In 1855, William opened a red earthenware potter's shop in Markham, Ontario. He sold it two years later to John Byer, and purchased land from Burton Curtis at Conestogo in 1857.
Even at the most active period of his career, William was at most a part-time potter, carrying on the business during the winter months, alternating with farming for the rest of the year. For several years prior to building a house, the family lived in a cramped, but warm quarters on the second floor of the pottery."
The following two objects are believed to be examples of Eby's work in Conestogo; although, he was a potter, who experimented with a variety of glazes, which likely explains his rich body of work that survives today. I feel that Eby's output can be compared to some of the potters, who were active in southern Maine during the circa 1820-1880 period, where archaeological evidence has proven that some of these potters utilized dozens of different glaze styles during the span of their careers.
An unusual style of decoration that Eby used in Conestogo was a green slip-decoration that was often applied over a colorful glaze, which is seen on the following sugar bowl that is attributed to Eby. He is also known to have used other slip-colors, such as darker styles, which included painted cherries on dishes and plates.
William K. Eby Sugar Bowl
19th Century Red Earthenware Sugar Bowl
Attributed to William K. Eby - Conostogo, ON
Circa 1875-1900
Photo Courtesy: Joseph Schneider Haus Museum - Kitchener, ON
Possibly William K. Eby Jar
19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made at the William K. Eby Pottery - Conostogo, ON
Circa 1875-1900
Decoration is Comparable to the Sugar Bowl Above
Decoration is Comparable to the Sugar Bowl Above
Stands 9 3/4" Tall
Purchased at an Auction in Western Mass. in 2014
Another View of the Flower Decoration
View of the Interior
View of the Base
The reason for this article today is a result of a similar decorated line of products, which I have seen come to auction in the past five-to-ten years sometimes attributed to Virginia. I have always assumed this attribution was correct; however, now that I have given this topic some thought, I do not believe these type of jars are associated to Virginia in any such way.
Nevertheless, I have also seen this style of jar attributed to western New York before, which is likely the result of Lorenzo Johnson producing a line of red earthenware to imitate cobalt-decorated stoneware in the mid-nineteenth-century. But, I do not think the following jar was manufactured with any intent to imitate stoneware. I think an easy attribution would be to say that this type of jar was made by Lorenzo Johnson; however, a similar style of decoration also may have been applied in Ontario in the second-half of the nineteenth-century, which is seen on the jar above.
Note: I have also seen this style of jar generically attributed to New England, and Connecticut; however, these are inaccurate attributions.
Style of Jar in Question
19th Century Red Earthenware Jar with a Dark Slip Flower Decoration
Slip-Decoration is Comparable to Styles Used in Western NY, Ontario and Possibly Elsewhere
Circa 1840-1880
Stands 10 1/4" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Pook & Pook - Downington, PA
Lorenzo Johnson Red Earthenware
19th Century Red Earthenware Crock
Attributed to Lorenzo Johnson - Erie County, NY
Made to Imitate Stoneware Produced in Western New York
Circa 1850
Photo Courtesy: New York State Museum - Albany, NY
19th Century 5-Gallon Red Earthenware Butter Churn
Made by Lorenzo Johnson - Erie County, NY
Made to Imitate Stoneware Produced in Western New York
Circa 1850
Photo Courtesy: New York State Museum - Albany, NY
View of Lorenzo Johnson's Mark on the Butter Churn
Photo Courtesy: New York State Museum - Albany, NY
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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