An 18th Century Red Earthenware Pan that Appears to be Related to Sherds Recovered in Danversport, Massachusetts

This eighteenth-century slip-decorated red earthenware dish is a very-exciting object that I recently saw at Old Sturbridge Village's storage facility in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. This object was donated by renowned New Hampshire antiques dealer, Roger Bacon in the 1960's.

The swirled slip-decoration on this object matches a small group of sherds, which I have recovered on the Bass River in Danversport, Massachusetts. I have always felt that these sherds were likely made in either Danvers, Massachusetts or Peabody, Massachusetts in the 1700's.

I have also always wondered how these sherds would have appeared as a whole form - and, as a result, I think this dish is an extremely exciting discovery since slip-decoration was not all that popular with Essex County, Massachusetts potters during this period.

Note: Roger Bacon's red earthenware collection at Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire also recently helped identify an important jar that I discovered earlier this year in Brimfield, Massachusetts. Bacon obviously focused on the rarer objects, which were available to him in the 1960's and 1970's. It appears that he appreciated the hard-to-find eighteenth-century slip-decorated products from Massachusetts.

Here is a link to the article that examines the jar, which I found a few months ago in Brimfield - here is also a link to a story that discusses another slip-decorated pan that recently sold in Manchester, New Hampshire.

Slip-Decorated Dish Owned by Old Sturbridge Village

18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Attributed to Essex County, Massachusetts

A Matching Slip-Decoration Has Been Found on Sherds Recovered in Danversport, Mass.

Circa 1770-1810

Donated by Roger Bacon to Old Sturbridge Village

Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.

Slip-Decorated Sherds Recovered in Danversport, Mass.

Slip-Decorated Sherd Recovered in Danversport, Mass.

Likely Made in Either Danvers, Mass. or Peabody, Mass.

This Slip-Decoration Matches the Slip on the Pan that is Owned by Old Sturbridge Village 

Slip-Decorated Sherd Recovered in Danversport, Mass.

Likely Made in Either Danvers, Mass. or Peabody, Mass.

This Slip-Decoration Matches the Slip on the Pan that is Owned by Old Sturbridge Village 

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