The pitcher was donated in 1957 by New Hampshire antiques dealer, Roger Bacon. However, I question the East Greenwich attribution since it seems like that information was drawn from the 'Early Rhode Island Pottery' article that I dissected yesterday, which was published in the January 1931 edition of the 'Magazine Antiques.'
The attribution in the 'Early Rhode Island Pottery' article was loosely based on glaze-color and clay-color. But, there was no archaeology or examples that had direct ties to the Upton family for such an attribution to exist. I believe that article has been used ever since for the basis of a Rhode Island attribution.
The article was written by noted Cape Cod, Massachusetts collector, Charles D. Cook; however, Cook was also likely friends with antiques collector, Mrs. William Whitman, Jr., who lived in Simsbury, Connecticut. She owned a wonderful collection of early pottery; although, she is also responsible for a bad attribution that is often still used today, where she attributed in the 1920's a style of European stoneware to Jeremiah Burpee (1781-1862) in Boscowan, New Hampshire. She also published a group of pottery that she attributed to Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod, which is actually believed to have been made in southeastern Massachusetts in the 1700's. Here is a link to an article that further discusses this information. Unfortunately, I feel that Charles D. Cook may have misled collectors and museums when he published the article, 'Early Rhode Island Pottery.'
According to Old Sturbridge Village, "This green-glazed redware pitcher was found in New Hampshire. It is attributed to the Upton brothers pottery in East Greenwich, Rhode Island based on the jade green glaze, the form of the body and handle and the double beaded rim."
Although, Charles D. Cook also illustrates two matching pitchers in his article, 'Early Rhode Island Pottery,' which he describes with similar characteristics.
I do not believe there is enough information today to attribute any pottery to eighteenth-century Rhode Island without further evidence, such as archaeology or pottery that is tied directly to the Upton brothers. I may have overlooked it, but I have not seen that kind evidence, yet.
There is also a handful of examples of pottery tied to the Uptons today, which seems unlikely, especially since this business is only known to have employed the Upton brothers. It was not an industry; rather, it was a small business. They were also only in business for about twelve-years over two-hundred and thirty-years ago. How much could have actually survived from this production?
The Uptons reportedly operated circa 1771-1783, where they had to build a kiln, find a clay source and produce pottery. It seems unlikely (to me) that they would have been producing pottery in large quantities. I feel it is more likely that a lot of this green-glazed pottery that is tied to the Uptons today would have been made in southeastern Massachusetts.
There was a known eighteenth-century potter's industry in southeastern Massachusetts, which employed dozens of talented potters at multiple businesses, where those businesses also fired pottery in a number of kilns. This industry was also only about thirty-miles north of East Greenwich, Rhode Island; understandably, red earthenware from southeastern Massachusetts would have easily traveled to Rhode during the 1771-1783 period.
Here is a link to an article that I wrote a few months ago that shows a group of eighteenth and early-nineteenth-century pottery from southeastern Massachusetts, which retains an early context of ownership in Rhode Island. All of this pottery is owned by the Little Compton, Rhode Island Historical Society today.
Note: Here is the link to the article that I posted yesterday, which further discusses the idea of what can be said about Rhode Island pottery today versus what was attributed to Rhode Island in 1931.
Here is also a link to a matching pitcher that sold at Skinner in Boston a few years ago. This pitcher retained a history of ownership in southeastern Massachusetts. It is also attributed to southeastern Massachusetts, circa 1790-1830, which contradicts the attribution that was given to this form in Charles D. Cook's article.
Old Sturbridge Village Pitcher
Late-18th or Early-19th Century Green-Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher
This Form was Attributed to the Upton Pottery in East Greenwich, RI in 1931
However, I Feel it was Made in Southeastern Massachusetts
Circa 1780-1830
Stands 10 1/2" Tall
See Article For More Information
Donated to Old Sturbridge Village in Mass. by NH Antiques Dealer, Roger Bacon
Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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