EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Thomas Vickers and His Son, John Vickers Pottery in Pennsylvania in the 19th Century

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Thomas Vickers and His Son, John Vickers Pottery in Pennsylvania in the 19th Century

According to the book, 'Marks of American Potters' by Edwin Atlee Barber, "Thomas Vickers established a pottery near Downington, Pennsylvania previous to the year 1806. One of his day books, extending over a period from this date until 1813, has been preserved, and from the entries we learn that he produced at various times red earthenware, sgraffito ware, black glazed pottery, 'domestic queensware' and green enameled ware. Among the articles enumerated are pie plates, milk pots, 'basons,' jugs, pitchers, bowls, mugs, cups, coffee and tea pots, sugar bowls, cream cups, 'salt cups,' bouquetts,' cake molds, candle sticks, 'salt sellers,' mantel and toy figures, chimney ornaments, bread baskets, chimney stands, inkstands, dishes, plates and tobacco pipes, both glazed and unglazed. There are numerous entries of green enameled ware, such as pint, quart and three-pint pitchers, sugar bowls, etc.

In the Philadelphia Museum of Art collection is a large jar attributed to Thomas Vickers with incised decorations - a wreath on one side enclosing the words 'Apple Butter,' and on the other the name of the recipient and the date 1807. The entire surface is covered with a beautiful, mottled, apple green enamel.

Other examples in the museum's collection from this pottery, are a sgraffito decorated flower pot, bearing the date 1826, and a spherical jar with variegated glaze and the date 1822.

Thomas Vickers took his son, John into partnership, under the firm name Thomas Vickers & Son. In 1822, the pottery moved to Lionville, Pennsylvania and the style became John Vickers and son. Pieces of pottery have been found bearing the incised initials 'T.V.' also 'J.V.' The latter on some pottery pie-plate molds in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, accompany by dates ranging from 1806-1831."

Early-19th Century Pottery Plate Mold Made by John Vickers in Pennsylvania

Mold is Inscribed 'J.V. / 1806'

Measures 13 3/8" in Diameter

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

19th Century Pottery Platter Mold Made by John Vickers in Pennsylvania

Mold is Inscribed 'J.V. / 1825'

Measures 14 7/8" Long

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

19th Century Pottery Plate Mold Made by John Vickers in Pennsylvania

Mold is Inscribed 'J.V. / 1828'

Measures 6 1/8" in Diameter

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

19th Century Pottery Plate Mold Made by John Vickers in Pennsylvania

Mold is Inscribed 'J.V. / 1829'

Measures 9" in Diameter

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

19th Century Pottery Plate Mold Made by John Vickers in Pennsylvania

Mold is Inscribed 'J.V. / 1831'

Measures 8 1/2" in Diameter

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

The following nineteenth-century slip decorated (Cherry Pie) red earthenware plate is a product that is attributed to Thomas Vickers' son, John Vickers around 1850 - this plate developed from a press-mold similar to what is shown above. Interestingly, I could also envision this product mistaken today for objects that were produced in places like Long Island and Norwalk, Connecticut in the nineteenth-century where a similar form and decoration was employed.

19th Century Press-Molded Red Earthenware Plate Attribute to the John Vickers Pottery in PA

This Plate Was Created Using a Similar Mold Like Those Shown Above

The Plate is Decorated with the Words ' Cherry Pie' in Slip

Circa 1850

Measures 11 1/8" in Diameter

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

Note: There is also a pitcher that the museum owns, which is attributed to the Thomas Vickers & Son Pottery in Pennsylvania that I feel could be mistaken for a New England-made product today - that idea is based on the form of the object. The form resembles a style that was produced throughout coastal Massachusetts in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries; however, a related form was also associated with trained potters, who migrated from Massachusetts to New Hampshire in the 1800's.

Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Thomas Vickers & Son Pottery in PA

This Form is Also Similar to Objects that were Produced in MA and NH

Circa 1808-1813

Stands 6 3/4" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland has been consigned a museum-quality example of Thomas Vickers production for their upcoming sale on Saturday March 19, 2016. According to the auction house, "This fresh-to-the-market exceptional redware presentation jar, which was recently discovered in New England is inscribed, 'Ann Frame / When this you see remember me / 9th mo. (September) 28th 1818.' The jar is attributed to Thomas Vickers from Chester County, Pennsylvania. A similar example bearing a different name resides in the Philadelphia Museum of Art."

Philadelphia Museum of Art

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Thomas Vickers - Chester County, PA

This Jar Bear's a Similar Inscription to the Jar that Crocker Farm has Been Consigned

Circa 1822

Stands 10 3/8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

Crocker Farm

Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Thomas Vickers - Chester County, PA

The Jar is Inscribed 'Ann Frame / When this you see remember me / 9th mo. 28th 1818'

Circa 1818

Stands 9 3/4" Tall
Scheduled to Sell to the Highest Bidder on Saturday March 19, 2016

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Jar

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

View of a Handle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

View of the Other Handle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

View of the Inscription 'Ann'

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

View of the Inscription 'Frame'

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

View of the Inscription 'When this you see remember me'

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

View of the Inscription '9th mo 28th 1818'

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farms - Sparks, MD

For a comparison: a signed John Vickers jar sold for a little more than $4,800 at a William Bunch auction in June 2014. The jar was reportedly inscribed 'John Vickers / 1804.' For many reasons: I believe the jar at Crocker Farm is more appealing. And, similar to Crocker Farm's jar - the Philadelphia Museum of Art also owns a related object when compared to the jar that sold at William Bunch's auction.

The museum's jar is inscribed 'Ann Starr / 1805.' Unfortunately, I don't believe it is know who made this jar (father versus son); although, it is nearly a mirror-image of the jar shown below that was signed by John Vickers.

For these reasons (and more) - I expect the jar at Crocker Farm to sell for more than the object that sold at William Bunch's auction about one-year-and-a-half ago. We'll have to wait and see how it ultimately does - I will also write a followup article when that object sells.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Made by Thomas Vickers & Son - Chester County, PA
Inscribed 'Ann Starr / 1805'
Circa 1804
Stands 8 3/4" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art - Philadelphia, PA

William H. Bunch

Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Made by John Vickers - Chester County, PA
Inscribed 'John Vickers / 1804'
Circa 1804
Stands 9 3/8" Tall
Sold for more than $4,800 in 2014
Photo Courtesy: William H. Bunch Auctions - Chadds Ford, PA