A Comparison of 19th Century Red Earthenware Objects that are Attributed to Maine Today

A few years ago, I discovered a small nineteenth-century red earthenware creamer inside a vintage shop in downtown Bath, Maine. Sadly, the shop has since gone out of business, but the shop owner did tell me that she had recently found the rare creamer in a house in Woolwich, Maine.

My immediate reaction was to think that this could have been a product made at the John Corliss Pottery in the Days Ferry neighborhood of Woolwich; however, the style of this object does not conform with what is known about the output at the Corliss Pottery today.

Nevertheless, I also considered the Ezra Porter Pottery, which operated in nearby Wiscasset, Maine; although, there is nothing about this product that suggests it was made at the Porter Pottery, either.

Regardless, I have always felt that it is still a Maine-made product, but I have never been able to properly pinpoint the exact location or potter's business that is responsible for its production during the circa 1820-1880 period.

It is certainly worth noting that Historic New England owns what appears to be a larger pitcher in a very-similar form that is also attributed to Maine. Historic New England keeps the pitcher in its storage facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts. The museum acquired this pitcher before 1940 when Margaret H. Jewell donated much of her antique collection to museums across New England. The majority of Jewell's collection was given to Historic New England and the New Hampshire Historical Society.

Jewell was a prominent collector, who also likely knew Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins when she was researching, and writing her important book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' in the 1930's. 

Margaret H. Jewel also wrote a number of articles on New England-made utilitarian pottery in the 1920's and the 1930's for the magazine, 'Old-Time New England.'

For a comparison: I have shown below the two objects that I just referenced - the glazes are completely different, but the forms, and the refinement of each object appears like they could be related through a potter's business or even a specific potter in Maine before 1880.

Creamer Found in Bath, Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Creamer Likely Made in Maine

Found in Bath, Maine in 2014

Reportedly Found in a House in Woolwich, Maine

Stands 4 3/4" Tall

Circa 1820-1880

A Similar Example is Shown Below that is Owned by Historic New England in Haverhill, Mass.

Historic New England Pitcher

19th Century Red Earthenware Creamer Attributed to Maine

Margaret H. Jewell Collection

A Lot of the Jewell Red Earthenware Collection was Acquired in Maine Before 1940

The Form is Very Similar to the Creamer Shown Above that I Found in a Shop in Bath, Maine

Stands Approximately 7" Tall

Circa 1820-1880

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Haverhill, Mass. 

A Closer View of the Creamer

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Haverhill, Mass. 

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