I visited a thrift-type shop in Salem, Massachusetts today on my way home from work - although, I wouldn't necessarily entirely classify the shop as a thrift store, but for the sake of writing about today's visit - that's probably the best way to describe the business. The shop also occasionally holds Monday night discovery auctions - and, they typically sell antiques, too. From what I've been told, the majority of their inventory comes from the immediate area by way of house calls, house clean outs and estate sales.
Tonight, I wanted to briefly write about an example of painted red earthenware that I discovered in this shop today that is in the form of a nineteenth or twenty-century milk can. Currently, I don't know what exactly to make of this object, but it is colorful and attractive. Undoubtedly, the potter must have been inspired by a milk can to create such a form. The object is painted in a beautiful combination of green, yellow and red, which I believe are original. Hand-modeled flowers, vines and leaves have also been applied to both sides of the red earthenware milk can.
For a little background information: the use of the milk can became popular in Europe in the 1870's and it likely spread to America soon after. The purpose of the can (or sometimes called a churn) was originally put in place to help transport large amounts of milk to a specific destination. The means of transportation varied, but trains were one of the resources used to ship these type of milk holders. The milk cans also came in multiple gallon capacities (sizes varied) - and, they also sometimes found their way into the American household.
Generally, industrial milk cans were a product that was popular from the 1870's period to roughly the 1940's. Undoubtedly, the red earthenware milk can that I discovered today never held milk - rather, my interpretation is that it may have served as a porch vase. An online search today revealed that souvenir miniature stoneware milk cans and stoneware milk cans produced for the kitchen (i.e. storage jars) were made in places like Ohio in the twenty-century; however, there is no comparison between those products and my discovery today. Never-the-less, this is definitely an interesting object in a style that I have never seen before.
Vintage American-Made Milk Can
Circa 1870-1940's
Stands 25" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Vintique Rental
20th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase in the Form of a Milk Can
Decorated with Hand-Modeled and Hand-Applied Flowers, Vines and Leaves
Stands 19 1/2" Tall
Found Today in a Shop in Salem, Mass.
View of One of the Handles
View of the Interior
View of the Base
Pictured here is the possible porch vase that I found today next to a milk can that I found at a Newburyport, Massachusetts yard sale a few years ago. The can is in a different form since it has only one handle; however, the body's form is very similar to the vase that I discovered today. This can is marked 'C. VIALL DAIRY / PROVIDENCE, R.I.' - - and, it likely dates from the 1930's.
(Right) 20th Century Milk Can Stamped 'C. VIALL DARY / PROVIDENCE, R.I.'
Circa 1930's
Stands 17" Tall
Found at a Yard Sale in Newburyport, Mass. a Few Years Ago
Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...
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