EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Rare Red Earthenware Jar Purchased in 2011 with a Possible Important Eighteenth-Century Massachusetts Origin

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

A Rare Red Earthenware Jar Purchased in 2011 with a Possible Important Eighteenth-Century Massachusetts Origin

There are several conditions that attract me to American-made redware and stoneware today - history, skill, color, decoration, context, artistry, beauty, form, use - and, even the 'the hunt' that is required to discover such objects are a few of those attractions; however, all of the objects that I own today are also attached to a personal memory. There are some objects that were given to me by my parents as gifts, others have come from friends, who I admire, who have helped me progress with my studies over the years, some objects were personally picked by myself, others have been the result of trades with friends, some are examples that I have discovered through connections that I have made with my studies - and, others were purchased at exciting antique shows. None-the-less, every object that I own today comes with a story - and, a memory. Truthfully, I can tell a story with every single piece. I also remember how I obtained every single piece in my collection.

I have been fortunate to have made friends with some of the the most knowledgeable people in New England redware in recent years. I remember in July of 2011, sending Cape Cod, Massachusetts collector, dealer and writer, Brian Cullity an email, asking if he had any William Pecker pottery made in Merrimacport, Massachusetts available - he told me that he did not, but he said I should see the redware collection that Northeast Auctions (based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire) had been consigned for their upcoming August Americana Sale. I quickly logged onto their website - and, I stared in wonder at some of the most beautiful New England-made objects that I had seen to-date. The Friday portion of that three-day sale included the collection of Dr. Edgar Robertson, a Massachusetts Neurologist, who bought, sold and collected pottery; his main interest focused with the wares that were made in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. Honestly, I was rather shocked to see such a collection commissioned to the auction house - and, I made every effort to put together as much money as I could in the following few weeks.

My father, and I made it a point to not miss this sale. I remember we arrived together at the Center of Manchester, New Hampshire a little less than two-hours before the sale began - assuring, that I had enough time to preview everything that I planned to bid on. Ultimately, I won five lots in this sale, which included a wonderful and exceedingly rare large jar that I would like to discuss today.

This hand-thrown large red earthenware jar was described by the auction house as possibly a late-eighteenth-century product made in Essex County, Massachusetts (circa 1790-1830); however, due to what I have seen in archaeological contexts and museum collections, I believe this jar could possibly date from the 1770 to 1790's period.

According to Northeast Auctions, "the jar is of an elongated ovoid form with a molded neck and applied lug handles; the jar is (heavily) incised around the upper (half) portion with alternating wavy and straight banding; the jar is covered in a reddish-brown glaze splashed with manganese brown drips and further embellished with yellow halos."

It's nearly impossible to suggest an exact attribution for this jar; whereas, the manner, in which, the glaze is applied, is reminiscent to some eighteenth-century Osborn Pottery decorated wares made in South Danvers (today known as Peabody), Massachusetts. Although, with all of that said, the rings around the neck, the large rounded foot and the unusual carrying handles are also characteristics that are attributed to the potters, who were employed near the Taunton River in Southeastern Massachusetts today. It is because of these characteristics (glaze versus form) that I keep going back-and-forth, but the form is likely a much-stronger factor in this case. It should also be noted that the potters in Essex County were mostly of Quaker descent, some, of whom, migrated to Southeastern Massachusetts for work in the 1700's. Intermarriages between the Quaker religion were heavy between Essex County and Southeastern Massachusetts, which, inevitably intertwined the two areas. Based on all of this information - I think that I am better off naming this jar a late-eighteenth-century product made somewhere in Coastal Massachusetts - rather, than trying to distinguish between the north and south shores/coasts.