A Rare Molded Red Earthenware Lion Made by Lorenzo Johnson in Western New York After 1850

The important Bell family of potters, who were employed throughout the Shenandoah Valley in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia producing stoneware and red earthenware - are probably the most notable group of potters, who produced molded reclining animals for decorative functions in the nineteenth-century in America; although, it was also accomplished elsewhere in countries such as England during the same period. The most popular of the form was undoubtedly the whippet (dog), but the Bell's also produced other animals, too. Crocker Farm, based in Sparks, Maryland described this product line in a detailed description that was written for an important matching pair of whippets that were made by Samuel Bell in Winchester, Virginia in 1841 that sold for more than $100,000 to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia in July of 2013; "The Bell whippet remains one of the most iconic and highly-prized forms in the genre of Shenandoah Valley pottery (today)."

Pictured here - are two red earthenware whippet examples that were manufactured by the Bell family in Winchester, Virginia, which include one-half of the near-matching pair of whippets that Crocker Farm sold in 2013 - along with a rare whippet that was made by Solomon Bell in Winchester, Virginia about the same period as the dated example that Massachusetts antiques dealer, Samuel Herrup sold a few years ago.

19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Whippet Made by Samuel Bell in Winchester, VA

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

Measures 10" Wide

Base is Inscribed 'Samuel Bell / Winchester / September 21, 1841'

This Object Was Part of a Pair that Sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in 2013

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD 

 View of the Base

Base is Inscribed 'Samuel Bell / Winchester / September 21, 1841'

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Whippet Made by Solomon Bell in Winchester, VA

Similar Size to the Samuel Bell Whippet Shown Above

Base is Inscribed 'Solomon Bell / Winchester'

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, MA 

 View of the Back

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, MA 

View of the Base

Base is Inscribed 'Solomon Bell / Winchester'

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, MA 

As far as I know, the molded style seen with the whippets - and, other animals produced by the Bell family in the Shenandoah Valley was almost an exclusive style to that area in regards to American potters; however, it doesn't appear to be entirely exclusive. Arguably, these type of forms were produced in the Shenandoah Valley more than any other American potter's region. None-the-less, I have known about the following object for a few years now, but for some reason - I have neglected to write about it.

The following nineteenth-century century molded red earthenware reclining lion decorated with a wonderful face and mane seems to be related to the wares that were made in western New York - and, in some sense, neighboring Ontario after 1850. I apologize for the picture quality, but these images are all that I currently have available; although, I have asked the owner for better quality photos. It is possible that I can post those images, again at a later time.

This rare lion was reportedly produced by Lorenzo Johnson in Erie County, New York during the 1850-1880 period. Despite the lack of an actual image - the lion is said to have been stamped 'L. Johnson' which is the known stamp that was employed by Johnson that is sometimes seen on the variety of red earthenware that he produced in western New York. 

Johnson also produced red earthenware in forms that emulated the trends in the stoneware market of the period - and, he also used glaze techniques that made those forms actually appear like locally produced stoneware. This lion is decorated in a cream-colored glaze that does resemble in some capacity the types of cream-colored glazes that he also dedicated for his line of imitation stoneware that was made in spurts throughout the span of his career.

Personally, I have never seen another object that even closely resembles this object associated with the potters employed in western New York before. I know there was a strong Pennsylvania-German migration that influenced the wares that were produced in neighboring Ontario in the 1800's; however, there doesn't appear to have been that type of influence in western New York - where, generally, the wares remained with more utilitarian functions - and, it was also an area that was strongly supported by the local stoneware industries. 

Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me to see such a form attributed to Ontario today, where those potters were frequently creative with their often German influenced decoration; however, I'm not trying to take anything away from the wonderful wares that were made in western New York, but it surprises me to see this object since it doesn't exactly fit in with the norm or the more traditional, but colorfully glazed wares that are regularly associated with western New York today. Ultimately, this is a fabulous object!

 19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Lion Made by Lorenzo Johnson Erie County, Newstead, NY

Circa 1850-1880

Stamped 'L. Johnson Manufacturer of Pottery & Drain Pipe'

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

Measures 9" Wide

Photo Courtesy: Faith Viland's Antiques - Arizona

View of the Lion's Face and Mane

 Photo Courtesy: Faith Viland's Antiques - Arizona

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Faith Viland's Antiques - Arizona

A Few More Examples of Lorenzo Johnson's Work

 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Lorenzo Johnson in Erie County, Newstead, NY

Circa 1850

Stands an Estimated 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Artists in Buffalo

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Lorenzo Johnson in Erie County, Newstead, NY
This Jug was Made to Imitate Stoneware with a Cobalt-Type Decoration

Circa 1850

Stands 12" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD 

View of the Mark 'L. Johnson'
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

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