The Origin of a Known Group of 19th Century Earthenware Mugs and Pitchers

According to the Amana Colonies Visitors Bureau, "The Amana Colonies in Iowa are a group of settlements of German Prietists, compromising seven villages. Calling themselves the Ebenezer Society of the Community of True Inspiration, die Gemeinde der wahren Inspiration, they first settled in New York state near Buffalo in what is now the town of West Seneca. However, in order to live out their beliefs in more isolated surroundings they moved west to the rich soil of east-central Iowa (near present-day Iowa City) in 1855. They lived a communal life until the mid-1930s.

A striking feature of the Amana Colonies is that for eighty years they maintained an almost completely self-sufficient local economy, importing very little from the wider, industrializing U.S. economy. The Amanians were able to achieve this independence and life style by adhering to the specialized handcrafts and farming occupations which they had brought with them from Germany."

I have not been able to locate much information about utilitarian pottery production at the Amana Colonies; although, it is reported today that a potter named, John Fritz produced earthenware, circa 1856-1900. He is known to have manufactured faux wooden forms, such as pitchers and mugs often decorated with acorns, branches, leaves and animals; although, these also rare objects to find today. Fritz is also known to have marked some of his pottery on the base with an impressed stamp, "John Frtiz."

Nonetheless, I have determined that there is some confusion today with where Fritz actually worked; I have read that he was employed in Amana, but I have also found that this type of production has been attributed to Pennsylvania, as well.

It is unclear what type of relationship Fritz had with Philadelphia since Amana is located almost 1,000 miles to the west; whereas, Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland sold a mug made by Fritz in 2015 that was inscribed on the base, "JOHN FRITZ / 5TH R. SOMERSET ST. / PHIL."

19th Century Painted Faux Tree Earthenware Pitcher

 19th Century Earthenware Faux Tree Pitcher

Attributed to John Fritz - Amana, Iowa
But These Type of Forms Have Also Been Attributed to Pennsylvania

Circa 1856-1890

Stands 10 1/4" Tall
Link to Another Pitcher Posted on eBay

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- CollectiblesNBooksNStuff

 Another View of the Pitcher

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- CollectiblesNBooksNStuff

 View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- CollectiblesNBooksNStuff

View of the Interior

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- CollectiblesNBooksNStuff

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- CollectiblesNBooksNStuff

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

A 19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Pitcher Found in a Junk Shop in New Hampshire that was Likely Made in Pennsylvania

I had almost forgotten about three nineteenth century molded red earthenware pitchers that I purchased from various places years ago, where they have been carefully tucked away in my cellar ever sense. However, while organizing my cellar this morning, I pulled these three objects out and began to wonder where they were made. I plan to show all three of these objects over the next few days; although, tonight I have written about the first of these three pitchers.

Molded Red Earthenware Pitcher with Relief Decoration: I purchased this pitcher in a junk shop in Loconia, New Hampshire probably three-or-four years ago, and at the time, I thought this pitcher appeared American, but I was suspect to its actual origin. The combination of the form, the decoration, the base, and the glaze really intrigued me.

Nevertheless, I gave this pitcher a good amount of thought today, but I am still a little confused as to its maker. The fact that it is molded with decoration in relief makes me wonder if it could have been made in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where companies, like the Swope Pottery are known to have produced molded red earthenware jars decorated with figures in arched panels.

But here is also a link to a nineteenth century red earthenware pitcher with a nearly identical molded base that was likely made in Lancaster County, which Crocker Farm sold in Sparks, Maryland in 2011.

Whereas, this pitcher also reminds me of similar molded, glazed and decorated pottery that was made by John Bell in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, circa 1850-1880. It is also worth mentioning that the clusters of grapes in relief, which have been applied below the rim is also a style of relief decoration that Bell is known to have used in the 1800s.

Here is a link to a John Bell red earthenware pitcher that was sold by Crocker Farm in 2016, which is definitely comparable to the pitcher that I found in New Hampshire, especially the handle and glaze.

Note: I may be wrong, but I believe this glaze was created with the combination of slip or an orange base and manganese - this is a similar style that John Bell would have likely used when he created a complementary glaze.

