EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: June 2016

Monday, June 27, 2016

A Comparison of a 19th Century Upstate Western New York Red Earthenware Jar to a 19th Century Upstate Eastern New York Stoneware Jar

This is a red earthenware jar from my personal collection, which had previously been owned by a longtime collector in southeastern Michigan. It was likely made at the industry in Morganville, New York around the mid-nineteenth century or maybe a little earlier; whereas, a similar glaze, handles and incised decoration are known today from archaeology collected in Morganville.

However, I recently visited the Albany Museum of Art in Albany, New York, where I was given a tour of the museum's storage facility. There were a number of important examples of locally produced stoneware from the early-nineteenth century kept in this department, many of which had been previously published. But there was one jar that really stood out to me that was made at Paul Cushman's Stoneware Factory in Albany in the early-1800s. Each handle on this jar had been decorated with a number of finger impressions, which is very similar to the applied handles found on the jar that I now own from western New York.

I have not been able to determine any relationship since these jars were made decades apart; although, it is certainly interesting to see such a rare handle found on objects manufactured in opposite ends of upstate New York, separated by about 250 miles.

Western New York Red Earthenware Jar

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Made in Morganville, NY

Circa About Mid-19th Century

Stands 10 1/4" Tall
The Handles Are Similar to the Handles Found on the Stoneware Jar Posted Below

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

View of the Incised Decoration

View of One of the Handles

The Handles Are Similar to the Handles Found on the Stoneware Jar Posted Below

See Article for More Information

View of the Other Handle

The Handles Are Similar to the Handles Found on the Stoneware Jar Posted Below

See Article for More Information

View of the Interior

Paul Cushman Stoneware Factory Jar, Albany, NY

19th Century Objects Made at Paul Cushman's Stoneware Factory in Albany, NY
Circa 1805-1833
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Albany Institute of History & Art - Albany, NY

19th Century Stoneware Jar Made at Paul Cushman's Stoneware Factory in Albany, NY

Circa 1805-1833

Stands 11 1/4" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Albany Institute of History & Art - Albany, NY

View of One of the Handles

The Handles Are Similar to the Handles Found on the Red Earthenware Jar Posted Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Albany Institute of History & Art - Albany, NY

View of the Other Handle

The Handles Are Similar to the Handles Found on the Red Earthenware Jar Posted Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Albany Institute of History & Art - Albany, NY

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

Sunday, June 26, 2016

A Marbled Red Earthenware Dish Discovered Today in Western Massachusetts

Quickly, I would like to show this marbled red earthenware dish that I picked in a shop this afternoon in Palmer, Massachusetts. When I came across it, the dish was filled with nineteenth-century glass stoppers.

Initually, I had considered whether this object could have been produced in Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia in the 1960's, where similar objects were produced as novelty items for the tourist market; however, the lack of a Williamsburg stamp combined with the obvious wear on the interior suggests this plate was older (to me).

Nevertheless, this object also reminded me of a nineteenth-century marbled red earthenware dish that Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates sold last weekend in Mount Crawford, Virginia.

The dish was catalogued as an "English slip-decorated red earthenware dish with manganese, a lead glaze, a coggled pie crimp edge and swirled yellow slip-decoration from the early-nineteenth-century."

What I have done below is I have compared the dish that I discovered today to an actual twentieth-century dish made in Colonial Williamsburg, as-well-as a nineteenth-century slip-decorated loaf dish probably made by a country potter in the northeast of England; although, I have also shown the dish that was sold at Jeffrey Evans most recent auction.

Note: Try to notice the similarities and the differences found with the clay color in the objects that are shown below. I also want to mention that every dish I have ever seen from Colonial Williamsburg in this type of form and decoration is boldly stamped with the museum's mark.

The last bit information that I want to mention is that Robesonian, Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Greg Kramer owns a group of dishes that are similar to the dish that I found today. He has suggested to me in the past that his plates may have been made by a mid-to-late-nineteenth century or early-twentieth century potter in Pennsylvania.

Newly Discovered Dish

My Niece, Alexis with the Dish

Likely 19th Century Marbled Red Earthenware Dish Likely Made in England

Circa 1800-1900

Stands 1 3/4" Tall

Measures 10" in Diameter

Found Today in a Group Shop in Palmer, Mass.

