John Corliss House - Days Ferry/Woolwich, ME
Circa 1829
Photo Courtesy: Maine Real Estate Network
Another View of the John Corliss House - Days Ferry/Woolwich, ME
Photo Courtesy: Maine Real Estate Network
Another View of the John Corliss House - Days Ferry/Woolwich, ME
Photo Courtesy: Maine Real Estate Network
According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "About 1863, John Corliss put out a printed price list, which like many such documents, appears to have been a form supplied to potters. It mentions only cream pots, bean pots, flat and deep milk pans, stove pans, bread pans, jugs, flower pots, glazed or painted hanging pots, and common unglazed flower pots."
What I would like to do now is show some of the milk pans that I have collected throughout New England - many of these objects are kept in my cellar with other red earthenware utilitarian objects. I believe most of these were made in New England during the circa 1820 to 1880 period. For factual purposes - I will include any known history with the description cited immediately below the picture.
John Corliss Pottery Earthen Ware Price List - Days Ferry, ME
Circa 1860's
Photo Courtesy: Historic New England
19th Century Glazed & Unglazed Red Earthenware Flower Pots - Corliss Pottery - Days Ferry, ME
These Hanging Flower Pots are Described in the Price List Discussed Above
Circa 1850-1880's
Photo Courtesy: Woolwich, ME Historical Society
View of the Glazed and Unglazed Bases
Photo Courtesy: Woolwich, ME Historical Society
19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Attributed to the John Corliss Pottery - Days Ferry, ME
This 'Flat' Milk Pan is Described in the Price List Above
Circa 1840-1880's
Measures Approximately 16" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Woolwich, ME Historical Society
19th Century John Corliss Pottery Red Earthenware Jug - Days Ferry, ME
This is the Type of Jug-Form that is Listed on the Price List Shown Above
Circa 1820-1880's
Stands Approximately 9" Tall
Photo Courtesy: The Maine State Museum - Augusta, ME
These Hanging Flower Pots are Described in the Price List Discussed Above
Circa 1850-1880's
Photo Courtesy: Woolwich, ME Historical Society
Photo Courtesy: Woolwich, ME Historical Society
This 'Flat' Milk Pan is Described in the Price List Above
Circa 1840-1880's
Measures Approximately 16" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Woolwich, ME Historical Society
19th Century Red Earthenware Deep Milk Pan Attributed to the Corliss Pottery - Days Ferry, ME
This 'Deep' Milk Pan is Described in the Price List Above
This 'Deep' Milk Pan is Described in the Price List Above
Circa 1850-1880
Stands 3 3/4" Tall
Measures 11" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Historic New England
19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Made at the Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME
The Pan is Stamped 'B. DODGE / PORTLAND'
Circa 1835-1875
Measures 15 1/4" in Diameter
Interestingly, the following object shows how difficult attribution sometimes is with products that were made in Maine in the nineteenth-century. This so-called "flat" milk pan was produced at the Benajamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine during the circa 1835 to 1875 period. It is not known whether the founder of the business, Benjamin Dodge (1774-1838) or his son, Benjamin Dodge, Jr. (1802-1876) is responsible for its manufacture. Although, the pan is stamped, 'B. DODGE / PORTLAND.'
This form and glaze is similar to the example shown above from the Corliss Pottery. The big difference being that the Corliss object is a deep pan versus the Dodge example, which is a more-common flat pan - it seems that the rolled rims and the interior glazes appear similar.
This form and glaze is similar to the example shown above from the Corliss Pottery. The big difference being that the Corliss object is a deep pan versus the Dodge example, which is a more-common flat pan - it seems that the rolled rims and the interior glazes appear similar.
The Pan is Stamped 'B. DODGE / PORTLAND'
Circa 1835-1875
Measures 15 1/4" in Diameter
View of the 'B. DODGE / PORTLAND' Stamp
Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.
