patterns were formally placed into regular production – there had to have been an experimental phase. They were tested – and if approved, the patterns went into a more formal production. Not all of the patterns were manufactured equally - some were produced more than others and some were even produced for longer periods of time than others.

Recently in Florida, a Dedham Pottery pitcher was discovered by a picker in a group shop; the pattern is not a pattern that I recognize - so I believe this is an experimental pattern that never actually made it to formal production (or its a very rare pattern). The base is marked with the Dedham Pottery stamp used from 1896-1928; it is also inscribed, “Made By H.R. at Dedham Pottery.” This is arguably the rarest piece of Dedham Pottery I have ever seen; between the pattern, which I am not familiar with - and the personal association to an important Massachusetts potter (Hugh Robertson) in the form of an inscription makes this a highly important piece of New England-made pottery.

Dedham Pottery Pitcher with an Non-Matching Pair of Dedham Pottery Plates - Dedham, Ma

The Pitcher was Recently Found in Florida

The Pitcher is the Subject of This Report

We can date this piece from 1896-1908, since Robertson died in 1908. This also makes the pitcher an early example of Dedham Pottery that could potentially date to the end of the nineteenth-century when a handful of the patterns first went into production. There are very few examples of the blue and white Dedham Pottery that can be narrowed to such a small production window today; most pieces are merely dated by the company stamp; the first stamp was used from 1896-1928 that showed a blue square box with the words, Dedham Pottery over a rabbit; the later stamp was used from 1929-1943, that includes the word Registered, which was added to what was already seen on the original stamp.

Lura Woodside Watkins conducted a study of the Robertson family and the Dedham Pottery in her book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares; “In Dedham, the crackle ware (blue and white) composed almost the entire output of the Robertson pottery. Plates, bowls, mugs, cups, saucers and many other forms were produced in quantity and held their popularity year after year. The painted designs, although drawn from natural forms, were highly conventionalized and were most often applied as a band of pattern around the vessels. Such motifs as the rabbit (the most common), the lion, swan, crab, tulip, magnolia, iris, water lily, grape and dolphin were utilized. The popular rabbit border was designed by Joseph Lindon Smith, the lion by Denman Ross. Of other patterns, many were originated or adapted by Charles E. Mills, who had a noteworthy influence on this pottery.”

Pictured in Watkins collection in the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. (and her book - Early New England Potters and Their Wares) is a bowl made in 1895 as a gift from Hugh Robertson to W.G.A. Turner in the traditional Dedham colors decorated with blue wheels and belts representing a pottery machine. This product was possibly made in Chelsea at the Chelsea Pottery or more likely, in the beginning months of the Dedham Pottery. This is obviously a highly important piece for discernible reasons - and I would hold the Dedham Pitcher recently found in Florida in the exact same regards.

Dedham Pottery Blue and White Earthenware Bowl - Dedham, Ma

Made in 1895 as a Gift from Hugh Robertson to W.G.A. Turner

Decorated with Very-Rare Wheels and Belts from a Pottery Machine
Resides in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. (Watkins Collection)

Photo Courtesy: Early New England Potters and Their Wares, Watkins, 1950, Harvard University

The base of the newly found pitcher reads more than only “Made by H.R. at Dedham Pottery.” Unfortunately, I have taken high resolution photographs of the base from a number of angles, I have taken a few clay molds of the base and I have even tried 3-D imaging of the base and none have produced complete results. I believe it is also written that this pitcher was made for a specific person because it appears like the word, “Born” with a possible date is also inscribed; however, I have not been able to decipher what is actually written. It may be a person’s full name with their date of birth, which would be incredible! Unfortunately, the blue Dedham Pottery stamp has really acted as a road block towards learning more about this piece. I had hoped a clay mold of the base would work, but the words were too faintly inscribed – and then the glaze that was added afterwards added to the confusion. Regardless of all that - here is the remarkable piece that I have described.

 Dedham Pottery Pitcher with Rare Design - Dedham, Ma

Ca. 1895-1908

Very Possibly a 19th Century Product

Recently Found in a Group Shop in Florida

 View of the Handle

 View of the Second Side

 View of the Front and the Pouring Spout

View of the Interior

Here are three pictures of the inscribed base under special lighting that I feel brought the writing out the most of all the tests that were used.

 View of the Inscription and the Company Stamp

 Another View of the Inscription and the Company Stamp

And Another View of the Inscription and the Company Stamp

This is a picture of a catalogue published by the Dedham Historical Society in 1968, which gives and in-depth study into the Robertson family of potters in Chelsea and later in Dedham. Interestingly, there are sixty patterns shown in this book that depict the variety of styles used on Dedham Pottery products; however, the blue patten shown on this pitcher is not included in the book. This leads me to believe that this pattern is either very rare or it was possibly, experimental.

Dedham Pottery Company Catalogue Published by Dedham, Ma Historical Society in 1968

Surprisingly, the Pattern on the Pitcher is Not Pictured with the 60 Patterns Shown in this Book

That Leads Me to Believe that this Pattern is Either Very Rare or Experimental

It is my firm belief that this pitcher is a highly important piece of pottery from the American Arts and Crafts Movement - from a business, where very few pieces of pottery from the regular production line were ever signed by the business’ creator and owner (Hugh Robertson). As a result, I hold this Dedham pitcher equal to all of the most important pieces of Dedham Pottery known today, which includes the example that is part of the Smithsonian’s collection in Washington, D.C.

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come…