Maine antique dealer and show promoter, Nan Gurley holds about a half-dozen or-so shows each year at the Frank Jones Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire during the slower winter months for the New England antique industry. The show is usually held on Sunday mornings from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. It is a small show atmosphere that always hosts a number of quality dealers from all-over New England. I have actually discovered a handful of wonderful examples of pottery in shows past - and today proved to be one of the good shows - as I brought home two outstanding pieces of pottery.
Nan Gurley Antique Show Sign - Portsmouth, NH
Nan Gurley Antique Show
Frank Jones Center - Portsmouth, NH
Nan Gurley Antique Show
Frank Jones Center - Portsmouth, NH
Nan Gurley Antique Show
Frank Jones Center - Portsmouth, NH
Nan Gurley Antique Show
Frank Jones Center - Portsmouth, NH
Nan Gurley Antique Show
Frank Jones Center - Portsmouth, NH
Nan Gurley Antique Show
Frank Jones Center - Portsmouth, NH
Pottery made at the Merrimac Pottery Company (Ca. 1897-1908) in Newburyport, Massachusetts by Thomas Nickerson is rather difficult to come by today. Nickerson was an English trained potter who made his way to Newburyport by way of Portland, Maine. Nickerson established the Merrimac Ceramic Company in 1897 making floral-type products - and as the years passed, the products and the company's name evolved.
Prior to 1902, the company marked many of its products with a paper label - and thereafter, a stamp was used that incorporated the company name with a picture of a sturgeon, which is a fish native to the Merrimac River that runs adjacent to Newburyport.
The Merrimac Company brand is a product that typically commands high prices at auction today - and most dealers usually can not keep Merrimac Pottery in their inventory for very long. Simpy put, it is a highly desirable product by dealers, collectors and museums. It is also a rare product that does not typically appear at Nan Gurley shows in Portsmouth, New Hampshire since dealers at this show usually focus on early antiques and Americana; however, today seemed to be the exception.
In case you have not guessed it, yet, a wonderful hand-thrown large example of Merrimac Pottery appeared in Portsmouth today for a very reasonable price. I personally own a small collection of Merrimac Pottery; although, it is not something I usually seek out because it usually commands high prices in today's market. The forms that I currently own have all been picked. The large piece that appeared at the show today is not marked, which means that it may have been made prior to 1902 when the paper labels were used - or the stamp may have been covered and filled in when the glaze was applied. Either way, I am not that big into signed pieces unless it is a personal inscription. This piece is undoubtedly a remarkable example made by Nickerson in Newburyport. Shown below for a size comparison is my niece, Alexis pictured with the pot.
To give you an idea of what Merrimac Pottery Company pieces usually achieve at auction - a small five-inch jar with the company stamp and a basic glaze just recently sold as part of the Bob Rogers Collection for roughly $1,500 (with premiums) at a John McInnis Auction only a matter of weeks ago on Friday January 2, 2015 in Amesbury, Massachusetts. The piece I found today, stands fourteen-inches tall with no restoration or condition issues. It was a very nice find that I am quite excited over! A similar piece appeared at Rago Auctions in New Jersey a few years ago with replaced handles; however, this is a pristine example with no issues! Ultimately, a rare survivor.
My Niece, Alexis with the Merrimac Pottery Company Pot
Made in Newburyport, Mass.
Ca. 1897-1908
Merrimac Pottery Company Red Earthenware Pot with Nice Green Glaze - Newburyport, Mass.
This Pot was Entirely Hand-Thrown
Ca. 1897-1908
Stands 14" Tall
View of One of the Handles
View of the Interior
View of the Base
This Piece Does Not Appear to be Marked
There May Have Been a Paper Label at One Time
The Company Stamp May Also be Covered by the Glaze
Wiscasset, Maine antique dealer, Gail White brought this wonderful nineteenth-century red earthenware pitcher with three sets of incised lines with her to the show today. It sat beside two very-nice examples of early eighteenth-century German-made stoneware. This pot was likely made at the Safford Pottery in Monmouth, Maine. It is difficult to properly attribute a Safford Pottery pot to a specific potter today since the overall company employed various family members divided between two family businesses and other potters; however, this pot may be reserved for a different judgment because of a known signed piece that recently sold. I will explain why I feel this way below.
I was actually surprised that this piece did not sell before I got to it; I didn't see it until my second lap around the show room. This is a rare form with a very nice glaze. There is some chipping around the rim, but nothing that defers my eyes away from this wonderful form and beautiful glaze. I have actually never seen this form from the Safford Pottery before. I have only seen jugs in this form - and I actually only know of four jugs today with this straight-sided characteristic.
For the sake of a comparison, I have included a group photo of a red earthenware jug that is stamped with the Safford Pottery 2d (John Safford II) stamp. This is the jug I mention above and it just recently sold at a Tim Gould Auction in Augusta, Maine last November for over a thousand dollars (with premiums)
Safford Pottery Red Earthenware Pot with a Spectacular Glaze - Monmouth, Me
Very Possibly Made by John Safford II
Ca. 1820-1860
Stands 5 7/8" Tall
View of the Handle
View of the Front with the Nice Incised Decoration
View of the Base
View of the Very Colorful Interior
Here is the signed jug that sold in November of 2014 by Tim Gould in Augusta that I have referenced a few times now; notice the similar straight-sided form with three sets of incised lines just like the pot I found today in Portsmouth. From this information, it is very possible to assume that John Safford II may have made the pot above - rather than another Safford family member or another potter employed under the Safford name. This was also another very good find! Gail told me she found the pot in Maine - and she has owned it for a while. I couldn't be more pleased with it!
Rare John Safford 2d Stamped Brown Glazed Red Earthenware Jug
Ca. 1840-1860
Stands 8 1/4" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Tim Gould Auctions - Smithfield & Augusta, Me
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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