Two Examples of Rare William Pecker Stoneware that have Recently Come to Market

Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland was recently consigned two stoneware objects made by William Pecker (1758-1820) in Merrimacport, Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century. They were included in the company's sale last weekend. To my knowledge: these were two previously undocumented examples, although, it still leaves the known examples today at under ten.

However, both of these objects were interesting for separate reasons -- first, the jug is an undocumented form, where the previous known jugs were all shaped with a much-more ovoid body -- and, second, the jar is the first known example of stoneware that has been properly attributed to Pecker, which was not marked by Pecker. All of the known previous examples were marked with Pecker's stamp, 'Wm Pecker.'

The jar's attribution was partially based on the bird decoration, which has been seen on previous examples of marked stoneware made by Pecker. But I have also found archaeological evidence at the site of William Pecker's Pottery to support this attribution.

I have written in the past that archaeological evidence suggests that Pecker must have produced unmarked examples, as well. However, that idea has been only theory, but this jar has proven that not all of Pecker's stoneware was marked. I truly believe that there must be additional examples of Pecker's unmarked stoneware that exist today, which may be mistaken for stoneware made in New Jersey, New York City, Connecticut or Charlestown, Massachusetts.

Note: Here is a link to an article that I wrote for the August 2015 edition of the New England Antiques Journal, which discusses in detail what is known about William Pecker's stoneware production today.

William Pecker Stoneware Jug

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Stoneware Jug

Made by William Pecker - Merrimacport, Mass.

Operated the Pecker Pottery, Circa 1790-1820

Stands 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Crocker  Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Crocker  Farm - Sparks, MD

William Pecker Stoneware Jar

  Late-18th or Early-19th Century Stoneware Jar

Made by William Pecker - Merrimacport, Mass.

Operated the Pecker Pottery, Circa 1790-1820

This Side is Decorated with a Bird Perched on a Branch

Stands 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Crocker  Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Jar

This Side is Decorated with a Fish

Photo Courtesy: Crocker  Farm - Sparks, MD

William Pecker Stoneware Sherds

 Sherd Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

Sherd Recovered at the Site of William Pecker's Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

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