The Continued Study of the 18th and 19th Century Red Earthenware Potter's Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine

The eighteenth and nineteenth-century red earthenware potter's industry located in North Yarmouth, Maine is an important subject to the study of Maine's potter's industry today. Rarely are surviving products ever attributed to North Yarmouth today; however, North Yarmouth was truly an industry that potentially produced wares for local consumers, but also clients in places such as Portland, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

There were upwards of one-half-dozen potter's businesses, which operated in North Yarmouth producing high-quality red earthenware in a variety of skillfully-made forms decorated in both slip-decoration and vibrant-colored-glazes. I want to emphasize, too that I truly believe there is a number of examples of pottery that survive today from this industry that are either A) attributed to elsewhere in Maine or B) are merely said to be New England-made products, which were actually made in North Yarmouth during the 1780-1880 period.

A major characteristic found in North Yarmouth, as opposed to elsewhere in Maine is the use of slip-decoration in the nineteenth-century (possibly the eighteenth-century, as well). Unfortunately, I am not familiar with how much slip was used; although, North Yarmouth recoverd artifacts have revealed that slip was indeed a chosen decoration for certain objects. This idea may also contradict common-belief about the potter's industry in Maine in the 1800's - comparatively speaking, I have always believed that slip was not used in Maine in the nineteenth-century, but that idea has been proven false.

I believe that both of the following jars could be related to North Yarmouth - the first jar, which has been previously discussed, exhibits a type of dabbed slip-decoration that I have seen on North Yarmouth artifacts. The overall form and glaze, also suggests a Maine attribution.

I discovered the second jar yesterday when I was reviewing the red earthenware collection owned by Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts. The museum's jar exhibits a very-similar form to the object decorated with slip. It is possible that the second jar may have been produced by a different North Yarmouth potter or another potter's business in the nineteenth-century. Personally, I am convinced that both of these objects are related.

According to Historic Deerfield, "This lead glazed red earthenware jar is decorated with a reddish-brown-glaze. It was probably made in Maine around circa 1860."

Note: The jar decorated with the dabbled slip-decoration is an important jar in respect to Maine's nineteenth-century potter's industry. Undoubtedly, this jar is a museum-quality object. It was purchased by Camden, Ohio antiques dealer, David Good years ago - he purchased it from a prominent Michigan collector; however, it is said to have been originally discovered in New England.

Jar Privately Owned in Ohio

 19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in North Yarmouth, ME

The Use of Slip, the Base and the Glaze Pattern at the Base is What Suggests the Attribution

Circa 1820-1860

Stands Approximately 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: David Good Antiques - Camden, OH

Jar Owned by Historic Deerfield in Massachusetts

19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in North Yarmouth, ME

The Form is What Suggests the Attribution

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

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