A Wonderful (and Unusual) Red Earthenware Pitcher Recently Discovered on Mount Desert Island in Maine

This is a really neat nineteenth-century red earthenware pitcher, which was recently discovered by Maine antiques collector and picker, Chris Havey on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park in Maine. He told me that he discovered it in a small shop.

Chris also mentioned to me when I saw him last week at the Union, Maine Antiques Show that the form of this object reminded him of some nineteenth-century American-made stoneware pitchers.

Truthfully, I have never seen this exact form in red earthenware before; although, I have seen similar formed red earthenware pitchers attributed to Massachusetts, Vermont and Ontario from various production periods throughout the nineteenth-century. For what it matters: I do not believe this is a product that was made in Pennsylvania.

For example, the Bidwell House Museum in Monterey, Massachusetts owns a pitcher that is not exactly like this pitcher, but the idea is similar, and the museum attributes their object to Massachusetts. Unfortunately, no specific county, city, town, potter's business or potter is credited for its production. I feel the same idea can be applied to the pitchers, which I refer to that are attributed to Vermont and Ontario today, where the styles appear similar, but the form is not exactly the same.

Nevertheless, I feel this pitcher is likely a northern New England or Canadian-made product; however, I am hesitant to say that a similar form was made in Massachusetts, like the Bidwell House Museum suggests. I am not confident that there is sufficient evidence today to prove this is a Massachusetts-type of form from  the 1800's.

I really feel this is an incredible example of nineteenth-century red earthenware with a highly unusual form to find today. I have never seen anything exactly like this object before from an American or Canadian potter. Although, I would not rule out the idea that this product may have been made in any number of locations that include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Ontario, circa 1840-1880.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Northern New England or Canada

Recently Found in a Shop on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park in Maine

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

Circa 1840-1880

Another View of the Pitcher

View of the Handle

View of the Interior

View of the Base

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