The Continued Study of a Brown-Glazed Red Earthenware Flask Discovered in Putnam, Connecticut

I have an update to share about the story that I wrote yesterday that discussed a brown-glazed red earthenware flask, which was discovered last weekend in a shop in Putnam, Connecticut. The flask was found in a dealer's space that was predominantly filled with nineteenth-century American-made glass objects.

Initially, I felt this flask was a Connecticut-made product; however, I have since leaned otherwise. Thanks to Port Jefferson, New York collector, Anthony Butera, who is also a scholar of Long Island-made red earthenware and stoneware - the flask has been identified as probably a product that was made at the Huntington Pottery on Long Island in the 1800-1840 period.

The attribution was determined based on the form, which is comparable to a pair of flasks that Anthony Butera owns that are believed to be Long Island-made products manufactured at the Huntington Pottery in the nineteenth-century. These two examples are pictured below. The object shown to the left is the most convincing evidence - this flask was found under a house in Miller Place on Long Island. It demonstrates a nearly identical form, similar brown-glaze - and, a nearly exact lip treatment. This flask was pictured in an article written by Anthony Butera for the 2003 edition of Ceramics in America, titled, 'Informed Conjecture: Collecting Long Island Pottery.' The article describes the context where this flask was found: "The flask fragment was discovered underneath the floor of a circa 1810 house in Miller Place, Long Island. The lip of the flask is similar to several known Huntington vessels, and a rim waster found at the Huntington Pottery site."

Huntington Pottery - Long Island-Made Flasks

 19th Century Red Earthenware Flasks Likely Made at the Huntington Pottery - Long Island, NY

Circa 1800-1840

Each Stands an Estimated 7" to 7 1/2" Tall

(Left Flask) Found Under a House in Miller Place on Long Island
Both Flasks Pictured in the 2003 Edition of Ceramics in America

Photo Courtesy: Anthony Butera - Port Jefferson, NY

The following map shows Putnam, Connecticut, Huntington, Long Island and Miller Place, Long Island. Also shown below is the flask that I found in Putnam, which you can use to compare to the pair of flasks discussed above that Anthony Butera provided a picture of for this report.

Map Shows Putnam, CT - Huntington, NY and Miller Place, NY

Photo Courtesy: Google Maps

Flask Discovered in Putnam, CT

 19th Century Red Earthenware Flask Like Made at the Huntington Pottery - Long Island, NY

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 7 1/8" Tall

Recently Found in a Shop in Putnam, CT

 Another View of the Flask

View of the Base

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