EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A 19th Century Red Earthenware Object that was Recently Discovered in a Thrift Shop in Southern Maine

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Object that was Recently Discovered in a Thrift Shop in Southern Maine

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "In the Boston Directory of 1854/55, William F. Homer, a Boston merchant first advertised the Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company, as he called it, with a picture of the works, saying that 'wares made at this Factory are for sale by Wm. F. Homer & Co. / Samples at Office, 15 & 17 Union Street / Boston / Samples at Office, 15 Union Street, where Orders are received, or at the Works on Condor Street, East Boston / Frederick Mear Agent.'

During the first year, twenty-nine men were employed and twenty-nine thousand dollars worth of ware was manufactured. It is strange that almost none of the early output has come to light, as some of it was marked.

Dr. Burton N. Gates discovered a Rockingham pudding dish with the impressed label 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company, and I recently found a cuspidor with a similar mark, but I believe these are the only known examples of Mears pottery (as of 1950).

(Middle) 19th Century Earthenware Cuspidor Decorated with Clam Shells

Stamped 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company'

Circa 1854-1857

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection:

Photo Courtesy: Early New England Potters and Their Wares, Watkins, 1950

In June 1857, the name changed to the East Boston Crockery Manufactory, and a large amount of the product line became imported stoneware, Parian ware, Granite Ware, Ironstone and China.

In 1876, the company was sold, its name changed and it became known as the New England Pottery Company."

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In an article that I posted on March 26, 2016, a red earthenware cuspidor was shown that I discovered in a thrift shop in southern Maine. I had suggested that the cuspidor may have been a product manufactured in northern New England or Canada; however, I have since realized that this cuspidor is very similar to the cuspidor that Lura Woodside Watkins discovered before 1950 - the cuspidor that was discovered by Watkins was also marked 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company.'

I now believe the cuspidor that I found in Maine is a rare product from this Boston company that Watkins describes as "...strange that almost none of (this company's) early output has come to light, as some of it was marked."

Note: There are also two marked 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company' pans that were recently brokered into Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts as part of the William T. Brandon Memorial Collection of American Redware and Ceramics. Both of these pans were formerly owned by Dr. Burton N. Gates, and one of the pans is the object that Watkins references in her book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.'

Found in Southern Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Cuspidor Decorated with Clam Shells

Form is Similar to the Object Shown Above

Object Shown Above is Stamped 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company'

Circa 1850-1860

Stands 3 3/8" Tall

Measures 7 1/2" in Diameter

Recently Found in a Thrift Shop in Southern Maine

View of the Interior

View of the Base

Dr. Burton N. Gates Objects

19th Century Earthenware Pan Made
Marked 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company'
Circa 1854-1857
Stands 2 1/2" Tall
Measures 8 7/8" in Diameter
Formerly Owned by Dr. Burton N. Gates
William T. Brandon Memorial Collection of American Redware and Ceramics
Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

View of the Base
Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

View of the Mark 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company'

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

19th Century Earthenware Pan Made
Marked 'Boston Earthen Ware Manufacturing Company'
Circa 1854-1857
Stands 2 1/2" Tall
Measures 9 5/8" in Diameter
Formerly Owned by Dr. Burton N. Gates
William T. Brandon Memorial Collection of American Redware and Ceramics
Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.