Grecian-Style Red Earthenware Products Made at the Kitson Pottery in North Bridgton, Maine After 1876

While out picking for early pottery in Maine last weekend, I discovered a pair of ancient-style painted miniature red earthenware pots at an indoor flea market in Brunswick, Maine. The dealer, whom I purchased them from - told me they were recently found together at an estate sale (small local auction) in the area. My initial reaction was that these pots were at least a hundred-years old dating from the nineteenth-century when such an approach became trendy in society in a practical, but also fashionable urban-style home during the Victorian Era after 1876.

Likely 19th Century Hand-Thrown Red Earthenware Pots 

Likely from a the Same Pottery

Both Share a Similar Painted Decoration

Purchased at an Indoor Flea Market in Brunswick, Me Last Weekend

Recently Discovered in the Brunswick, Me Area

Likely 19th Century Hand-Thrown Red Earthenware Pot

Miniature Pot 2 1/4" Stands Tall

Likely from a the Same Potter as the Pitcher

Both Share a Similar Painted Decoration

Purchased at an Indoor Flea Market in Brunswick, Me Last Weekend

Recently Discovered in the Brunswick, Me Area

Likely 19th Century Hand-Thrown Red Earthenware Pitcher

Miniature Pitcher 2" Stands Tall

Likely from a the Same Potter as the Pot

Both Share a Similar Painted Decoration

Purchased at an Indoor Flea Market in Brunswick, Me Last Weekend

Recently Discovered in the Brunswick, Me Area

 View of the Handle

I spotted the pieces in the back of a temporary booth that was filled with early glass, bottles, utilitarian pottery and glass - and clay marbles. The dealer told me that he felt the pieces were early and probably made in Maine, but he could not provide anymore information than that. He did seem knowledgeable from our brief conversation. As we talked, I pondered the idea wondering if the small hand-thrown pots were Maine-made. I speculated that if these pots were made in Maine, like he had said - that the only business that I knew of that produced ancient-style products as part of its regular production line in the nineteenth-century occurred at the Kitson Pottery in North Bridgton, Maine. The Kitson Pottery is cited today as manufacturing such painted decorative wares after 1876 - when Chinese products (and related ancient-style products) gained fame by potters and spectators, who attended the World's Fair in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Many American potters were inspired from the skill of the Chinese, who exhibited some of their finest creations - and the influence from these products began to migrate with potters from the northeast in a number of businesses all-over New England. The greatest influences that I know of today in New England can be found with surviving products made in Chelsea, Massachusetts (Chelsea Keramic Art Works: Ca. 1872-1889) and Beverly, Massachusetts (Charles A. Lawrence Pottery: Ca. 1866-1906) starting in the 1870's - so the notion that such a product could have been manufactured in rural Maine is quite engaging.

From my research, I have established a brief background of the life and career of the Maine potter, Richard Kitson; he was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 1784, where he was reportedly taught the potter's trade serving as an apprentice for seven-years. It would make the most sense that he worked at the Dodge Pottery in Portsmouth, which was a family that was deeply routed in the potter's industry starting in Exeter, New Hampshire in the eighteenth-century before moving north to Portsmouth and later Portland, Maine under a different family ownership in each case.

Kitson reportedly moved to Portland after his apprenticeship ended, where he was again employed as a potter as well as participating in other day-to-day jobs. Afterwards, Kitson moved forty-miles north of Portland to North Bridgton, Maine, where he lived and successfully operated a potter's business until his death in 1859. His son, Richard T. Kitson, whom he had taught the potter's trade - took over ownership of the business upon his father's death. He reportedly ran the business until his retirement in 1887.

The period in which Richard T. Kitson took control of the business is a rather fascinating period since he ventured into the potter's trade when the Industrial Revolution was set to alter the face of the utilitarian potter's industry forever; although, it did happen faster in urban areas like coastal Massachusetts rather than in places like rural Maine, which took longer for the transition to happen. Nonetheless, the circumstances of Richard T. Kitson's ownership seem compelling of how the business and its product lines appeared in a time of uncertainty and constant change in the years preceding 1859.

According to the book, Bridgton, Maine by Ned Allen, "Richard Kitson and his son, Richard T. Kitson operated a pottery on the shore of North Bridgton, Maine. Richard purchased the land, with the right to dig clay from the banks of the brook, in 1809 (he reportedly began work around 1815). The clay proved suitable for making bricks and pottery, for over seventy-years, he and his son, who took over in 1859, turned out many redware items, usually with a distinctive greenish glaze on the inside. Most of the products were (according to the book) bowls, covered pots, milk pans and other utilitarian household forms. 

According to Lura Woodside Watkins book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "The Kitson Pottery was located near the New Hampshire border and it served many of the neighboring communities...The Kitson Pottery shop was on Harrison Road by the shore of Long Lake. The site of the Kitson sherd pile is known today, but it is only accessible during the winter months. In the summer, when the lake is high, it is under water."

 The Kitson Pottery on Long Lake in North Bridgton, Maine in the 19th Century

Photo Courtesy: The North Bridgton Museum - North Bridgton, Me

Richard T. Kitson

This is the Man Responsible for the Ancient-Style Products Made in North Bridgton, Me

Photo Courtesy: Allen P. Richmond, III

Soon after I arrived home last weekend from my adventure - I compared the pair of miniature pots from the Brunswick indoor flea market to an incredible ancient-style painted handled vase that I purchased from Gray, Maine antiques dealer, Robert Foley at a Nan Gurley antique show in Portsmouth, New Hampshire last winter. Surprisingly, the paint colors on all three pots match very-closely.

Robert Foley told me he found the vase in a home that was in the Portland, Maine area. Considering the information known about the ancient-style pottery made in North Bridgton is extremely limited today - I had always felt the handled vase was likely made in Chelsea since it was comparable to known styles properly attributed to the Chelsea Keramic Art Works owned by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston; however, I have begun to re-examine that idea. I really have very little proof to accurately substantiate this claim - but, with all that said, I now wonder if all the products that are seen in this report today were made at the Kitson Pottery. After all, it is rather interesting seeing that all three of these piece were removed from early contexts in coastal Maine homes. For now, my belief is only based on what I have read versus what is known from other businesses, but I believe that it is at the least worth a strong consideration.

Very-Rare 19th Century Hand-Thrown Painted Red Earthenware Grecian-Style Vase

Definitely Made Somewhere in New England

Originally Found in a Home Near Portland, Me

Stands 12 1/2" Tall

Ca. 1873-1889

 Close Up of the Hand-Painted Decoration

 View of the Handle

View of the Glazed Interior

Both of the following pots are examples of painted Grecian-style products that were made at the Chelsea Keramic Art Works in Massachusetts during the 1870's that are now owned by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. They are absolutely stunning! I believe they are both currently on display in the museum's new Americana wing - and while I can visualize similarities between these two pots and the pot that was discovered in the Portland, Maine-area - I am not convinced they are related. Thus why I question if the three previous pots could have been made in North Bridgton as part of an output that very little is known from today.

19th Century Chelsea Keramic Grecian Ewer - Chelsea, Mass.

Ca. 1873-1878

Stands 15 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - Boston, Mass.

19th Century Chelsea Keramic Grecian Ewer - Chelsea, Mass.

Donated Brand-New by the Robertson Family Who Are the Potters that Made this Vase

Made in 1877

Stands 13 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - Boston, Mass.

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