A Pair of 19th Century Red Earthenware Tankards Possibly Related to the Clark Family in Central New Hampshire

Yesterday, a box arrived in the mail that contained a hand-thrown nineteenth-century lidded tankard that I purchased from Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Jeff Graybill. He purchased it from a collection in Pennsylvania; however, it appeared New England-made (to me). My initial reaction was that it may have been a Massachusetts-made product, but after careful inspection - I believe it may have been produced by one of the Clark family members in the Lyndeboro, New Hampshire and Concord, New Hampshire-areas in the nineteenth-century.

The Clark legacy began with Peter Clark before the American Revolution in the 1760's in Braintree, Massachusetts - and, as soon as America gained its independence - he left Massachusetts to establish a potter's business in southern-central New Hampshire. However, he also had political aspirations. I compare Peter Clark to William Pecker in Merrimacport, Massachusetts today. They both had similar accomplishments - all-while, living during the same period. Clark's legacy was eventually passed onto his sons in Lyndeboro - and, the legacy continued with his grandchildren in Concord in the 1870's and the 1880's.

The reason I believe this tankard was made at the Clark Pottery (possibly in Lyndeboro) is due to the manner, in-which, the base of the handle was applied. Part of the base has been smeared to the right and the left by the potter's two-thumbs when they applied the handle. I've seen this characteristic on other products attributed to the Clark Pottery in New Hampshire before. It doesn't seem like it was a common practice applied by other potters elsewhere in New England.

To add to the charm of this tankard: it's really special and unusual to see an original lid (or, really any lid) accompany any tankard - rarely, is this characteristic seen today. In-fact, outside of an eighteenth-century example that I know of made in Essex County, Massachusetts before 1780 - this is the only other lidded tankard that I know of today. I can't recall any lidded examples (that I know of) that are owned by museums today.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Tankard Possibly Made by the Clark Family in NH

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 6 1/4" Tall with the Lid

Stands 7 1/2" Tall without the Lid

Recently Discovered in a Pennsylvania Collection

 View of the Handle

 Another View of the Tankard

 View of the Lid

 View of the Base of the Lid

 Another View of the Base of the Lid

I have pictured the lidded tankard, below, with another tankard, that I discovered in an antique shop in Chester, Vermont last winter. I also believe this tankard was made by the Clark family in New Hampshire; however, obvious characteristics, such as the form of the handle and the fingerprint (probably thumbprint), suggests that this tankard was possibly made by a completely different family member - or, a potter, who worked at one of the Clark family businesses that wasn't related to the family even though they were employed by the family. This tankard also exhibits a fluid-like glaze, which I have found on a number of red earthenware products made at the various Clark potteries in New Hampshire in the 1800's.

For separate reasons, both of these tankards are adorned in beautiful glazes.

 (Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Tankard Possibly Made by the Clark Family in NH

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 6" Tall

Discovered in an Antique Shop in Chester, VT Last Winter (2014)

View of Both Handles

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