A Comparison of a New England-Made Object that Sold in a Prominent Sale in 1974 and Another Prominent Sale in 2013

The Mr. and Mrs. Chris Huntington Sale sold by Morrill's Auction, Inc. in Harrison, Maine on Thursday and Friday, June 20 and 21, 1974 was a landmark sale for many reasons; however, it can be said that this was one of New England's first premier collections of red earthenware to be seriously recognized in a public sale. It's fascinating that there were some objects in this collection that actually achieved prices in 1974 that would probably be similar if those objects were to sell, again publicly today; although, there were also other objects that brought 'wishful thinking' prices in respect to what those objects would sell for today. What I mean by that statement is the price in 1974 was rather inexpensive in comparison of what that object would likely sell for today.

Tonight, I am going to post two reports that discuss specific products associated with the Huntington Sale - and, what those objects might mean today.

This first object recently sold, again in another prominent collection that was handled by Willis Henry Auctions in Marshfield, Massachusetts as part of the Earl Curry Collection from Massachusetts. Presumably, Mr. Curry must have purchased this wonderful pitcher from the Huntington Sale; although, I am not sure of that even though he certainly acquired it somehow during his lifetime.

In 1974, this pitcher was described as, "an Essex County, Massachusetts redware pitcher with a tan ground, with warm brown, dark brown and green decoration standing eight-inches tall."

In 2013, this pitcher was described as, "a Bristol County (southeastern Massachusetts) redware pitcher with a thinly shaped top and a thin spout, with a well executed handle with two grooves, a yellow/green background glaze on the exterior and halfway down the interior, with finely executed manganese brown brushed striping and drips and a heavy tooled footed base."

Before I go any further - I would like to add that this pitcher was likely made in Bristol County, Massachusetts and not further north in Essex County, Massachusetts. The pitcher also has extensive chipping along the rim as well as a chunk missing near the spout. Overall, there are only a small number of these pitchers known today which includes one example that is owned in a private Massachusetts collection - and, another that is owned as part of the William T. Brandon Memorial Collection of American Redware and Ceramics at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

Late-18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Southeastern Mass.

Circa 1780-1820

Stands Approximately 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

None-the-less, this is an example of the 'wishing thinking' idea that I previously mentioned - in 1974, this pitcher sold for $525 (before buyer's premium and sales tax) - and, in 2013, this pitcher brought over $10,000 (after buyer's premium and sales tax). The enormous, almost colossal contrast in price is probably the result of many differences, but I believe it is mostly the cause of the rarity, the skill, the glaze and the appreciation that wares made in southeastern Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries have garnered in respect to a national audience of collectors, dealers and museums today that probably began in the 1960's and the 1970's. That appreciation has only continued to build to where we stand today.

Late-18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Southeastern Mass.

Circa 1780-1820

Stands 8" Tall

Ex-Chris Huntington Collection - Maine

Sold for $525 Before Premiums in 1974

Ex-Earl Curry Collection - Massachusetts

Sold for Over $10,000 After Premiums in 2013

Photo Courtesy: Willis Henry Auctions - Marshfield, Mass.

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