A Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish that is Owned by the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts

In recent months, I have written about two late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century red earthenware objects that were likely made in Philadelphia, which retain a nineteenth-century history of ownership in Massachusetts. Additionally, sherds from Philadelphia-made red earthenware objects have also been recovered in early-nineteenth-century archaeological contexts in Massachusetts, which suggests (to me) that Philadelphia pottery must have been exported to New England in the 1800's.

An advertisement, which ran in the Newport (Rhode Island) Mercury on June 22, 1767 likely explains how Philadelphia pottery was viewed in New England in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries: "Joseph Wilson - potter at the North End of Providence Informs the Public that he can Supply them with Earthen Ware at a Cheap Rate, made in the best Manner and Glazed in the Same Way as Practised in Philadelphia - All Persons in this Town may be regularly supplied by Means of the Boats which constantly pass between this Place and Providence."

Potentially, there is another documented example of pottery that may have been made in Pennsylvania, which was acquired in 1984 by the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This object also retains a history of ownership in New Bedford, which is interesting since southeastern Massachusetts also supported a very-successful red earthenware potter's industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. 

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins also quickly mentioned a type of slipware that was found on Cape Cod (not far from New Bedford) in the early-to-mid-nineteenth-century in figure 54 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' Watkins described it as "a red earthenware tray with bands of wavy lines in light slip." She suggested that the object may have been made on Long Island (or somewhere else), but I suspect that this could also be a Philadelphia-made product.

New Bedford Whaling Museum Dish

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Possibly Made in Philadelphia

Retains a History of Ownership in New Bedford, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

 Measures Approximately 16"-18" Long

Photo Courtesy: New Bedford Whaling Museum - New Bedford, Mass.

Dish Found on Cape Cod Before 1950

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Possibly Made in Philadelphia

Retains a History of Ownership on Cape Cod in Massachusetts

Circa 1790-1820

Measures 18 1/2" Long

Pictured in Figure 54 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

Photo Courtesy: 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' Watkins, Harvard University

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