The History of the Red Earthenware Milk Pan
The red earthenware milk pan dates all the way back to ancient times and it is still in use today in some cultures. The form or style has differed very-little from potter-to-potter, country-to-county, civilization-to-civilization and period-to-period. I've studied red earthenware examples made before 1775 in Charlestown, Massachusetts owned by the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachsuetts and the form is basically the same when compared to an early ancient Roman milk pan owned by Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There was apparently never really a need to change the form. It's quite fascinating.
There are some ancient-style forms that were revitalized with the nineteenth-century Arts and Crafts Movement for aesthetic, design and decorative purposes, even-though, those original ancient forms were made for a functional utilitarian need. Essentially, they were brought back in the late-1800's as a decorative style. However, the milk pan never changed. No matter the civilization, the earthenware form has pretty-much remained a simple form with a slight variation in the potter's interpretation for thousands-of-years. Production of this form never really stopped - it has always remained a common useful household tool.
The American-Made Red Earthenware Milk Pan
The red earthenware milk pan dates all the way back to ancient times and it is still in use today in some cultures. The form or style has differed very-little from potter-to-potter, country-to-county, civilization-to-civilization and period-to-period. I've studied red earthenware examples made before 1775 in Charlestown, Massachusetts owned by the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachsuetts and the form is basically the same when compared to an early ancient Roman milk pan owned by Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. There was apparently never really a need to change the form. It's quite fascinating.
There are some ancient-style forms that were revitalized with the nineteenth-century Arts and Crafts Movement for aesthetic, design and decorative purposes, even-though, those original ancient forms were made for a functional utilitarian need. Essentially, they were brought back in the late-1800's as a decorative style. However, the milk pan never changed. No matter the civilization, the earthenware form has pretty-much remained a simple form with a slight variation in the potter's interpretation for thousands-of-years. Production of this form never really stopped - it has always remained a common useful household tool.
The American-Made Red Earthenware Milk Pan
There is a well-known photograph of the John Corliss Pottery wooden production building that was taken sometime after 1850 - part of the image provides a visual through a window that shows milk pans stacked upon milk pans for as high as the ceiling goes. Unfortunately, I can't track down this picture for use on this website. Historic New England owns the photograph, but it is not easily available. The image has also been published. If you have seen this picture before you will understand when I say that this was a form that was evidently in-demand from the Corliss Pottery in the nineteenth-century along the mid-coast of Maine.
Evidently, the milk pan was an important aspect of the red earthenware potter's output, especially with potters located in New England. Basically, this must have been a form that was produced at most potter's businesses. I can't imagine this was a form that was ever overlooked by a potter - it seems that it was a product that sold. I also assume that it was a form that was possibly more-popular with rural consumers rather than an urban marketplace.
Evidently, the milk pan was an important aspect of the red earthenware potter's output, especially with potters located in New England. Basically, this must have been a form that was produced at most potter's businesses. I can't imagine this was a form that was ever overlooked by a potter - it seems that it was a product that sold. I also assume that it was a form that was possibly more-popular with rural consumers rather than an urban marketplace.
Generally, I feel this is a form that is under-appreciated today. From a collector's point-of-view, the form is likely not as desired as it should be as a result of the size of most milk pans - they are often said to be typically too large and difficult to display, but I don't think it matters with most museums. Museums understand the significance of the form even if they don't have a place in the public's eye to display such a large object - a museum can always put a larger-sized pan in storage. For example, I saw plenty of American-made red earthenware milk pans in storage when I visited the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. a few years ago.
According to the Smithsonian, "Redware milk pans are among the most-common ceramic forms from eighteenth-century colonial archaeological sites. Where found, they suggest the former presence of both dairy cows and women, as women performed the duties of processing dairy products. Fresh milk was poured into the earthenware milk pan, and the pan was placed in a cool area, such as a buttery or dairy, until the cream rose. With an implement such as a copper skimmer, the cream was removed and used to make butter. Finally, the remaining milk was poured off and used for other dairy or cooking purposes.
