EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Nice Example of Red Earthenware Discovered in an Online Marketplace from a Buffalo, New York Antiques Dealer

Thursday, December 31, 2015

A Nice Example of Red Earthenware Discovered in an Online Marketplace from a Buffalo, New York Antiques Dealer

eBay is a huge marketplace, full of objects, from all-over the world. Ultimately, it has to be the world's largest online marketplace. I would compare it to an endless flea market. I don't look on eBay too-often for pottery since I would rather handle the object before I purchase it; although, I did conduct a quick search last week. I came across a colorfully-glazed red earthenware vase from a seller, who was located in Buffalo, New York - I purchased the vase as a 'Buy It Now' option for only, $17.95.

The vase spoke to me suggesting that it was made at the William J. Walley ( 1852-1919) Pottery (1898-1919) in West Sterling, Massachusetts, which is a potter's business that I discussed in-detail a few days ago. Ironically, I don't necessarily search for Walley's art pottery products; although, I have managed to accumulate about one-half-dozen examples through my picking efforts. The most I've ever paid for an example of Walley's work was $75.00. However, the remainder were all priced at under $20.00. I have been lucky seeing that Walley's quality artware typically sells in the $750 to $5,000 range today.

Unfortunately, this object is not marked with one of the company's tell-tale stamps, 'W.J.W.' (William J. Walley) or 'W.S.H.' (Worcester State Hospital) that Walley is known for today; none-the-less, it is marked on the based with a hand-inscribed capitalized 'H.' Whether that stands for 'Hospital,' 'Worcester State Hospital' or something (or someone) else is, yet to be determined.

This is a form that Walley is known for today. A similar form is pictured in Massachusetts auctioneer and author, Paul Royka's book, 'Fireworks: New England Art Pottery of the Arts & Crafts Movement.' Coincidentally, the cover of the book is decorated with a large grouping of pottery made by Walley.

A few more characteristics that suggest 'why' I believe this product was made in West Sterling before 1919 include a similar-type of glaze that is seen on some of Walley's products marked with the 'W.J.W.' stamp - and, this is the classic-styled base that Walley is also known for today.

There are a number of reasons why I enjoy Walley's work today - although, the biggest reason is probably the fact that Walley was a talented potter, who worked in both the utilitarian red earthenware and stoneware markets after 1870; however, as those industries began to fade towards the end of the nineteenth-century, he changed the face of his company to correspond with the demand found in the American art pottery market. Essentially, Walley was a 'one-man' operation, who conducted businesses similar to how the famous art potter, George Ohr operated in Biloxi, Mississippi during the same period.

Walley's method was comparable to how the more-traditional country-style red earthenware potters would have operated in New England before 1850 - everything he did, whether it was digging the clay, throwing the pots or firing the objects was accomplished in a more-traditional sense versus how the Industrial Revolution altered the appearance of the small-scaled potter's business in New England after 1860.