A Very-Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Cup Found Today in New Hampshire

Today, I found a very-rare nineteenth-century red earthenware cup in a shop in New Hampshire. It's my guess that this cup was made for a child since it stands under four-inches tall. The form of this cup matches another red earthenware cup that is kept in a private Gloucester, Massachusetts collection - which is attributed to the William Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport, Massachusetts during the 1790-1820 period. That cup exhibits the expected pumpkin glaze with manganese brush strokes that Pecker is most-known for today; however, Pecker also decorated his products with a wide variety of glazes that include the glaze seen on this cup. My studies at the Pecker Pottery site have revealed a large selection of sherds that prove Pecker incorporated at least a few dozen glaze colors during his time of employment.

Aside from the similar form that is kept in Gloucester - there is another reason that I am confident that this is a Pecker Pottery product - the handle is pretty-much an unmistakable type of handle that is found in New England today from eighteenth or nineteenth-century potters. This is how pretty-much all of Pecker's handles appear today whether they are found on a red earthenware or a stoneware product. Depending on the form - some of the handles may appear larger; although, the terminal placements, the refinement and the ribbing all basically appear the same.

To my knowledge, this is only the second cup from the Pecker Pottery that is known today. It's definitely a rare form to find from this business - and, a previously undocumented example that I am thrilled to have discovered this morning.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Cup Likely Made at the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, MA

Circa 1790-1820

Stands 3 3/4" Tall

Found Today in a Shop in New Hampshire

 Another View of the Cup

 View of the Handle

This is the Traditional-Type of Handle that was Made (and, Applied) at the Pecker Pottery

 View of the Interior

View of the Base

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