View of the Base

Dish that Jeffrey Evans Sold

19th Century Marbled Red Earthenware Dish Likely Made in England

Circa 1800-1900

Measures 7 1/4" in Diameter

Stands 1 3/4" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA

Comparison to a 19th Century Dish Made in England

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Dish Possibly Made in Northeastern England

Circa 1800-1900

Stands 2 3/4" Tall

Measures 15 3/4" Long and 13 3/4" Wide

Found in Connecticut in 2015

View of the Bases

The Clay Color is Similar

Comparison to a 20th Century Colonial Williamsburg Dish

(Right) Colonial Williamsburg, VA Red Earthenware Dish

Circa 1960's

Stands 2" Tall

Measures 10 1/4" in Diameter

View of the Bases

The Dish on the Left is Impressed with Colonial Williamsburg's Stamp

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl or Jar Found in a Shop in Essex County, Massachusetts

Yesterday, I found an eighteenth-century enamel decorated English creamware teapot in a shop in Essex County, Massachusetts. I was rather surprised to see such an object; however, I was just as surprised when I found a nineteenth-century red earthenware bowl or jar in the same shop.

My initial reaction when I found this red earthenware object is that it must have been made by a skilled potter since it was so finely thrown. I also thought it was decorated in a beautiful glaze.

I feel this red earthenware object could have been a sugar bowl or another object used in a more formal setting, unlike some of the more traditional utilitarian red earthenware that survives today. The base is also glazed, which is not common to nineteenth-century New England potters, but it did occasionally happen.

I also want to mention that the reason I suggest this object is a bowl or a jar is the fact that it did originally possess a lid. There is a ledge on the inside of the rim where a lid would have rested. This would have been an incredibly small lid, too.

Nonetheless, I feel this is an object that could have been manufactured in Essex County, Massachusetts, central New Hampshire or southern Maine during the circa 1840-1880 period.

The New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, New Hampshire owns a similar formed unglazed red earthenware vase (see below) in its collection - and, the reason it is called a vase rather than a bowl or a jar is the fact that the museum's object never possessed a lid.

According to the New Hampshire Historical Society, "The unglazed red earthenware vase was made by John Farmer Clark in the Millville neighborhood in Concord, New Hampshire, circa 1876-1885. The ovoid-shaped object is in the form of an urn with two applied loop handles extending from the neck to the sides. This vase was one of three vases acquired by the donor's father, Gerhard Schade, Sr. in 1943.

According to typed notes found in two of the vases, the three vases were acquired in 1943 at the Albert S. Trask estate sale in the Millville section of Concord. The notes were written by the donor's father, Gerhard Schade, Sr.

Albert S. Trask (1859-1932) lived in the Sherman house on Fisk Road in Millville. He was a heating engineer at the nearby St. Paul's School, and he acquired these pieces from John Farmer Clark or his descendants in the late 19th century.

Gerhard Schade, Sr. gave the three vases to his three children at Christmas, 1974. He said they were made by the Estes Clark family at 297 Pleasant Street. Schade's family then donated the vases to the New Hampshire Historical Society in 2011."

Found in a Shop in Essex County, Mass.

(Left) 18th Century English Creamware Teapot

Circa 1780

(Right) Red Earthenware Bowl or Jar

Circa 1840-1880

Both Found in a Shop in Essex County, Mass.

Another View of the Teapot

19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl or Jar Probably Made in Central or Northern New England

Probably Made in Essex County, Mass., Central, New Hampshire or Southern Maine

Found in a Shop Yesterday in Essex County, Mass.

This Object Is Very Finely Made by a Skilled Potter

This Object Also Originally Included a Lid

Circa 1840-1880

Stands 4 1/8" Tall

A Similar Formed Object is Owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society (See Below)

Another View of the Bowl or Jar

View of One Handle

View of the Other Handle

View of the Interior

Another View of the Interior

View of the Base

Glazed Bases Are Rare From New England Potters, But It Was Done More Often After 1850

John Farmer Clark Pottery - Concord, NH

19th Century Red Earthenware Vase Made by John Farmer Clark - Millville, Concord, NH

Acquired by the Donor's Family in 1943 by a Descendant of John Farmer Clark

The Objects Were Found in a House in the Late 19th Century in Millville, Concord, NH

Circa 1876-1885

Stands 4 7/8" Tall

Form Is Similar to the Bowl or Jar Discussed Above

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Historical Society - Concord, NH

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Probably Made in Southern Maine

This is another example of the rare southern Maine splash technique that was applied in Buxton, Maine, and possibly in other southern Maine potter's businesses, as well, like those that were employed in Hollis, Maine before 1860. However, I believe this is an extremely rare pitcher likely made at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton.

