The 19th Century Goodwin Brothers Pottery in West Hartford, Connecticut, Circa 1870-1908

Yesterday, I briefly discussed the West Hartford (Elmwood), Connecticut potter, Seth Goodwin, who was one of the first potters to establish a red earthenware business in the Hartford-area in the late-eighteenth century. Furthermore, I also examined the wares produced by Seth Goodwin's son, Thomas O'Hara Goodwin in the nineteenth century - and, how his wares could be mistaken for products made elsewhere in New England during the same period today.

Nevertheless, this morning, I would like to further discuss the significance of the Goodwin family and their important role in Connecticut's potter's industry; however, this art will reference a type art ware that is relatively unknown today that was made by this family after 1870. This is just, yet, another example of the changes that a family of potters underwent through the lifespan of a family operated business in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries - and, the alterations that were made to the overall output because of the changes in the American potter's industry. I would compare this business to the Hews family pottery, which operated in Weston, Massachusetts and North Cambridge, Massachusetts in the 1700s and the 1800s.

The history of the Goodwin Pottery is really a fascinating study today - personally, I don't believe there is a lot known about the production from this company's red earthenware output even though it lasted for more than a century making a variety of wares that usually transformed with the trends in the American potter's industry.

This family is also responsible for stoneware production in the early and mid-nineteenth century, which is often found today marked with the Goodwin name or a combined name through a business relationship that this family established with the Websters, who were also located in Hartford.

The West Hartford Historical Society briefly sums up the significance of the Goodwin family today: "Early on, grist saw, and carding mills along with blacksmith shops, tanneries and general stores emerged around the (West Hartford) community to support and help drive agriculture. One of the first major industries to arise centered on the pottery and brick works. Extending from Hartford to Berlin is a sizable deposit of fine clay. In 1770, Ebenezer Faxon came from Massachusetts and settled in what would become the Elmwood section of West Hartford. There he established a pottery on South Road (what is today New Britain Avenue) which took advantage of the local geographical landscape. It was Seth Goodwin, however, who helped to establish a pottery dynasty. Goodwin started his pottery works around 1798. For over a hundred years, the Goodwin name would be associated with West Hartford Pottery. Producing utilitarian items such as jugs for the gin manufactured in local distilleries, to terra cotta designs and fine china, the Goodwin Company employed up to 75 people in its heyday. The Goodwin Brothers Pottery Company (as it came to be known) burned for the third time in 1908 and never recovered."

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potter's and Their Wares), "Seth Goodwin's nephew, Harvey Goodwin, born in 1802, (also) became a potter. His first venture was in (nearby) Torrington, Connecticut (possibly Goshen), where he lived for four years. Returning to West Hartford, he worked for his uncle until 1832 (producing redware), then started an enterprise of his own. This pottery ran until 1870 under his management and was carried on in its later days by his sons Harvey Burdett Goodwin and Wilbur Elmore Goodwin as 'Goodwin Bros.' Their shop stood on the south side of New Britain Avenue just east of the railroad tracks (in West Hartford)."

Goodwin Bros. Pottery in Connecticut

Goodwin Brothers Pottery Company in West Hartford, CT in 1821
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Photo Courtesy: NoahWebsterHouse.org

A group of billheads associated with the Goodwin Brothers Pottery, circa late-1880s-1890s, which are owned by Historic New England today reveal that this company produced wares in West Hartford after 1870; however, the billheads also indicate that this company operated a retail store in New York City. These billheads identify the company as "Manufacturers of Artistic Pottery and Lamps."

Goodwin Bros. Pottery Billheads

Goodwin Brothers Pottery Billhead - West Hartford, CT

Identifies the Pottery's Retail Store in New York City

Dated 1889

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Boston

Goodwin Brothers Pottery Billhead - West Hartford, CT

Identifies the Pottery's Retail Store in New York City

Dated 1891

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Boston

 Goodwin Brothers Pottery Billhead - West Hartford, CT

Identifies the Pottery's Retail Store in New York City

Dated 1897

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Boston

Goodwin Brothers Pottery Billhead - West Hartford, CT

Identifies the Pottery's Retail Store in New York City

Circa 1890s, No Date

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Boston

The West Hartford Historical Society actually owns a collection of roughly thirty objects from the Goodwin Brothers Pottery, which are kept at the Noah Webster House in Elmwood, West Hartford, Connecticut. Many of these objects have been decorated with various styles of paint, which is a decoration that is original to each object. I have shown one of the painted objects below along with a terracotta vase that is also attributed to the Goodwin Pottery after 1870.

Goodwin Brothers Pottery Made in Connecticut

19th Century Terra Cotta Vase Made at the Goodwin Bros. Pottery - West Hartford, CT

Circa 1870-1908

Stands 4 11/16" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Connecticut Historical Society - Hartford, CT

19th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase Produced at the Goodwin Bros. Pottery

Produced in West Hartford, CT

Circa 1870-1908

Stands Approximately 10" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: West Hartford, CT Historical Society

Recent Discovery in Putnam, Connecticut

I recently discovered the following nineteenth century red earthenware vase inside a group antique shop in Putnam, Connecticut, which is located about fifty-miles northeast of West Hartford. I believe the paint is original to this object. I also believe that this object may have been made at the Goodwin Brothers Pottery after 1870.

19th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase Possibly Made at the Goodwin Bros. Pottery 

Possibly Made in West Hartford, CT

Circa 1870-1900

Stands 10 5/8" Tall

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Recently Found in a Group Antique Shop in Putnam, CT 

 Another View of the Vase

View of the Base

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