A Wonderful Rare Red Earthenware Bank that Sold in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in 2012

A few years ago, I spontaneously attended an auction assembled by North Hampton, New Hampshire auctioneer, Paul McInnis in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It happened on the evening of Tuesday December 10, 2012 - and, it was by chance, that I learned about the sale, when I visited Paul McInnis' website the day of the auction.

Paul McInnis is the brother of John McInnis, an Amesbury, Massachusetts auctioneer, who I have frequently written about on this website. They both belong to an even larger multi-generational family closely tied to the antique industry in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine.

There was a specific object that was advertised on Paul McInnis' website that brought me to this auction; however, there was also a spectacular full bodied squirrel (eating an acorn) weathervane made by L.W. Cushing & Sons in Waltham, Massachusetts in the late-nineteenth-century that sold for $55,575 including the buyer's premium. The squirrel reportedly originated from the roof of a barn in central Maine. Undoubtedly, I can envision this weathervane owned by famed folk art and weathervane collector, Jerry Lauren, a New Yorker, who is the executive vice president of men's design at Polo Ralph Lauren. He's also the brother of Ralph Lauren. More recently, Jerry Lauren was the successful bidder, who paid over $400,000 for an example of upstate New York stoneware from the early 1860's, which was decorated with four marching Civil War soldiers.

According to the newspaper 'Antiques and the Arts Weekly,' "A (large) redware bank sold at (Paul) McInnis' auction in the form of a bank building. It was made with two chimney's which served as coin slots. The bank, which was probably made in Pennsylvania, came from a nearby private collection in Rye, New Hampshire."

The reason that I want to show and briefly discuss this slip decorated red earthenware bank today is because it may have some-type of connection to the wonderful red earthenware house that I discovered at a Nan Gurley Antique Show in Portsmouth, New Hampshire a few weeks ago, on New Year's Day. Skill wise, I believe the house is more detailed and better accomplished than the bank; however, it's also the style of the house, that was chosen by the potter, which demanded more attention to detail. The form of the building that was chosen for this bank doesn't appear to have required as much design. None-the-less, this is a beautiful object.

Comparatively, both objects are similar sized. I'm curious to know if there could be a connection. I wish I could say today that I was the winning bidder - unfortunately, I didn't know enough about the bank in 2012 to comfortably bid competitively in the price range that the bank eventually achieved. Undoubtedly, I would try to participate today if a similar object were to appear.

I'm assuming that some people may recognize this object since it made its rounds to a few of the prominent antique shows afterwards. I also presume that it must now reside in a private collection.

Note: I apologize for the photo quality - this is the only photograph of the bank that I have on file.

19th Century Red Earthenware Bank Likely Made in Pennsylvania

Circa 1840-1880

Stands Approximately 7" Tall

Measures Approximately 9" Long

Sold in Portsmouth, NH on December 10, 2012

Photo Courtesy: Paul McInnis - North Hampton, NH

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