A Glaze from an Ontario Potter that is Comparable to Many Products Made in America in the Nineteenth-Century

Yesterday, I discussed the Eby family pottery made in Chippewa Hill, Conestogo and Markham, Ontario in the nineteenth-century. The bulk of the production happened in Conestogo, which is located in Waterloo County, Ontario; although, significant red earthenware was produced in all three locations. Today, I would like to examine a large, beautiful red earthenware jar that is owned by the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario, which the museum attributes to Waterloo County. Regrettably, the museum says the potter is not currently known.

The Royal Ontario Museum suggests a production date of circa 1900; however, the form and possible use may suggest an earlier date of manufacture. The form slightly reminds me of the type of stoneware butter churns that were produced by many potters in America and Canada after 1840.

The main reason I want to show (and discuss) this jar is because of its dark green glaze with small orange halos - this is a kind of glaze that is regularly found on a countless number of forms made by the group of potters, who worked in New Hampshire in the 1800's - and, it is even sometimes found on products that were produced in southern Maine and in Galena, Illinois in the nineteenth-century.

This kind of glaze really can not be isolated to a single potter, a specific business or even a exact region today because this kind of glaze could be achieved by many potters, who worked in many different places. This glaze is usually the result of the chemistry that happened inside a potter's kiln. None-the-less, it's a beautiful pot - and, honestly, prior to writing this report, I may have regarded this as a New England-made product if I had stumbled across it in an early context or in a shop in the area that I live today.

Here is a link to the jar on the museum's website.

 19th/20th Century Red Earthenware Jar Made in Waterloo, ON

Potter's Identify Not Currently Known

Stands 18 1/4" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum - Toronto, ON

View of the Glaze

Photo Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum - Toronto, ON

This map shows where Waterloo County, Ontario is in relationship to Toronto, Ontario and the American border.

Waterloo County, Ontario

Photo Courtesy: Google Maps

I would also like to show this hand-thrown red earthenware jug that was excavated in Toronto, Ontario decades ago. I assume it is from an Ontario-based potter, who may have imported their wares into Toronto for distribution. The potter, may have even sold through a merchant in Toronto.

The jug appears to have a pouring spout - so, it may have been used for maple syrup. Prominently, stamped on the front of the jug is the initial, 'A.S.' The stamped initial was likely placed by the potter because the initial has been filled in with glaze, which means it was likely done before the jug had entered the potter's kiln. I assume the stamp represents a merchant's name, but I can not be one-hundred-percent sure of that. The form of the jug suggests a late-nineteenth-century product. The form also corresponds with the style of stoneware jugs made during the period (late-1800's).

This glaze is also the kind of the glaze that could be attributed to potters working in places like Maine, New Hampshire and maybe even Vermont today. That's why understanding the forms made at a specific business are such an important study when trying to attribute a product.

Late-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Ontario

Uncovered in Toronto a Few Decades Ago

Circa 1880

Appears to be a 1-Gallon Jug

Stamped on the Front are the Initial 'A.S.'

The Initial May Represent a 19th Century Toronto-Based Merchant

Photo Courtesy: Terry Matz - Ontario

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