A 19th Century Red Earthenware Inkwell Waster Recovered in Buxton, Maine

I wrote a few week's ago that, "There are many mysteries that surround the nineteenth-century red earthenware potters in Maine - my conundrum would begin with who all the potters actually were beyond what we know today; however, beyond that, what products and forms were made where - and how that would effect the current legacies of potters and what we think we know today. I firmly believe there is a lot left to be learned about this area."

Southern Maine collector, researcher and cabinet-maker, Rick Poore recently contacted me to show me a wonderful artifact that he just pulled from the Bickford Pottery trash pile in Buxton, Maine, circa 1825-1880.

What I mean by the word "trash" is this is the area, where all of the kiln waste was deposited; everything from bricks, broken pots, kiln furniture and whatever else came out of the kiln that was not useful. This is an amazing site that is privately owned today; whereas, the location remains a secret until the property owners and the State of Maine determine how they want to proceed with the site.

Nonetheless, this is an incredible black-glazed red earthenware inkwell, which I presume dates from the early-to-mid-nineteenth century that was made at the Bickford Pottery. I have visited this site on a few occasions and I feel this site can really contribute extensively to what is known about the nineteenth century southern Maine potter's industry today.

Inkwell Waster Recovered in Buxton, Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Inkwell Waster
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

Another View of the Waster

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

 Another View of the Waster

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

 Another View of the Waster

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...