A Collection of Objects Once Owned by Peter Clark in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire

At this year's 'Antiques Week in New Hampshire,' I met Jamie Franklin, who is a curator at the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont. He told me that he had read my latest article in the 'New England Antiques Journal,' which examined, Peter Clark, an eighteenth and nineteenth-century red earthenware potter from Massachusetts and New Hampshire. He said the Bennington Museum owns a collection of objects, which are directly linked to Clark's life around the American Revolution in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire.

The fact that these objects have been preserved by the museum is remarkable; the items include objects that were actually owned by Clark, such as a candlestand, a sword and a candle snuffer. However, the collection also includes a red earthenware jar that the museum acquired in 1958, which was made by Clark - and, an actual Queen Anne-style chair that was also made by Clark.

I think it's incredible to learn that Clark apparently also had the ability to manufacture quality country-style furniture. Although, this probably helps support an idea, which I implied a few weeks ago, where I suggested that the more talented nineteenth-century American stoneware decorators had the ability to create other forms of folk art, as well. Curiously, I wondered how many of these decorators may have experimented in other fields.

This chair is proof that Clark likely also created some country-style furniture in his spare time. The quality of this chair easily suggests that this could not have been the only piece of furniture that Clark created. But Clark also owned a store in Lyndeborough - and, as a result, I guess it is also possible that he may have sold furniture, which he also created. Unfortunately, this production seems like it is mostly forgotten today.

Note: Here is a link to the Peter Clark article, which I wrote for the August 2016 edition of the 'New England Antiques Journal.'

Here is also a link to the article, where I discussed the idea of stoneware decorators and what else they may have produced in the 1800's.

I also apologize for the quality of these photos, but these are the only images that I currently have access to use from the museum.

-- THE BENNINGTON MUSEUM'S PETER CLARK COLLECTION --

Red Earthenware Jar
"This jar shares certain features with others made by Peter Clark, including straight and wavy incised bandings and a yellow-green glaze with yellow spots and brown streaks. The yellow spots are the results of mineral impurities in the clay, in this case, iron, which melted during firing, coloring the surrounding clay."

18th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Peter Clark - Lyndeborough, NH

Acquired in 1958

Circa 1775-1800

Stands 8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Brass Candle Snuffer
"This scissor shaped brass candle snuffer was used and owned by Captain Peter Clark of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire in the eighteenth-century."

18th Century Brass Candle Snuffer Owned by Peter Clark - Lyndeborough, NH

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Peter Clark Letter
"This two-page letter was written by Captain Peter Clark of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire to his wife and family describing the Battle of Bennington, which he recently participated under General John Stark. The letter is dated August 18, 1777."

Letter Written by Peter Clark Describing the Battle at Bennington

Page 1

 Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Letter Written by Peter Clark Describing the Battle at Bennington

Page 2

 Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Peter Clark Letter
"This handwritten letter was written by Captain Peter Clark on October 3, 1778 - the letter was written to Captain Chase Taylor of Sanborntown, New Hampshire demanding payment for gun and other articles used and lost in the Battle of Bennington."

Letter Written by Peter Clark Demanding Payment for the Battle at Bennington

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Sword
"This sword was owned by Captain Peter Clark, and it may have been used at the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777."

18th Century Sword Owned by Captain Peter Clark - Lyndeborough, NH

Sword was Possibly Used at the Battle at Bennington on August 16, 1777

Measures 28 1/2" Long

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

 Another View of the Sword

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Candlestand

"This eighteenth-century brass and iron candlestand was owned and used by Captain Peter Clark of Lyndeborough, New Hampshire in the eighteenth-century."

18th Century Candlestand Owned and Used by Peter Clark - Lyndeborough, NH

Stands 55" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

Chair

"This chair is said to be Captain Peter Clark's rural interpretation of the Queen Anne style, made of maple with a rush seat. It was reportedly made by Clark in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire."

18th Century Queen Ann Style Chair Made by Peter Clark - Lyndeborough, NH

Circa 1775-1800

Stands 38 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum - Bennington, VT

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