The historical context of these two objects are very-similar to a group of red earthenware and stoneware artifacts that were recently discovered in an attic in a Saco, Maine farmhouse. I wrote about the historical significance of that find a few weeks ago - I mentioned why it was so important. For instance, those objects appear to have been discovered in their original context. The objects seemed to portray a glimpse back in time - acting as a time capsule - and, possibly revealing the types of utilitarian wares that were available for homeowners and local consumers in southern Maine during the mid-nineteenth-century - and, probably a bit earlier, too.
Both of these objects in today's article were found in a similar historical context - Rick Poore found them at the Files Farm farmhouse in Gorham, Maine (west of Portland, Maine) almost a decade ago. Rick arrived at the farmhouse moments before it was scheduled to be demolished. A bulldozer actually sat there as Rick ran into the house. He didn't have much time, either, but he did manage to find a broken red earthenware jug stuffed inside a wall and a handled red earthenware pot partially submerged in dirt in the cellar.
Honestly, I am hesitant towards attempting any type of attribution towards either of these objects - I really feel there is a lot more to be learned about the potters in this part of Maine. There were upwards of ten-or-more potter's businesses to the west of Portland, Maine in the nineteenth-century - and, the output is not completely understood at every business today. There are some businesses, where virtually nothing is known from - while, there are other potter's businesses that a lot is known about today through archaeology and significant sherd evidence. It's also easy to assume that these businesses may have influenced each other by glaze and form - so, I feel it is difficult to definitively state that a certain form or glaze was only used at a certain southern Maine business until more archaeological research is conducted. I know that a lot of the attributions that are used today are likely correct, but I also know that some potter's businesses in this part of Maine are not really represented today, either.
This map shows the potter's activity that I just described in respect to where these artifacts were found in Gorham. All of the areas marked with blue square boxes employed an active potter's business in the nineteenth-century. If I were to expand the map - even more potter's businesses would be represented.
Map Shows Goreham, ME in Respect to Some of the Local Potter's Businesses in the 1800's
The Artifacts in this Report were Recovered in Gorham, ME
Photo Courtesy: Google Maps
The attribution on this handled red earthenware pot has changed in recent years as the result of new scholarship - it was originally said that this pot was possibly made at the Thomas Truxton Kendrick (1827-1877) Pottery in Hollis, Maine; however, the thought is now that it was made at the Bickford Family Pottery (circa 1820-1890) in Buxton, Maine.
My personal feeling is that until more research and archaeology is accomplished with the many potteries that operated in the small communities to the west of Portland - that I am going to simply call this object a product that was made in the southern Maine-area before 1860. It's really a wonderful object with a breathtaking glaze that almost reminds me of an attempt at the types of marbled wares that were made in places like Italy and England before the style spread to America in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries.
Unfortunately, the lid was never recovered at the farmhouse. There's a chance that it was there; however, Rick only had a certain amount of time before the house was demolished.
For those, who are interested, this damaged pot did sell at Tim Gould's sale in Augusta last weekend - it sold for $920 (including buyer's premium).
19th Century Red Earthenware Handled Pot Likely Made in Southern Maine
Circa 1820-1860
Stands 7" Tall
Measures 7 1/2" Across at Widest Section
Found in the Cellar at the Files Farm in Gorham, Maine
View of the Handle
This is the jug that was found in a wall in the farmhouse. It exhibits a New Hampshire-type glaze; however, the large rounded foot and the overall form proposes a southern Maine potter. I think the latest research suggests that it was made at the Bickford Family Pottery in Buxton, but I am hesitant of that attribution, too. Personally, I feel this jug was likely made within a short distance of Goreham, but which potter's business is the bigger question. It's really an attractive object exhibiting three different colors in the glaze.
19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Probably Made in Southern Maine
Circa 1820-1860
Stands Approximately 6" to 7" Tall
Found in a Wall at the Files Farm in Gorham, Maine
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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