EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Red Earthenware Discovery Last Weekend in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

A Red Earthenware Discovery Last Weekend in Middlesex County, Massachusetts

After my weekly visit to Todd's Farm Flea Market in Rowley, Massachusetts early last Sunday morning - I decided to visit a few antique shops in Middlesex County, Massachusetts in the afternoon, which is only about a fifteen to twenty-minute ride from my house in Newburyport, Massachusetts. I usually drive along Route 113 when finding my way to some of these shops. The ride generally leads me through beautiful and historic West Newbury, Massachusetts - and, there are also a handful of eighteenth and nineteenth-century homes to be seen in Bradford, Massachusetts, too. The short excursion eventually drops me off at a newly built bridge that crosses the Merrimack River towards my first destination.

The first two shops I visited were located around the downtown-area of Haverhill, Massachusets - and, the third was located about eight-miles away in Lawrence, Massachusetts. In one of these shops, I found a one-gallon nineteenth-century stoneware crock that appears to have been produced in St. John, New Brunswick. I didn't buy the crock; however, I did find it interesting because it was made specifically for a merchant, who operated in St. John. The jug was stamped, 'Thomas Furlong / Wine Merchant / St. John NB.' Placed directly next to the Canadian stoneware jug was an example of brightly glazed red earthenware that I did purchase for study purposes - but, it is also very-possibly a wonderful example of pottery that may be related to the stoneware crock in origin.

If anyone has an interest - the stoneware jug is for sale - here is a link to the antique shop's website. If you call, tell them the jug is in the back room nearest the cash register.

19th Century 1-Gallon Canadian-Made Stoneware Crock

Marked, 'Thomas Furlong / Wine Merchant / St. John NB'
Photo Courtesy: Canal Street Antiques - Lawrence, Mass.

View of the Stamp 'Thomas Furlong / Wine Merchant / St. John NB'
Photo Courtesy: Canal Street Antiques - Lawrence, Mass.

View of the Handle
Photo Courtesy: Canal Street Antiques - Lawrence, Mass.

Lidded Red Earthenware Pot Placed Next to the Canadian Stoneware Jug

Photo Courtesy: Canal Street Antiques - Lawrence, Mass.

I believe the hand-thrown red earthenware pot that I discovered is likely a product made somewhere in Canada in the nineteenth or twentieth-century; although, the colorful glaze suggests to me that it may have been the result of an Ontario-based potter. The form certainly suggest 'Canadian-made' to me. This form transcends into other Canadian-made forms like jars and crocks if you remove the lip from the rim and the handle. Canadian potters are also known today for applying a footless base to a variety of forms, such as jugs, crocks and jars.

This is also a very-well refined product. It is a thinly made pot with wonderful proportions. You will also notice that the base has been glazed; this is a characteristic sometimes found on red earthenware made by potters in Canada; however, that shouldn't be a true - and, accurate indication of a Canadian-made product considering potters used bottom glazes all over America in the nineteenth-century, too.

The lid appears to be original. The base of the lid is made very-similar to the pot's base. Overall, this is an accomplished product made by a very-skilled potter, who is currently unidentified.