The milk pan was also a form that could have served any number of needs in the common American household. Maybe it was marketed by potter's as a milk pan, but, in theory, that's not how a homeowner had to use this type of an object. Essentially, it was a pan or a bowl that could have served a countless number of needs; for example, this type of pan could have held one-half a bushel of apples or it could have been used as a baking ban. Ideally, there were a countless amount of additional needs it could have also served.
According to the Smithsonian, "Redware milk pans are among the most-common ceramic forms from eighteenth-century colonial archaeological sites. Where found, they suggest the former presence of both dairy cows and women, as women performed the duties of processing dairy products. Fresh milk was poured into the earthenware milk pan, and the pan was placed in a cool area, such as a buttery or dairy, until the cream rose. With an implement such as a copper skimmer, the cream was removed and used to make butter. Finally, the remaining milk was poured off and used for other dairy or cooking purposes.
The milk pan was also a form that could have served any number of needs in the common American household. Maybe it was marketed by potter's as a milk pan, but, in theory, that's not how a homeowner had to use this type of an object. Essentially, it was a pan or a bowl that could have served a countless number of needs; for example, this type of pan could have held one-half a bushel of apples or it could have been used as a baking ban. Ideally, there were a countless amount of additional needs it could have also served.
19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Likely Made in Maine
Possibly Made at the John Corliss Pottery in Days Ferry, ME
Form is Very-Similar to the Milk Pan Shown Above Attributed to the John Corliss Pottery
Found in Winterport, ME
Circa 1820-1880
Measures 17" in Diameter
19th Century Red Earthenware Deep Milk Pan Likely Made at the Corliss Pottery in Portland, ME
Found in Rowley, Mass.
Form is Similar to the Corliss Pottery Deep Milk Pan Shown Above
However, It is Also Similar to the Dodge Pottery Example from Portland, ME that is Shown Above
Circa 1820-1880
Stands 5 1/4" Tall
Measures 15 1/4" in Diameter
Large 19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Likely Made in Southern Maine
Possibly Made in Limington, ME
Found in Stratham, NH
Circa 1820-1860
Measures 20" in Diameter
19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Possibly Made in Maine or Vermont
Found in an Antique Shop in Newburyport, Mass.
But, the Dealer, Who it was Purchased from Said They Found it in Vermont
Possibly Made at the Safford Pottery in Monmouth, ME
Circa 1820-1860
Measures 15 1/2" in Diameter
19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Probably Made in Southern Maine
Found in Maine
Possibly Made at the John Alld Pottery in Hollis, ME
Form is Similar to Sherds Recovered at the Alld Pottery in Hollis, ME
Circa 1820-1860
Measures 16" in Diameter
19th Century Red Earthenware Flat Milk Pan Probably Made in Southern Maine
Found in Southern Maine
Possibly Made at the John Alld Pottery in Hollis, ME
Form and Glaze are Similar to Sherds Recovered at the Alld Pottery in Hollis, ME
Circa 1820-1860
Measures 15 1/2" in Diameter
Likely 18th Century Red Earthenware Milk Pan Recovered in Portsmouth, NH
Possibly Made on Boston's North Shore or Coastal New Hampshire
Recently Professionally Mended Back Together
Circa 1760-1800
Measures 17 1/4" in Diameter
19th Century Red Earthenware Milk Pan Possibly Made in Essex County, Mass.
Acquired from Bob 'Tubby' Rogers in Byfield, Mass.
Bob Rogers Picked it from a House in the Newburyport, MA Area
Possibly Made in Merrimacport, Mass. or Peabody, Mass.
Circa 1800-1880
Measures 18" in Diameter
19th Century Red Earthenware Deep Milk Pan Possibly Made in Vermont
Acquired from a Vermont Antiques Dealer in 2013 in Brimfield, Mass.
Dealer Said They Acquired it from a House in Waterbury, VT
Circa 1820-1860
Stands 5 1/4" Tall
Measures 15 1/4" in Diameter
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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