I have read through the information that was provided about the North Yarmouth potter's industry by author, Manlif Lelyn Branin, which he wrote in his book, 'The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine.' It appears that all this author did was expand upon what was written in 1950 by Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' Watkins had basically done all the difficult research, where she provided a timeline that discussed the various businesses, which were employed in North Yarmouth in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries.
However, Branin never provided any actual evidence with the types of wares that were made in North Yarmouth. He speculated what may have been made, but he never contributed any actual proof. I truly believe that it is because of this lack of information, which was published by Branin in 1978 that this industry has been basically overlooked today.
Branin could have easily completed more research. Branin could have also have visited the Yarmouth Historical Society to view the museum's collection, but he did not. The museum owned plenty of evidence in 1978, but for some reason they were overlooked. I have also heard there are similar issues with Branin's book, 'The Early Makers of Handcrafted Earthenware and Stoneware in Central and Southern New Jersey.'
Nevertheless, North Yarmouth was arguably Maine's largest industry for the manufacture of red earthenware for about one-hundred years. This industry targeted local homes and Portland, Maine, but it also shipped wholesale orders to other areas in New England. This production has been almost completely forgotten today.
When was the last time you heard a piece of pottery attributed to North Yarmouth?! The last object that I saw was in the Hilary and Paulette Nolan Collection, which was sold by Northeast Auctions in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2004.
It appears to me that the North Yarmouth potter's industry was directly tied to Massachusetts. But it was also an industry, where potters came to learn the potter's craft.
The names associated with the North Yarmouth potter's industry are names that don't get used today. The names include Brooks, Bruce, Cleaves, Corliss, Foster and Thomas - and, these were all very active (and mostly multi-generational) businesses.
It has been said by collectors for years (and published) that the red earthenware potters in Maine never glazed the base of any object outside of flower pots, which were commonly produced in the late-nineteenth-century. I have suggested otherwise in the past, but I have been told that this idea was unlikely. However, the concept that glazed bases were not produced in Maine is completely false - throw that idea out the window (see below).
Yesterday, I saw a small group of green-glazed sherds, which matched what was said to be a unique green-glaze produced by the potters in southeastern Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. I also saw the use of slip-decoration, where slip was used to entirely cover an object. I also saw red earthenware that had been signed - and, I even saw a potter's stamp.
The following jug is an example of the pottery that was made in North Yarmouth, which was intentionally produced with a glazed base. This jug was made at the Foster Pottery in North Yarmouth, circa 1840-1878. The Foster Pottery was a multi-generational potter's business, which was established by Nathaniel Foster in 1840, and later operated by his children, Benjamin Foster and William Henry Foster until 1878.
Note: All of this research is for an article that I plan to write for publication in 2017; however, I will continue to share information about this relatively forgotten potter's industry today.
Foster Pottery - North Yarmouth, Maine
19th Century Red Earthenware Jug with a Glazed Base
Attributed to the Foster Pottery - North Yarmouth, ME
Circa 1840-1878
Stands Approximately 6" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Yarmouth, Maine Historical Society
View of the Handle
Photo Courtesy: Yarmouth, Maine Historical Society
View of the Glazed Base
Photo Courtesy: Yarmouth, Maine Historical Society
Another View of the Glazed Base
Photo Courtesy: Yarmouth, Maine Historical Society
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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