EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Rare Late-18th Century Stoneware Jug that Sold Yesterday at George S. Foster's Auction in Epsom, New Hampshire

Thursday, January 7, 2016

A Rare Late-18th Century Stoneware Jug that Sold Yesterday at George S. Foster's Auction in Epsom, New Hampshire

Yesterday, George S. Foster III, otherwise, known as 'The Complete Auction Service Company,' located in Epsom, New Hampshire, celebrated its first sale of the New Year. This year also marks the company's fortieth-year in the auction business. Typically, this auction house holds weekly Saturday auctions; however, there are occasions, where a nice selection of antiques are assembled for a more formal antiques and country sale - this was the case yesterday morning when a large collection of antiques consigned from mostly New Hampshire homes were sold to the highest bidder.

Unfortunately, I didn't know about the auction, but I did hear about it when I visited central New Hampshire to acquire the dark-green-glazed early-nineteenth-century red earthenware jug that I wrote about last night. I believe that jug is directly related to a jug that is owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, New Hampshire. The museum attributes their jug to Daniel Clark (1768-1828), who was a son of Peter Clark (1743-1826), a potter, who began his career in Braintree, Massachusetts in the 1760's. Afterwards, Peter Clark moved his family to New Hampshire only months before the American Revolution began. This information is documented in a diary that Peter Clark kept, which survives today.

I happened to have encountered a person, whom I know, while I was in New Hampshire yesterday - they asked me if I went to George Foster's auction. I said, "I didn't know anything about it, but since I was in the area I would probably stop by to see what they have." They told me that the auction began at 9:30 am - and, seeing that it was almost 3:00 pm it wasn't really worth my effort. They also told me that there was a Boston stoneware jug in the sale with an incised cod fish. I said that it sounded like a Jonathan Fenton jug that was manufactured in Charlestown, Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth-century. I was told that it was consigned from a home in Atkinson, New Hampshire.

Jonathan Fenton came from New Haven, Connecticut, where he was presumably trained in the stoneware business. His stay in Charlestown was brief (circa 1794-1796); although, he did produce a number of handsome objects often with inscribed figures for decoration. The most popular designs (based on what has survived today) seems to be detailed fish and flowers.

In 1797, Fenton was reportedly employed in Walpole, New Hampshire, which happens to be near the location that I visited yesterday. By 1801, Fenton was employed in Dorest, Vermont.

In theory, I have considered the idea that Jonathan Fenton traveled from Charlestown to Walpole with an intermittent visit to the William Pecker (1758-1820) Pottery (circa 1790-1820) in Merrimacport, Massachusetts. Why? William Pecker had to have learned the stoneware craft from an experienced stoneware potter. The very-few known Pecker stoneware examples, which have survived today are reminiscent to this period and they appear like the products that were produced in Charlestown in the 1790's. I've always wondered if Fenton played some-sort of role with Pecker's stoneware production.

Typically, these types of rare stoneware jugs, which were made by Fenton in Charlestown and marked 'BOSTON' do well when they are sold privately and publicly today. Recently, a related example sold in July 2015 at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland for $2,415 (including buyer's premium), which is around the pre-auction estimate that was provided by Crocker Farm.

There are also scarce examples of Fenton's work that are decorated with his known motifs; however, these objects lack a stamp that indicate the place of manufacture. These products are almost always attributed to Fenton's work in Charlestown. Although, my concern with some of these objects is that Fenton's production in New Hampshire is not defined today, but it probably, undoubtedly, mirrored what he accomplished in Charlestown during the circa 1794 to 1796 period.

A marked Walpole example would likely be highly prized today - I don't believe there are any known objects from Fenton's production in New Hampshire. Ultimately, I believe this is the first successful manufacture of stoneware in New Hampshire, even, though it was a very-short-lived enterprise. Martin Crafts is actually given the credit today for being New Hampshire's first truly successful stoneware potter in Nashua in the 1840's and the early-1850's; however, Fenton actually reportedly found success first.

Note: I have also shown a stoneware jug below that is decorated with a similar incised fish that was produced by Fenton in Dorset, Vermont. Understandably, you can probably interpret my concern when all of the unmarked objects with this type of decoration are normally often attributed to Fenton's Charlestown production today. Presumably, if his decoration migrated with him from Charlestown to Dorset, Vermont - then, it must have been used in Walpole, New Hampshire, too. In theory, that's what I would like to believe. But, why isn't there at least one known Walpole example today?

Late-18th Century Stoneware Jug Attributed to Jonathan Fenton - Charlestown, Mass.

The Jug is Decorated with a Pair of Inscribed Fish and Stamped 'BOSTON'

Circa 1794-1796

Stands 17 3/4" Tall

Sold for $2,415, Including Buyer's Premium in July 2015

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

The jug that sold at George Foster's auction yesterday did very-well in consideration of a chunk that was missing from part of the rim. In the end - this jug sold for $1,540 including the buyer's premium. Arguably, the jug that sold at Crocker Farm is more-appealing since it is larger (in this case I feel a larger jug is also more important) and there is more inscribed decoration. None-the-less, this could be an example of context, where the reason the jug achieved a strong price yesterday was a result of it selling closer to its original place of manufacture.

Note: A similar example is pictured in the book, 'Salt-Glazed Stoneware in Early America.'