I remember a handful of prominent pieces of furniture, folk art and other objects that attracted prominent dealers from around New England. A leaping stag weathervane with local ties even attracted a prominent New York City collector. The sale also included a small collection of nineteenth-century slip decorated red earthenware plates - along with an eighteenth-century lidded red earthenware tankard that was consigned from a local home. The plates all appeared to have been made in Pennsylvania with one possible example that may have been produced in Norwalk, Connecticut. However, the lidded tankard was not related to any of these pieces. I really had little doubt at the time that the tankard was from a Revolutionary War Period New England potter, but I wasn't convinced what potter's business. My initial reaction was that it may have been made in the Charlestown, Massachusetts potter's industry (ca. 1630's-1775) before the Battle of Bunker happened on June 17, 1775; although, I also had my suspicions that since it was found locally - and, consigned locally - that it may have been produced locally at the Daniel Bayley Pottery (ca. 1766-1799) in nearby Newburyport, Massachusetts. The reason I suggest Daniel Bayley's business is because it was by far the most prominent potter's business in the area during the period. There were a small handful of potter's business that worked in the greater-Newburyport-area near the Merrimack River; however, Bayley's business was by far the most successful and widely known in this area before and after the American Revolution.
This is a special tankard - the household wear is obvious, but, amazingly, it still retains its originally lid, which is something I have never seen before in either a museum collection (i.e. The Smithsonian, Historic New England, Old Sturbridge Village, The Bennington Museum, etc.) or in any of the prominent private collections that I have been lucky enough to have seen. The lid leads me to believe that the tankard was likely used to serve a hot liquid that may have been heated over an open flame or on top of a stove before it was then served in the same container. I believe the tankard was likely used to heat and consume a hot beverage. I also believe this wonderful piece probably dates from the 1760's or the 1770's.
To put this piece into a historical context: I have never seen another American-made tankard before from the eighteenth or the nineteenth-centuries that was intended to be used with a lid. That doesn't mean they were not made - rather, it means that this is a very-rare complete survivor.
19th Century Red Earthenware Slip Decorated Plates that Sold in Amesbury, Mass. in July of 2007
18th Century Lidded Red Earthenware Tankard that Sold in Amesbury, Mass. in July of 2007
Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.
A Green -Glazed Red Earthenware Jug that Sold in Amesbury, Mass. in July of 2007
Origin Unknown
Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.
Here is a link to an article that ran in 'Antiques and Fine Art Magazine' a few years back, which featured the folk art collection of Jerry and Susan Lauren (there are a number of examples of pottery pictured). For those, who do not know the name, Jerry Lauren - his brother is the famous fashion designer, Ralph Lauren. Jerry Lauren is the prominent New York City collector, who attended the John McInnis auction in 2007 eager to purchase the stag weathervane. He is also the collector, who just paid a record setting $402,500 for an important piece of Civil War decorated stoneware made in New York State at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland last summer.
19th Century Stoneware Church Depicting Four Marching Civil War Soldiers - New York State
Possibly Made in Fort Edward, NY
Ca. 1861-1865
Stands 15 1/2" Tall
Currently Resides in Jerry Lauren's Private New York City Collection
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
The article shows the stag weathervane prominently displayed in the Lauren's living room in their New York City apartment. According to the article, "The Laurens purchased this leaping stag weathervane in Amesbury, Massachusetts. It was from a home in Rye, New Hampshire, that once belonged to the famed entrepreneur, Marshall Field. The maker of this late-nineteenth-century example is unknown. 'When I arrived at the auction house,' says Lauren, 'it was hanging from a string and I had to get up on a ladder to get a closer look.'"
Late-19th Century Leaping Stag Weathervane that Sold in Amesbury, Mass. in July of 2007
Maker Unknown
Removed from the Home of the Famed Entrepreneur, Marshall Field in Rye, NH
Currently Resides in Jerry Lauren's Private New York City Collection
Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.
The sale was an exciting event - and, considering I was a fairly new redware collector of only about five-years, I was thrilled to purchase the lidded tankard for a relatively fair price. At the time, I felt I realized a great buy on a piece that I later hoped to attribute to an important eighteenth-century potter's business in Massachusetts.
18th Century Red Earthenware Lidded Tankard
Originally Discovered in the Newburyport, Mass.-Area
Likely Related to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Co. - Newburyport, Mass.
Probably Ca. 1766-1799
Stands 6" Tall Without the Lid
Stands 7" Tall With the Lid
View of the Handle
View of the Lid
View of the Interior
View of the Bases
I was elated in May of 2014, when I discovered a related red earthenware tankard at the antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts - the nicely glazed tankard was offered by New Hampshire collector and dealer, Al Benting of Barrington, New Hampshire. I remember walking into Al Benting's tent soon after the Hertan's Antique Show began promptly at noon. I carefully reached for the tankard that sat high atop a shelf - and, I almost immediately realized that it was related to the tankard that I had purchased at the John McInnis sale in July of 2007. I don't believe this tankard ever had a lid - instead, I believe it was used to serve and consume a cold drink or a cold beverage.
I asked Al and his wife where they found the tankard; his reply was exactly what I had assumed since 2007. It's just what I wanted to hear. Al told me that he had discovered the tankard inside an early home, while on a house-call in Newburyport, Massachusetts, decades ago, possibly in the early 1980's. He couldn't remember exactly what year, but he knew it was many years before I came along.
A comparison of the tankards reveal that the handles are identical. The overall forms and the height of each tankard is also very-similar.
Now, since the Bayley Pottery Company operated in Newburyport from circa 1766 to 1799, it is my belief that the lidded tankard possibly dates from the 1760's or the 1770's - while, the other tankard may date from a later period of production such as the 1780's or the 1790's. That's also assuming that these tankards were made at the Bayley Pottery - and, not at another local business; although, I have a strong feeling that the Bayley Pottery attribution is accurate.
18th Century Red Earthenware Tankard
Originally Discovered in a Home in Newburyport, Mass.
Likely Related to the Daniel Bayley Pottery Co. - Newburyport, Mass.
Probably Ca. 1766-1799
Stands 5 1/2" Tall
View of the Handle
View of the Interior
View of the Base
Someone suggested to me the other day that these sorts of happenings are the result of fate. If that's the case, I certainly cannot disagree - whatever it is that brought these two rare early mugs together for my collection is incredible. Maybe its luck - or, maybe it really is fate - and, if it was truly meant to be - it certainly worked out that way!
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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