A Stoneware Crock Made in New York City in the Early-1800's that Sold at an Auction in New Hampshire a Few Weeks Ago

Eighteenth and nineteenth-century stoneware made in New York City is deeply desired today among collectors, dealers and museums. Prices for such wares have reached six-figures in recent years with a dated jar from 1802 leading all sales when it sold for $195,500 in July of 2013 at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland. That particular example is the current world auction record (link) holder for any form of known New York City-made stoneware. None-the-less, this a brand of stoneware that is in constant demand today. Usually, the rarer and the more unusual (unique) with how a product appears - the more desired it has become in today's marketplace. There was even a spillover that happened with some of the designs found on New York City stoneware in the 1800's that occurred on some wares made New Jersey from the same period - and, it is even possible that some of the wares made in New Jersey may have influenced the New York City potters, as well. As a result, it has proven difficult to differentiate some of the unmarked wares. It's really a fascinating subject to understand today. There are probably some (many) people today, who likely consider stoneware made in New York City as the heart of America's stoneware production - after-all, that's where it all ultimately began in the 1700's.

According to a book written by Gerard C. Wertkin, 'The Encyclopedia of American Folk Art, "The Crolius family of potters was a business established in Manhattan about 1728 by William Crolius the elder, and finally shut down by his great-great-grandson, Clarkson Crolius, Jr. in 1849. The family's (stoneware) kiln was one of America's first, as well as New York City's longest lasting. Originally from Germany's Rhineland and thoroughly familiar with stoneware production, the Crolius clan produced a wide variety of durable, salt-glazed products. Their 1809 price list (the earliest known example of this advertising form) was an illustrated catalog of pots, jugs, jars, pitchers, mugs, oyster pots, spout pots (batter jugs), chamber pots, kegs or water coolers, churns, and inkwells.

The Crolius shops (the business was moved several times) were located in the vicinity of Centre, Reade, and Chambers Streets in lower Manhattan. Now occupied by courthouses, government buildings and offices, in the eighteenth century this was an area of open land, adjacent to a small pond known as the Collect. Over time, the shops passed to William's son, John; then to his son, John Crolius, Jr.; and on to his son, Clarkson; then to the final owner, Clarkson Crolius, Jr.

Little pottery that is identifiable has been found from the earliest years of the business (today), but when Clarkson Crolius, Sr. took over in 1800, he began to impress his name on his wares, a reflection of the fact that they were now being sold all along the eastern seaboard and as far away as the West Indies. Variations of the mark, 'C. CROLIUS/MANUFACTURER//MANHATTAN WELLS/NEW YORK' (the Manhattan Wells refers to the pottery's location adjacent to the municipal water supply), are found on dozens of surviving pieces (today). Clarkson Crolius, Jr., who took over the shop in 1838, continued this tradition of marking the pieces with 'C. CROLIUS/MANUFACTURER/NEW YORK.'

Early Crolius ware was often decorated with simple abstract floral designs inscribed into the clay and filled with cobalt blue before firing. Presentations pieces or special orders might be more elaborate. A pitcher owned by the New York Historical Society is embellished with flowers and leaves and has a cover topped by a molded squirrel. Large quantities of blue decorated stoneware sherds, which may have been associated with one of the Crolius sites, were excavated at the African-American burial grounds in lower Manhattan in the 1990s. Unfortunately, they were destroyed in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, as they were housed at the time in the twin towers' storage area."

An early-nineteenth-century handled stoneware crock made by the Crolius family in New York City appeared at a Leo Legare auction in Plaistow, New Hampshire a few weeks ago (Saturday May 30, 2015). The crock was marked 'C. CROLIUS/STONEWARE/MANUFACTURER/MANHATTAN WELLS/NEW YORK.' The mark on this crock discloses that it was most-likely made at the Crolius Pottery when Clarkson Crolius, Sr. ran the business in the early-nineteenth-century (circa 1800-1837). The history of the pot is not currently known; however, Leo Legare typically prides himself with fresh-to-the-market antiques from northern New England households. A lot of his inventory actually comes from New Hampshire estates. I didn't attend this auction (I was picking flea markets), but I do know that this was a well-attended sale - which, saw this crock sell for well over one-thousand-dollars.

Early 19th Century Clarkson Crolius, Sr. Pottery Stoneware Crock - New York City

Circa 1800-1830

Likely Holds 2-3 Gallons

Stamped 'C. CROLIUS/STONEWARE/MANUFACTURER/MANHATTAN WELLS/NEW YORK'

Recently Sold at a Leo Legare Auction in New Hampshire

Photo Courtesy: Leo Legare - Pelham, NH

'C. CROLIUS/STONEWARE/MANUFACTURER/MANHATTAN WELLS/NEW YORK'

Photo Courtesy: Leo Legare - Pelham, NH

Another View of the Stoneware Crock

Photo Courtesy: Leo Legare - Pelham, NH

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