An Important Inscribed Pot Attributed to Buxton, Maine that is Owned by Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts

According to Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts, "This hand-thrown red earthenware bowl is decorated on the base with the inscription 'W. Bickforb.' Also written on the bottom, in pencil, 'Collected 1913 / Rochester / NH.' This object is formerly a part of the William T. Brandon Collection of American redware, stoneware and ceramics that is now owned by Historic Deerfield. The original Brandon notecard attributes this object to the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine."

I have written about the Bickford Pottery extensively on this website; however, for a brief overview: this business was a large rural Maine potter's business located a few miles to the west of Portland, Maine. The business operated circa 1825-1880 producing a wide-variety of skillfully made objects maintained by multiple Bickford family members.

Granted that this attribution is correct for this object, then, I must assume that the inscription may represent a Bickford family member - and, that doesn't mean they were a potter, either.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins ('Early New England Potters and Their Wares'), "A pottery in Buxton, a few miles from Gorham, Maine, was founded as early as 1825 by the Bickford family. The father, James, had come from Exeter, New Hampshire by way of Gorham. Whether he was a potter I have been unable to learn (recent research suggests he was a potter). His son, James, Jr., was born five years after the father's marriage to Betsy Wentworth of Buxton, and was twenty seven years of age when the pottery started. His much younger brother, Ebenezer Wentworth called 'Wentworth' or 'Wint' was then only eight years old. In later years these two ran the business together."

A genealogy search has revealed that James Bickford, Sr. and Betsy Wentworth had a son, William Bickford (born 1816), who then had a son William Henry Brickford (born 1842) with Betsey Tyler of Limington, Maine. It's possible that this pot could be related to either of these children; although, neither is regarded as a traditional red earthenware potter today.

Personally, I feel there is some interpretation that can be taken from this object; for example, since this pot is possibly related to a Bickford family member, then, I wonder how old they may have been when this object was made. Could the decoration have been completed by a child? The interpretation could surround the idea whether the letter 'D' was possibly mistaken for the letter 'B.' If this is the case, then this simple utilitarian object could evolve into a true example of Maine-made folk art.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pot Attributed to the Bickford Pottery - Buxton, ME

Base Inscribed 'W. Bickforb'

Circa 1830-1880

Stands 5 5/8" Tall
Burton N. Gates Collection

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

Another View of the Pot

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

View of the Inscribed Base 'W. Bickforb'

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...