A Few Examples of Pottery Discovered Today Along Coastal Southern Maine

Soon after I visited Todd's Farm Flea Market this morning in Rowley, Massachusetts - I visited the Arundel Flea Market in Arundel, Maine. Similar to Todd's Farm earlier this morning - the Arundel Flea Market was also full of dealers. Most of the dealers seemed to have been local to Maine that is different from Todd's Farm, which can appear like a regional New England and upstate New York flea market during the peak spring, summer and fall months when the weather is nice.

 Arundel, ME Flea Market

 Arundel, ME Flea Market

Arundel, ME Flea Market

In Arundel, I discovered a really interesting hand-thrown handled red earthenware cooking (food) pan with a brown glaze that was likely made in Maine in the 1800's. The dealer told me he discovered it in a home in South Paris, Maine over the winter. I've never seen this form before.

South Paris, ME Marked on the Map
Bridgton, ME is Located a Few Miles to the Southwest

Photo Courtesy: Google Maps

My initial reaction when I saw the unusual hand-thrown mold was if it could be a product made at the Kitson Pottery in the first-half of the nineteenth-century in nearby Bridgeton, Maine. The author, M. Lelyn Branin discussed the Kitson Pottery in detail in his book, 'The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine.' In the book, Branin described what he handled at the North Bridgton Museum with products related to this business: "I have seen and photographed at the North Bridgton Museum a number of glazed and unglazed pieces of redware attributed to the Kitsons, and they reflect both skill and imagination on the part of the craftsmen. Included are such items as bean pots in several types and sizes, a large milk pan, a pie dish, vases in several shapes and sizes, several reproductions of simple classical pottery, plain with relief decorations, or painted and gilded, handles mugs, (food) molds and molded pieces, including a large rosette with relief decorations, pieces of kiln furniture (stilts), and other items. Several of the pieces have a yellow-green glaze, which seems to reflect a preference of the potter, while other pieces are in tones of medium brown."

 Unusual 19th Century Hand-Thrown Handled Pan with a Brown Glaze

Possibly Made at the Kitson Family Pottery in Bridgton, ME

Stands 2 1/2" Tall

Measures 11" Across with Handles

Found Today at the Arundel, ME Flea Market

Originally Discovered in a House in South Paris, ME

 View of the Base

 View of the Handle

 View of the Other Handle

Another View of the Base

After the flea market, I proceeded a few miles north to a junk shop in the Portland, Maine area, where I discovered this very-well made sewer tile bust of a boy. I don't know a lot about it, but it definitely has piqued my interest into where it may have been made in the nineteenth or twentieth-century.

 19th/20th Century Sewer Tile Bust of a Boy

American-Made - Possibly Western Pennsylvania or Eastern Ohio

Measures 6 3/4" Tall

Discovered in a Junk Shop in the Portland, ME Area

 Closer Look at the Sewer Tile Bust

 View of One Side

View of the Back

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...