The Continued Study of 19th Century Red Earthenware made in Vermont: The Middlebury and New Haven Potteries

This report shows a few more red earthenware objects that are owned by the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont, which are attributed to the potter's industry in Vermont in the nineteenth-century. This does not conclude my study of the Vermont red earthenware industry by any means, but it does wrap up most of the topics that I would like to discuss from the Bennington Museum.

The Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

I feel this first object could easily be mistaken for a product that was made in Maine or New Hampshire during the same pre-1850 period today like many of the Vermont-made objects that I have discussed in the past week. A similar form was made at multiple New England potter's businesses in the 1800's, such as the John Corliss Pottery in Woolwich, Maine and the Osborn Pottery in Gonic, New Hampshire; however, these are just two examples. There were many other businesses, too. This form was made throughout northern New England in the 1800's, but this happens to be a Vermont-made example.

The museum suggests that this covered pot or possibly a stew pot was made in either Middlebury or New Haven, Vermont in the 1830's or the 1840's. The business in Middlebury was discussed in a report from earlier this week, but I have not discussed the New Haven pottery thus far.

Map Shows Distance Between Middlebury, VT and New Haven, VT

The Towns Are Separated by About 12 Miles

Photo Courtesy: Mapquest

19th Century Red Earthenware Lidded Pot Attributed to Vermont

Probably Made in Either Middlebury, VT or New Haven, VT

Circa 1820-1860

Stands Approximately 5" to 7" Tall

Photo Courtesy: The Bennington, Museum - Bennington, VT

According to Lura Woodside Watkins book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "In Addison County, Vermont, not far north of Middlebury, a small pottery was started in New Haven just before 1830. Its owner, Caleb Wright, a native of the town, was born in 1810. He was making and selling redware while still in his teens and he was married at the age of twenty-one. At that time he purchased the land where he afterwards built his potshop, south of the New Haven schoolhouse on the old Middlebury-Vergennes Turnpike road. His granddaughter was living in 1926 and was able to verify the pottery site. R.M. Maxwell, who wrote a brief account of this industry in the Antiquarian (December 1926), was successful in finding two pans and a straight-sided jar from Wright's kiln. The jar is identical to one in my collection (Watkins Collection) that was bought with a Middlebury attribution and is a type not commonly seen in eastern New England. Since attributions are uncertain affairs, my jar may have been made in New Haven. Wright may possibly have been an apprentice of Caleb Farrar at Middlebury and would therefore have fashioned his pot in the same manner."

Here is the jar (pictured to the left) that I referenced above from Watkins book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' which she originally purchased as a Middlebury-made object, but by the time that Watkin's book was published in 1950 - she felt that it may have been a New Haven-made product. Also, shown in these pictures is a jug that Watkins attributes to Middlebury, which was also pictured in her book. Both of these objects are now owned by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in New Haven, VT

Stands 7" Tall

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Possibly Made in Middlebury, VT

Stands 7 1/4" Tall

Both Part of the Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

 Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

 (Left) View of One of the Jar's Handles

(Right) View of the Jug's Handle

Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

View of the Jar's Rim

Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

View of the Jug's Glaze and the Base

Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

This next object is a form that seems to have been very popular with red earthenware potters in Vermont - more-so, than anywhere else in New England in the 1800's. If you haven't guessed - this is a small butter churn that still retains its original lid. I've actually seen individual sized red earthenware butter churns with colorful glazes attributed to Vermont before. This particular example is larger. It probably stood on the floor when it was used; however, I don't see why it could not have been placed on a stool or even a table, either. This form has been attributed to potters in Middlebury, Vermont and New Hew Haven, Vermont before; although, I assume that the form could have been made at other potter's businesses in Vermont, too.

The Bennington Museum suggests a Middlebury or New Haven attribution on this particular object. This churn seems to fall in-line with the Farrar and Wright Potteries that were separated by about ten miles in the nineteenth-century. The brushed manganese decoration is rare to find today on Vermont products, but I do know of a few other related examples currently privately owned across the country.

19th Century Red Earthenware Butter Churn with Brushed Manganese Attributed to Vermont
Probably Made in Either Middlebury, VT or New Haven, VT
Still Retains Its Original Lid

Circa 1820-1860

Stands Approximately 7" to 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: The Bennington, Museum - Bennington, VT

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