The attribution is based on the rim, the handle and the manufacture of the footed base. Although, what makes this product even rarer today is the fact that many (most/all) of the handles that I have seen from products tied to Buxton are attached at the lip - however, in this case, the handle curves back and attaches at the body.

Earlier today, I commented on the variety of glazes produced in Buxton; but, this statement also pertains to some of the forms, as well: "A characteristic about the red earthenware made at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton is the company's bold decision to experiment with glazes over its seventy-or-so years of existence."

Note: This pitcher was purchased from a longtime New Hampshire collector about five-or-six years ago. The collector was downsizing part of his collection - and, he decided this was one of the objects that he did not need.

This rim also measures 1/4" tall, which is a subject that I discussed in a post yesterday that mentions a rim size from a product that was made in Buxton. That object's rim size was also 1/4" tall.

It also appears that this pitcher was drilled for a lamp at one time - although, the rarity of this piece makes it special no matter how it has survived today.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Possibly Made at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME

The Attribution is Based on the Rim, the Handle and the Footed Base
Circa 1820-1880

Stands 6 5/8" Tall

Another View of the Pitcher

View of the Handle

View of the Interior

View of the Foot and the Base
This Pitcher was Drilled for a Lamp Years Ago

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

A Very-Rare Red Earthenware Bowl that Appears Like it Could be Related to Two Very-Rare Maine-Made Objects

Yesterday, I wrote, "This (the following) nineteenth-century red earthenware jug appeared on eBay a few months ago - it was sold by a dealer, who operated out of Contoocook, New Hampshire. Contoocook is located about eleven-miles west of Concord, New Hampshire; however, the history behind why this jug was located in Contoocook was not explained in the eBay listing. I suspect this wonderfully-glazed jug was found elsewhere in New England, and it was merely sold out of Contoocook.

Nevertheless, I believe this is probably a very-rare Maine-made jug decorated in a very-unusual glaze. The handle suggests a southern Maine potter (to me), such as the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine.

The pictures show the heavy wear that this object (or artifact) sustained over the years; however, it also appears that this object remained in use despite a large amount of damage that happened around the rim. There is also heavy chipping around the body of the jug, which may have happened in transportation while the jug hung by a rope (see rope below).

Despite this object's obvious condition issues, I feel it is still important due to the very-rare glaze. Previously, this type of glaze has been loosely attributed to the Thomas Truxton Kendrick Pottery in Hollis, Maine before 1860; however, I feel this is more likely a product that was made at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine, circa 1820-1860.

A similar decorated red earthenware object sold last October at a Tim Gould Auction in Augusta, Maine - that object possessed a very-strong southern Maine provenance, and it was also attributed to the Bickord Pottery in Buxton, Maine.

That nineteenth-century handled pot was found in the basement of the Files Farm in Gorham, Maine by southern Maine collector, Rick Poore, who sold his lifelong collection of antiques through Tim Gould's auction company in 2015."

I also promised yesterday that I would show a large red earthenware bowl that I own, which was likely decorated in a similar unique-type of glaze that appears to be related to the jug and handled pot.

I purchased this bowl a few years ago from West Newbury, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Paul DeCoste; however, I believe he acquired it from Thomaston, Maine antiques dealer, Ross Levett. Nonetheless, this bowl had been previously owned for decades by a longtime Massachusetts red earthenware and stoneware collector.

A comparison of the glazes found on each of these objects seems to indicate that all of these glazes appear to be directly related. The manganese appears to have been brushed and splashed onto each object.

A characteristic about the red earthenware made at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton is the company's bold decision to experiment with glazes over its seventy-or-so years of existence. The following type of glazes are considered very-rare today.

I also want to mention that the footed base on this bowl is very-similar to footed bases on jugs, a pitcher and a handled pot that I own, which are properly attributed to the Bickford Pottery in Buxton today.

Note: I have shown a number of photos of the bowl below - I have indicated which photos were taken with a camera flask, and which photos were not taken with a camera flask. The reason I have done this is so a proper comparison can be made with the photos of the jug.

Red Earthenware Bowl Possibly Made in (Buxton) Maine