Objects have included works by George Ohr in Biloxi, Mississippi, Newcomb Pottery from New Orleans, Louisiana, William Grueby Pottery from South Boston, Massachusetts, Marblehead, Massachusetts Pottery, Saturday Evening Girls Pottery from Boston, Massachusetts, Van Briggle Pottery from Colorado Springs, Colorado, Rookwood Pottery from Cincinnati, Ohio, Russell Crook from South Lincoln, Massachusetts, Hugh Robertson from Dedham, Massachusetts, and William J. Walley from West Sterling, Massachusetts.
However, my personal favorite - and, possibly for biased reasons are the products that were made at Thomas Nickerson's Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts, circa 1897-1908. I assume this is the largest collection of Merrimac Pottery to have ever been sold at a public auction; although, I cannot be one-hundred percent certain of that statement.
According to Volume IX of 'The House Beautiful: The American Authority on Household Art,' published in December of 1900, "Beginning May 22nd, 1901, there is an exhibition in Boston of a new pottery company (established in 1897) known as the Merrimac Ceramic Company.
This new venture was made under the direction of Thomas S. Nickerson, a member of the Boston Society of Arts and Crafts. The exhibition was particularly devoted to pottery for use in obtaining formal garden affects, and for foliage plants and shrubs upon windows and terraces.
Mr. Nickerson does not confine himself to unglazed pottery (which was typical of the period for garden products), however, and has experimented very successfully in glazes and colors."
The Merrimac Ceramic Company later changed its name to the Merrimac Pottery Company - and, the name change also marked the transition from the Merrimac Ceramic Company's paper label to the Merrimac Pottery Company's impressed sturgeon mark.
Nevertheless, the Newburyport-made objects that recently sold at Rago Fine Arts in New Jersey are wonderful examples from both periods of the company's production. Although, it seems that prices may be down a bit from where they were a few years ago for the mid-level pieces. It should be no surprise, either that the high-end products from the Merrimac Pottery Company appear to still achieve very strong prices in today's marketplace.
The rarest object was likely a booklet from the Merrimac Pottery Company, which shows the company's high-end terracotta garden urns and other garden objects that were made available for formal gardens all over the country in 1905.
To my knowledge, the only other Merrimac Pottery Company booklet in existence today is owned by the Phillips Library in Peabody, Massachusetts, which is a library that is owned and operated by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts. Surprisingly, the booklet did not sell.
Note: The person, who consigned this booklet outbid the Old Newbury Historical Society in Newburyport, Massachusetts the last time the booklet sold less than ten-years ago.
MERRIMAC POTTERY THAT SOLD ON APRIL 15, 2016
SOLD AT RAGO FINE ARTS IN NEW JERSEY
Lot #1316SOLD AT RAGO FINE ARTS IN NEW JERSEY
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery - Newburyport, Mass.
Circa 1897-1908
Measures 7 1/2" x 9"
Sold for $400
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #1317
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery - Newburyport, Mass.
Circa 1897-1908
(Left) Bowl or Bulb Planter
(Right) Wall Pocket
Sold for $200
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #1318
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Bowls or Planters - Newburyport, Mass.
Circa 1897-1908
Sold for $325
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #1318A
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Mugs - Newburyport, Mass.
Circa 1897-1908
Sold for $100
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #1319
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vases - Newburyport, Mass.
Circa 1897-1908
Sold for $150
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
MERRIMAC POTTERY THAT SOLD ON JUNE 4, 2016
SOLD AT RAGO FINE ARTS IN NEW JERSEY
Lot #103
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 6 3/4" Tall
Sold for $900
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #104
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Original Paper Label Attached
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 6" Tall
Sold for $3,250
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #105
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Obscured Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 6 1/2" Tall
Sold for $700
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #106
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 14 1/4" Tall
Lot Passed
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #107
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vases - Newburyport, Mass.
Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 9 1/2" Tall
Sold for $1,100
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #108
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vases - Newburyport, Mass.
Green Vase Unmarked, Orange Vase Obscured Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Sold for $800
Each Stands 6 1/2" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #109
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Impressed Sturgeon Mark and Original Paper Label Attached
Circa 1897-1908
Lot Passed
Stands 4 1/4" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #110
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Partial Original Paper Label Attached
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 7 3/4" Tall
Sold for $1,900
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #111
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Lamp Base and Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Lamp Unmarked, Vase Original Paper Label Attached
Circa 1897-1908
Lamp Stands 14" Tall with Lamp Shade
Vase Stands 6 1/2" Tall
Sold for $1,500
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #112
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase - Newburyport, Mass.
Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 12 1/2" Tall
Sold for $900
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #390
Extremely Rare 1905 Merrimac Pottery Garden Pottery Booklet - Newburyport
Only Other Booklet Known is Owned by the Phillips Library in Peabody Mass.
The Phillips Library is Owned and Operated by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass.
The Phillips Library is Owned and Operated by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Mass.
Lot Passed
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #391
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery - Newburyport, Mass.
Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 11 1/2" Tall
Sold for $750
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #392
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Jars - Newburyport, Mass.
Unmarked
Circa 1897-1908
Lot Passed
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #393
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vases - Newburyport, Mass.
Larger Unmarked, Smaller Impressed with Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Lot Passed
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #394
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Wall Pocket - Newburyport, Mass.
Unmarked
Circa 1897-1908
Stands 5" Tall
Sold for $500
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #395
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Objects - Newburyport, Mass.
Left Unmarked, Right Original Paper Label Attached
Circa 1897-1908
Sold for $400
Note: The Blue and White Jar Sold for $1,100 in Amesbury, Mass. in 2015
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #396
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Objects - Newburyport, Mass.
Green Original Paper Label Attached, Blue Unmarked
Circa 1897-1908
Each Stands 3 1/2" Tall
Sold for $400
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #397
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Pots - Newburyport, Mass.
Larger Unmarked, Smaller Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Lot Passed
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Lot #398
19th Century Red Earthenware Merrimac Pottery Vase and Mug - Newburyport, Mass.
Vase Unmarked, Mug Impressed Sturgeon Mark
Circa 1897-1908
Lot Passed
Photo Courtesy: Rago Arts & Auction Center - Lambertville, NJ
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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