There were two pieces of Charles A. Lawrence Pottery (circa 1866-1906) that sold last weekend at Skinner, Inc.'s onsite sale of Lewis Scranton's lifelong antique collection in Killingworth, Connecticut. I felt both pieces were important for different reasons that included provenance and decoration.
A slip-decorated creamer or small pitcher from the Beverly pottery contained an old hand-written tag that described where this object was found before 1947. Although, the note also referenced Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins book, '
Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' which was first published by the Harvard University Press in 1950.
19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Creamer or Small Pitcher
Attributed to the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery - Beverly, Mass.
Found in Danvers, Mass. Before 1947
Also Included a Old Hand-Written Tag
Circa 1866-1906
Stands 4" Tall
Ex-Oliver E. Williams Collection
Sold May 21, 2016 in the Collection of Lewis Scranton in Killingworth, CT
Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc. - Boston and Marlborough, Mass.
The second object from the Lawrence Pottery in Lewis Scranton's collection was rare due to its very unusual glaze. I have never seen this type of glaze before on any other object associated with the Lawrence Pottery today.
19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher
Attributed to the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery - Beverly, Mass.
Very Rare Glaze to Find From the Lawrence Pottery Today
Circa 1866-1906
Stands 6" Tall
Sold May 21, 2016 in the Collection of Lewis Scranton in Killingworth, CT
Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc. - Boston and Marlborough, Mass.
Nevertheless, I was an active bidder on both of these objects; however, they eventually sold to friends of mine, who are also redware collectors in Massachusetts.
I did not know the history of the slip-decorated creamer or small pitcher, past Lewis Scranton's collection, until the current owners told me what they knew about this object. All I had previously known was that it contained an old hand-written tag, but I have since learned that this creamer or small pitcher had more to its history than I had initially realized.
I was told that New Hampshire auctioneer, Richard Withington sold this creamer in July of 1966 when he sold the lifelong antiques collection of Rockport, Massachusetts collector, Oliver E. Williams.
An article written about Richard Withington, which was published on April 13, 2007 in the '
Antiques and the Arts Weekly' briefly mentioned the landmark Oliver E. Williams sale: "'
I always loved going to Dick's auctions. He did tons of estates, all summer long. People went every weekend,' says Northeast Auctions president, Ron Bourgeault, who vividly recalls Withington's sale of the Pigeon Cove estate of Oliver E. Williams, a Beacon Hill investment banker, who died in 1947. 'It was one of Withington's first illustrated sales. Roger Bacon and Lilian Cogan sat in the front row. Bacon bought a painted blanket chest for Nina Fletcher Little for the ungodly price of $5,000.'"
The illustrated catalog for the Williams sale actually shows the piece of Lawrence pottery decorated with slip sitting on a shelf in an eighteenth-century cupboard among eighteenth-century pewter and early wooden ware.
The tag that still accompanies this Beverly-made creamer or small pitcher today is believed to be an original auction label from 1966. It reads, "
Found in Danvers, Mass. Mrs. Watkins says 'In all probability made in Danvers. She says she has never seen a complete slipware decorated vessel made in Danvers. See pg. 37, Lura Woodside Watkins, Early New England Potters and Their Wares."
I find it incredibly interesting to see how this book was referenced in the 1960's - it makes me wonder if this book was used as an important source of information more in the 1950's and the 1960's in comparison to how it is use today.
However, this was actually a product made in the neighboring community of Beverly at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery - yet, it is always fascinating to see objects like this discovered in an early context of ownership, which is only a few generations removed from when this object was originally manufactured.
It is also possible that this creamer or small pitcher was discovered in its original context of ownership in Danvers, Massachusetts seeing that it was acquired before Oliver E. Williams death in 1947. I usually associate the slip decorated products from the Lawrence Pottery to the circa 1870 period today.
Tag that Accompanied Creamer or Small Pitcher
Old Auction Tag that Accompanied the Pitcher
View Number 1
Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Collector
Old Auction Tag that Accompanied the Pitcher
View Number 2
Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Collector
Oliver E. Williams Auction Catalog
Oliver E. Williams Collection Catalog Cover, Pigeon Cove, Rockport, Mass.
Sold by New Hampshire Auctioneer, Richard W. Withington, Inc.
The 3-Day Sale Took Place July 26-27-28 in 1966
Photo Courtesy: Withington Auction, Inc - Hillsborough, NH
Creamer Or Small Pitcher Pictured In The 1966 Catalog
19th Century Red Earthenware Creamer or Small Pitcher Pictured on Second Shelf from Bottom
This is How the Object was Pictured in the Catalog for the Oliver E. Williams Sale in 1966
Photo Courtesy: Withington Auction, Inc - Hillsborough, NH
The Creamer In Its New Home Today
Another Photo of the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery Pitcher - Beverly, Mass.
Circa 1866-1906
Stands 4" Tall
Ex-Oliver E. Williams and Lewis Scranton Collections
Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Collector
Please Stay Tuned..Much More to Come...
