There was actually very-little red earthenware produced in Rhode Island in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. Generally, there are a few contributing factors for this lack of production: 1) There was not an abundance of suitable clay for red earthenware, 2) Southern Massachusetts potters exported their wares into Rhode Island, and 3) Connecticut potters also likely exported their wares into Rhode Island.
The brothers, Isaac Upton (1736-1824) and Samuel Upton (1748-1810) reportedly established one of the only known red earthenware businesses in (East Greenwich) Rhode Island during the circa 1771-1783 period. The brothers had strong ties to the red earthenware industries in Essex County, Massachusetts and Southeastern Massachusetts. Nonetheless, history has also questioned the success of this operation in terms of production, and how much was actually produced. The Upton Pottery was also likely a small operation in comparison to the eighteenth-century industries that were located along coastal Massachusetts. Unfortunately, (to my knowledge) there is no properly identified sherd evidence that survives today that can definitively prove an object was made at the Upton Pottery.
According to a book written in 1892 by Alice Morse Earle, 'China Collecting in America,' "Around the commencement of the Revolutionary War a man named Upton came from Nantucket to East Greenwich, Rhode Island, and there manufactured red earthenware. The pottery when made was baked in a kiln which stood at the corner of King and Marlboro Streets. He made pans, bowls, plates, cups and saucers of common red clay, a little finer than that now used in the manufacturer of flower pots. As little porcelain was imported from Europe during the War, people used willingly, and even eagerly, the coarse plates, and drank their 'Liberty Tea' from the coarse cups and saucers. The clay came from Goold's Mount, now owned by Mr. Henry Waterman, of Quidneset, Rhode Island. After the war ended, Upton went back to his safety-assured home on Nantucket and the Greenwich Pottery was closed."
Evidently, the purpose of the Upton Pottery appears to have been directly related to the American Revolution - and, it is rare that any New England-made red earthenware from this era is discovered outside of an archaeological context today.
Personally, I feel that any surviving wares from the Upton Pottery today should be held to the same rarity as wares that were produced elsewhere in New England during the circa 1771-1783 period. The wares could even be held to the same rarity as any surviving products that were made before 1775 in Charlestown, Massachusetts.
I hope it is understandable, too that I am hesitant to attribute any object to East Greenwich today; although, there are some published examples from the twentieth-century that claim to be strongly attributed to the Upton Pottery. Instead, I have always pondered this question: How much could have actually survived from this small company's decade-of-production, which happened more-than 230 years ago? I believe that a number of the examples of red earthenware that are said to have been made in East Greenwich today are actually products produced in Southeastern Massachusetts.
For example, Winterthur attributes the following green-glazed red earthenware bowl to the Upton Pottery. Unfortunately, I am unable to absolutely determine whether this bowl was made in Rhode Island or Massachusetts; although, archaeological evidence has also been recovered in Gloucester, Rhode Island revealing sherds (see below) decorated in a very-similar glaze. This can also be considered a very-rare glaze-style.
The sherds were found on the property of a late-eighteenth-century house that was excavated by the Public Archaeology Laboratory in Pawtucket, Rhode Island in 2013. However, those sherds were recovered in a late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-century context alongside an additional group of red earthenware sherds (see below) that were likely exported from Southeastern Massachusetts.
Nevertheless, I have included in today's article, the entire collection of Southeastern Massachusetts-made products that are owned by Winterthur. There are some outstanding objects shown below decorated with remarkable glazes.
Bowl Reportedly Made at the Upton Pottery
18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl
Possibly Made in Rhode Island
Possibly Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Winterthur Attributes this Bowl to the Upton Pottery in East Greenwich, RI
Circa 1770-1830
Stands 2 3/8" Tall
Measures 5 7/8" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Sherds Recovered in Gloucester, Rhode Island
Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered in Gloucester, RI
Recovered in a Circa 1790-1820 Archaeological Context
Glaze is Very-Similar to the Bowl Attributed to the Upton Pottery that is Shown Above
Photo Courtesy: PAL Archaeology - Pawtucket, RI
Early-19th Century Green-Glazed Red Earthenare Sherd Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Recovered at a Site in Gloucester, RI
Recovered in a Circa 1790-1820 Archaeological Context
Photo Courtesy: PAL Archaeology - Pawtucket, RI
Early-19th Century Red Earthenare Sherd Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Recovered at a Site in Gloucester, RI
Recovered in a Circa 1790-1820 Archaeological Context
Photo Courtesy: PAL Archaeology - Pawtucket, RI
Early-19th Century Red Earthenare Sherd Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Recovered at a Site in Gloucester, RI
Recovered in a Circa 1790-1820 Archaeological Context
Photo Courtesy: PAL Archaeology - Pawtucket, RI
Early-19th Century Red Earthenare Sherd Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Recovered at a Site in Gloucester, RI
Recovered in a Circa 1790-1820 Archaeological Context
Photo Courtesy: PAL Archaeology - Pawtucket, RI
Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware
Circa 1780-1830
Jars
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 11 3/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 7 1/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 8 1/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Another View of the Jar
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 7 3/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Flask
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flask Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 5 7/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 5 5/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Another View of the Harvest Jug
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 7 1/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Another View of the Harvest Jug
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Pitchers
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 5 1/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 7 7/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Porringer
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Porringer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 5 5/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Jugs
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 8 3/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 7 1/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 5 1/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 9 3/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Flower Pots
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 9" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 4 7/8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Flower Pot Saucers
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Measures 7 7/8" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Measures 6 1/2" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Measures 7 3/8" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Measures 9 3/4" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Measures 4 5/8" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Measures 7 1/8" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Wilmington, DE
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
2 comments:
Do you know when the Winterthur examples were acquired? Were they acquired individually or as a group? The 2004 Northeast Auctions catalogue illustrating the collection of Hilary & Paulette Nolan is an interesting comparison to this group.
Hi Jonathan: I don't know when they were acquired, but I will try to find out. I agree, it's a very-interesting comparison!
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