A few weeks ago, I wrote about two rare late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century stoneware objects that had been consigned to Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland, which were made by William Pecker (1758-1820) in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, circa 1790-1820. Neither object met its reserve; however, they were also previously unknown to me, where there are still less than ten examples of Pecker stoneware known to exist today.
The two objects included an important stoneware jar that was attributed to Pecker based on the overall form, as-well-as the incised bird and fish decoration. The incised bird also matched archaeological evidence, which I have recovered at the site of the Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport.
But there was also an unusual straight-sided stoneware jug consigned to Crocker Farm, which had been impressed with Pecker's mark, 'Wm Pecker.' I had commented saying that this was an unusual form since all of the previous known Pecker Pottery stoneware jugs were manufactured with an ovoid body.
William Pecker Red Earthenware
Nonetheless, last weekend, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia sold a straight-sided red earthenware jug that was also made at the William Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport. This was also an unusual form for red earthenware jugs that were produced at the Pecker Pottery, where most (but not all) of the company's jugs were made with an ovoid body, as well.
Interestingly, the form of the straight-sided red earthenware jug (see below) that sold in Virginia is almost a mirror image of the straight-sided stoneware jug (see below) that sold at Crocker Farm.
Historically speaking, this is a rare comparison, where a red earthenware jug and a stoneware jug can be compared, as-a-result of having been produced at the same small potter's business in the early-nineteenth century.
Typically, an American potter's business produced either red earthenware or stoneware, especially businesses located in New England. It is rare to find an eighteenth or nineteenth century American small potter's business, which produced both types of pottery, especially in the late-1700s and early-1800s. I think the comparison is even rarer when there is an obvious crossover that happened with the initial production of red earthenware to the eventual manucture of stoneware (or stoneware to red earthenware).
Note: I have included various examples of William Pecker's red earthenware production, which shows that red earthenware jugs from the Pecker Pottery are represented at a number of national museums, such as Old Strubridge Village in Massachusetts, the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., Historic New England and Winterthur in Delaware (not pictured).
Jug Sold by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Virginia
Likely Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
Stands 7" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA
Another View of the Jug
Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA
View of the Handle
Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA
William Pecker Straight-Sided Stoneware Jug
Likely Early-19th Century 1-Gallon Stoneware Jug
Made by William Pecker - Merrimacport, Mass.
Marked 'Wm Pecker'
Marked 'Wm Pecker'
Stands 9" Tall
Circa 1790-1820
Circa 1790-1820
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
View of the Handle
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD
William Pecker Ovoid Red Earthenware Jugs
Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
Stands 9 1/4" Tall
Previously Owned by William Pecker's Grandson
Lura Woodside Watkins Collection
See Figure 40b in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'
Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.
Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
Stands Approximately 7" Tall
Lura Woodside Watkins Collection
See Figure 40c in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'
Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.
Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
Stands 11" Tall
Lura Woodside Watkins Collection
See Figure 41b in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'
Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.
Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.
Circa 1790-1820
Stands Approximately 8 1/2" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Haverhill, Mass.
William Pecker Ovoid Stoneware Jug
Late-18th or Early-19th Century 2-Gallon Stoneware Jug
Made by William Pecker - Merrimacport, Mass.
Marked 'Wm Pecker'
Marked 'Wm Pecker'
Jug was Found in a House in Wenham, Mass. in 2012
Stands 9" Tall
Circa 1790-1820
Circa 1790-1820
View of the Handle
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