EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Red Earthenware Bird Discovered in Brimfield, Massachusetts

Thursday, July 14, 2016

A Red Earthenware Bird Discovered in Brimfield, Massachusetts

I spent the past few days picking the antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts - and, luckily, I discovered a few pieces of pottery. I would say that my most unusual find is probably this unglazed red earthenware bird. Your initial reaction may be to say that this does not appear like the color of traditional red earthenware; however, hear me out.

The dealer, who I purchased this object from lives in Maine - he said all of his inventory also comes from Maine. He said this bird was recently discovered in an old house he was hired to clean out in Paris, Maine, which is located about fifty-miles to the northwest of Portland, Maine. The dealer also said that he felt this object was made to be used as a "Pie Bird."

According to Wikipedia, "Funnel-style steam vents have been placed in the center of meat and fruit pies during cooking since the Victorian Era (circa 1837-1901). The bird shaped steam vent came after the funnel system was already in use.

Pie funnels were used to prevent pie filling from boiling up and leaking through the crust by allowing steam to escape from inside the pie. They also supported the pastry crust in the center of the pie, so that it did not sag in the middle, and are occasionally known as crust holders."

The dealer's observation may be correct - this could very-well be a pie bird. This object is also entirely burned or blackened, and that may have been the result of continuous use in an oven. Similar blackened unglazed bases are found on all sorts of red earthenware forms today from exposure to hot temperatures and an open flame.

Nonetheless, I was really impressed with the skill and detail found in this object - it speaks (to me) as a true example of folk art.

It appears that the base may have been hand-thrown on a potter's wheel, and the remainder of the object seems to have been hand-modeled with detailed hand-applied decoration.

Normally, I may suggest that this bird is a whimsical object; however, the hollow tube that begins at the base, which leads through the bottom-half of the object until it is met by nine punched holes may suggest otherwise.

Note: I have shown a burned or blackened nineteenth-century Pennsylvania-made red earthenware dish below that demonstrates how this so-called pie bird may have became blackened. Both of these objects were likely exposed to very-hot temperatures.