The Study About the Relatively Forgotten Potter's Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine: Report Number 4

Previously, the most extensive research, which has been attempted in order to identify the late-eighteenth and nineteenth-century red earthenware potteries in North Yarmouth, Maine may have been overseen by Margarett Jewell, an early-to-mid-twentieth-century antiques collector, who wrote a few articles for 'Old Time New England' about early New England potteries. 

Her 'Old Time New England' articles include a report written about the John Corliss Pottery in Woolwich, Maine, which was published in 1932 - and, also an article written about the Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine, which was also published in 1932

Evidently, I feel it is a safe bet to say that Margarett Jewell likely helped Lura Woodside Watkins with some of her research for 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' especially with the Maine potter's businesses, which was a major area of interest for Miss Jewell.

Many of the Maine-made red earthenware objects that were collected by Margarett Jewell were also eventually bequested to Historic New England in the 1970's; although, some of the objects were also directly donated by Miss Jewell in the 1930's. These objects currently reside in the museum's storage facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts. But she also donated a collection of red earthenware to the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, New Hampshire.

I would also suggest that Miss Jewell provided some (possibly a lot) of the information about the businesses in North Yarmouth, which Lura Woodside Watkins cites in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' 

Interestingly, Watkins wrote in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' that there is still a great deal, yet to be learned about the North Yarmouth potter's industry; "The record of these Yarmouth establishments covers almost a century. During that time many changes must have taken place. The examples that have been salvaged (by 1950) were no doubt made in the late period. Since three of the four shops were still running up to 1880 or later, they represent the final stage in New England redware manufacture."

This is a jug that was donated to the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. by Lura Woodside Watkins, which she says was made in North Yarmouth, but there is no attribution given for a specific potter's business.

According to Watkins, "This little jug was made in North Yarmouth. It has a grayish-green glaze dotted with green. The base is inscribed 'HPB' and the words 'Wine Jug.'"

This is an object that I handled a few years ago when I visited the American red earthenware and stoneware storage department at the Smithsonian. The inscription on the base was not done by the potter - but, instead, it was likely scratched into the base by an early-or-mid-nineteenth-century owner. The fact that this object is described on the base as a "wine jug" likely means that this is how this object was used in an early context of ownership in comparison to when this jug was manufactured during the circa 1820-1860 period.

North Yarmouth, Maine Jug

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to North Yarmouth, ME

Attributed to North Yarmouth by Lura Woodside Watkins

But I Bet the Attribution was Developed by Margarett Jewell in the Early-20th Century

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 5 3/4" Tall

Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

View of the Handle

Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

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