A Comparison of American-Made and English-Made Black-Glazed Pottery from the Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Centuries

I thought this citation, would be of an interest when trying to understand how early black-glazed utilitarian pottery may have appealed to the average consumer in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries - and how that appeal translates with collectors and museums today; this was taken from the book, Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of Britain by Andrew McGarva, "This was never supposed to be great art, but because of its decorative nature (today) these pieces tended to stay on the family shelf or dresser rather than being used and thrown away. Museums and private collections are often full of this material. It is not by this decorative ware that the country potters' work should be judged. For a historian or an anthropologist, they may seem more interesting, and a certain rustic charm in this decorative ware is undeniable. But any potter can see that what these old potters made best, with skill and spontaneity, were the 'ordinary pots' for everyday use. Through their simplicity and directness, they represent a honed tradition of functionalism: design of the kind where nothing superfluous exists. Plain pots have a tendency to be valued only when sufficiently distanced in time, place of origin or rarity."

Yesterday, I discussed the notion of Buckley ware made in the Buckley, England region in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries; today, I want to make a comparison with a few Buckley attributed products taken from the book mentioned above, Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of Britain. 

This following pot is attributed to the potter, Jeremiah Burpee (1781-1862), who worked in Boscowan, New Hampshire in the nineteenth-century. The attribution was given by the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, New Hampshire. The interior is entirely decorated with a black-glaze; however, the exterior is only partially glazed, which is a characteristic found on some of the black-glazed wares made in the Buckley-area in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. There is also a pair of coggled bands applied on the shoulder to go along with a pouring spout. The museum does not provide any information towards the kind of use that this pot may have been intended for; although, the obvious answer is something or some kind of liquid likely poured from it. It may have served a dairy need since Jeremiah Burpee and his company, was traditionally, a country-based potter's business located in the central-area of New Hampshire.

Jeremiah Burpee, was reportedly born near Epping, New Hampshire; however, he reportedly moved to Boscowan in 1792 with his father, who was a brick maker. According to author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares), Burpee may have trained at the Osborn Pottery in Loudon, New Hampshire, before, later establishing his own business in Boscowan in 1804 that operated until his death in 1862. All that is known of this business today is that Burpee produced traditional household utilitarian wares such as pots, crocks, pans and jugs. The Burpee name is grouped in today with the Osborn and Clark names that were at the heart of New Hampshire's potter's industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries.

Also shown below, is a jar, that I discovered in a collectible-type shop in New Hampshire a few years ago - it is very similar to the jar owned by the historical society - except, it is missing the coggled decoration. It's my guess that it served a similar household need since it was also made with a pouring spout. I also assume it is a product of the Burpee Pottery based on the attribution given to the pot in the historical society's collection.

Early 19th Century Black-Glazed Red Earthenware Pot Attributed to Jeremiah Burpee Pottery

Jeremiah Burpee Pottery Operated in Boscowan, NH

Ca. 1804-1830

Attractive Pair of Coggled Bands Applied Around the Shoulder

Notice the Pouring Spout on the Front of the Pot

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Historical Society - Concord, NH

Early-19th Century Black-Glazed Red Earthenware Pot 

Similar to the Pot Attributed to the Burpee Pottery in Boscowan, NH by the Historical Society

Also Shares Some Characteristics to Wares Made in Buckley, England

Originally Found in New Hampshire

Stands 12 1/4" Tall

View of the Pouring Lip

View of One of the Handles

View of the Black-Glazed Interior

View of the Base

These are a few Buckley, England attributed products (Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of Britain) that show a similar partially black-glazed exterior. It's a notable characteristic that can be compared - even though, I am unable to definitively say whether there is a direct influence or any kind of inspiration found on these pots that is demonstrated on the pots discussed above.

Late-18th Century Black-Glazed Buckley, England Spiggot Pot

Stands 13" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of England, McGarva, 2000, A&C Black

 18th/19th Century Black-Glazed Buckley, England Pottery with Partially Glazed Exteriors

Photo Courtesy: Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of England, McGarva, 2000, A&C Black

  18th/19th Century Black-Glazed Buckley, England Pottery with Partially Glazed Exteriors

Photo Courtesy: Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of England, McGarva, 2000, A&C Black

Late-18th Century Black-Glazed Buckley, England Spiggot Pot

Photo Courtesy: Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of England, McGarva, 2000, A&C Black

I believe this over-sized black-glazed red earthenware pitcher or jug was originally owned by a New Jersey collector before that collection was sold by a New Jersey auction house in the early-2000's. A few years ago, it appeared in a group lot at a Pook and Pook sale in Downington, Pennsylvania - and my parents purchased it for my birthday. I have always wondered about its origin; Was it made in New England or was it made further south? My gut reaction has always told me that it was made south of New England, but I've never been able to prove where. The form appears late-eighteenth-century to me; however, any further information would need proper documentation from a certain area or a specific potter's site. For now, it's an impressive sized pot that was well-made with some nice functional and simple decorative characteristics.

 18th/19th Century Black-Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher or Jug

Possibly a Mid-Atlantic Product

Ca. 1770-1820

Stands 13 1/4" Tall

 View of the Handle

View of the Base

View of the Rim and the Pouring Spout

Shown below, is a black-glazed earthenware jug attributed to the late-eighteenth-century potters in Buckley, England by the book of discussion, Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of Britain. I have no proof to draw any kind of direct link from the pitcher above to this jug, but I would like to make a few comparative observations found on the two; 1) the rims and the pouring spouts are similar, 2) they both show an applied collar around the neck, 3) the handles are slightly comparable, 4) they both exhibit ovoid body forms and 5) both are unusual large forms.

Late-18th Century Buckley, England Blackware Jug

A Horizontal Carrying Handle Has Been Applied on the Front

Stands 20" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Country Pottery: Traditional Earthenware of England, McGarva, 2000, A&C Black

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