EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Newly Acquired Maine-Made Pot Compared to a Group of Rare 19th Century Maine-Made Products

Sunday, October 18, 2015

A Newly Acquired Maine-Made Pot Compared to a Group of Rare 19th Century Maine-Made Products

Earlier today, I acquired a beautifully glazed and finely potted nineteenth-century red earthenware handled pot from Middlebury, Vermont antiques dealers, Jeff and Holly Noordsy. The only known history for this object is a period of recent ownership in Massachusetts; however, I believe this pot was made in Maine during the 1820-1860 period. This is not the typical Maine-made product, either. This pot was thrown in a very-finely potted manner, which is more expected from a Massachusetts-based potter in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. The wares made in Maine are often more thickly potted; however, that's just a general statement given to the overall Maine industry. There were also finely potted products made in Maine, too.

What stood out to me about this jar is the fact that it seems to be related to a group of known Maine-made jars that are highly desired among collectors today. The last known example to sell publicly was through a Tim Gould auction in Augusta Maine on September 22, 2005. The reason I suggest this related attribution is due to the glaze and the way that this handled pot was thrown by the potter. The basic ovoid form basically matches with how these jars were made. I've handled three known jars - and, they all feel the same way that this handled pot feels.

Massachusetts antiques dealer, Samuel Herrup currently has the only known example for sale - and, there is another example that is owned by a prominent Connecticut collector. To my knowledge, there are only three examples, of this form, known today.

Unfortunately, a proper attribution has never been defined for these products. I have heard some say that they may have been made by the Corliss family in the Days Ferry neighborhood of Woolwich, Maine - and, others have suggested the Safford family of Monmouth, Maine, but there's never been any definitive proof - and, there's no archaeological proof, either.

I actually feel that since current scholarship has shifted the belief of some finely made products from a group of southern Maine potters employed in the small communities located to the west of Portland, Maine - to the Dodge (family) Pottery in Portland - then why could the objects in this report not be included, as well. These pots seem to fit in-line with what was made in southern Maine instead of most areas elsewhere in the state in the 1800's.

An idea of a Portland attribution would certainly fit with the small of amount skill that is known about the Dodge Pottery today; however, archaeological evidence has also shown that the Bickford family also produced finely made products in Buxton, Maine during the same period. My feeling is that these objects all fall in-line with the production that happened in the Greater-Portland, Maine area in the nineteenth-century.

19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in Southern Maine

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 9" Tall

This Jar is Currently For Sale Through Samuel Herrup - Contact for Details

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup - Sheffield, MA

19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in Southern Maine

Circa 1820-1860

Stands Approximately 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Private Connecticut Collection

19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in Southern Maine

Circa 1820-1860

Stands Approximately 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Tim Gould - Augusta & Smithfield, ME

This map shows the boundaries where I feel these objects were likely made. Portland, Maine is shown as the centerpiece; however, I feel they may have been made as far north as Yarmouth, Maine, as far west as Hollis, Maine - and, as far south as Biddeford, Maine. I've basically mapped off a thirty-mile radius to the north, west and south of Portland.

Map Showing the General Area Where I Believe All of These Objects Were Made

I Feel They May Have Been Made in the Greater-Portland, ME Area

Photo Courtesy: Mapquest

This it the handled pot that I purchased from the Noordsys today. I should also mention that this pot stands about the same height as all of the previous objects that I have discussed in this article.