The Continued Study of Red Earthenware Made in Vermont in the 1800's: A Red Earthenware Jug or Vase

To continue the discussion of Vermont-made red earthenware that began last week - tonight, I would like to discuss a rare form to find from any potter's business today; although, most of the known examples (in this style) have been discovered in northern New England. I don't specifically know what potter's business is responsible for these-type of related objects, but some of the known examples are thought to have been produced by the Farrar family in Middlebury, Vermont in the 1820-1850 period. Either way, I cannot absolutely prove that attribution, myself; however, there has been some scholarship into why some of these jugs or vases are said to be a mid-nineteenth-century Middlebury-made product. Unfortunately, I don't believe there is any archaeological evidence to support the idea of a specific maker in Vermont - but, it is definitely possible to suggest that archaeological evidence still survives intact today since so much of Vermont remains undeveloped.

I should also mention that these jugs or vases may have originally possessed a red earthenware, wooden or cork stopper. I'm also not convinced that they would have been used as a traditional vase - and, thus why I am suggesting the name 'jug,' as well.

This first jug or vase that is shown below recently sold at a Duane Merrill & Company auction in Williston, Vermont on January 24, 2015. The auction house attributed this example to Hinesburg, Vermont. Regrettably, I don't know where that attribution developed from - I have not been able to tie any potters to Hinesburg in the nineteenth-century. But, I have heard the name 'Hinesburg' associated with Vermont-made red earthenware before. None-the-less, this is the type of form that I am suggesting is a Vermont-made product from the 1800's that may be mistaken for other areas (or, other potters) today.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug or Vase Likely Made in Vermont

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 7 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Duane Merrill & Co. - Williston, VT

I purchased a similar nineteenth-century black-glazed red earthenware form at a Tim Gould Auction in Augusta, Maine on June 14, 2014. This object was merely described as a "redware vase." - even though the familiar form is what forced me to leave an absentee bid - and, ultimately, pursue this object. Tim Gould told me that it was consigned to him as a freshly picked object found around the Burlington, Vermont area. Personally, I think I did pretty-well on this purchase since it slipped to me for the opening bid towards the end of the auction.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug or Vase Likely Made in Vermont

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 7 1/2" Tall
Recently Found in the Burlington, VT Area
Purchased from a Tim Gould Auction in Augusta, ME in 2014

 Another View of the Jug or Vase

View of the Base

With that said, a nearly exact formed red earthenware object sold at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland on March 2, 2013 - an object, which was included as part of a collection that had been consigned to Crocker Farm as a last minute add. The addendum of about thirty-two objects came from a person's lifelong collection - sadly, that individual had just passed away so the family consigned the collection to Crocker Farm's soonest sale. Crocker Farm told me that all of the objects came from Vermont, but they appeared to have been collected throughout New England based on what made up the collection. I feel this jug or vase is another example of the jugs or vases that I have previously described in today's article from potters in Vermont in the 1800's, which saw this particular object sell for $1,840.

I think it's too soon to say whether all of these forms are from a specific potter's business in Vermont or if this was a form that was popular with certain red earthenware potters in Vermont. It may take more research to determine that idea, but all of these objects appear to be a Vermont-made product from before 1860. What's also interesting about this next vase is the separation seen in the glaze - which is a style that was more commonly found with potters in Maine, western New York and Ontario in the nineteenth-century.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug or Vase Likely Made in Vermont

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

Sold for $1,840 in 2013

 Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

 Another View of the Jug or Vase

 Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Jug or Vase

 Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

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