Molded Red Earthenware Pitcher Found in Laconia, New Hampshire

 19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Pennsylvania

Possibly Made in Lancaster County, PA

Possibly Made in Waynesboro, PA

Circa 1840-1890

Stands 7 3/8" Tall

Found a Few Years Ago in Laconia, NH

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Pitcher

View of the Spout

 View of the Handle

A Pitcher Made by John Bell in Waynesboro, PA Exhibits a Similar Handle

View of the Interior

View of the Base

A Pitcher Made in Lancaster County, PA Exhibits a Similar Base

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

An 18th Century Red Earthenware Molasses Jar Found in an Old House in Annisquam, Massachusetts

Two weeks ago, I wrote, "Eighteenth century thick rimmed red earthenware syrup jars have been recovered in a few different archaeological contexts in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that include the Piscataqua River, which likely proves the route that some of these jars traveled when they arrived in the city before the American Revolution.

Nevertheless, similar whole jars have been discovered in early-contexts of ownership only a few miles to the north in York, Maine. A jar that was likely Caribbean-made was discovered a few years ago inside an eighteenth century home in Old York Village when York auctioneer, Hap Moore sold the contents of the home; although, the contents and the home had previously descended in the family since the nineteenth century. The jar is said to have been discovered in a closet inside the house, but I also assume that this jar may have originated in the York or Portsmouth-area in the eighteenth century. It is also important to note that this jar appears like it has been marked either by the maker or a previous owner or business."

Yesterday, I learned about a similar jar that was recently discovered by a person, who cleans out houses on Cape Ann, Massachusetts along Boston's North Shore. This jar was reportedly found in an eighteenth century house in Annisquam, Massachusetts.

Note: Here is a link to the original article, which I posted two weeks ago that further discusses the purpose for these type of jars in America, as well as worldwide in the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Jar Found in an Old Home in Annisquam, Mass.

 Large 18th Century Red Earthenware Molasses Jar Likely Manufactured in the Caribbean

Reportedly Recently Found in an Old House in Annisquam, Mass.

A Funnel Used for Sugar Production Would Have Sat On Top of this Jar

A Similar Jar with a Similar Mark was Found in a House in York, Maine

The Jar Found in York Also Retains a 19th Century History of Local Ownership

See this Article for More Information About the Jar Found in York, Maine

See Article for More Information

View of the Mark Used for Grading the Molasses

A Similar Jar with a Similar Mark was Found in a House in York, Maine

The Jar Found in York Also Retains a 19th Century History of Local Ownership

See this Article for More Information About the Jar Found in York, Maine

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: White Elephant Shop - Essex, Mass.

Video of the Jar Found in an Old Home in Annisquam, Mass.

Short Video Showing the Jar 

See Article for More Information

Video Courtesy: White Elephant Shop - Essex, Mass.

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

Preview: A Red Earthenware Jar that I Recently Acquired from New Jersey

This is a brief post today, where I show a red earthenware jar that I recently acquired from an antiques dealer in New Jersey. The dealer told me that the jar was actually just found in Pennsylvania. Although, I do not have the jar in-hand, yet, these pictures were provided to me by New Jersey antiques dealer, William Flowers, who is responsible for discovering this object. I will post more pictures and additional information once the jar has arrived.

However, I would like to include that this jar closely resembles another jar (form, incising, manganese, clay and footed base) that is owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society (see below) in Concord, Hampshire, which is attributed to Peter Clark (1743-1826) in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire. Whereas, a similar jar is also owned by the Bennington, Museum in Bennington, Vermont, which is also attributed to Clark.

Note: While reading the captions for these objects below, please take special notice of the size of each jar - both of the jars pictured are surprisingly small. The Bennington Museum's jar is also small standing a little more than seven-inches tall.

Red Earthenware Jar Owned by New Hampshire Historical Society

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Attributed to Peter Clark (1743-1826) in Lyndeborough, NH
Circa 1790-1810

Stands 7" Tall
Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Historical Society - Concord, NH

Red Earthenware Jar Recently Found in Pennsylvania

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Likely Made at the Peter Clark Pottery in Braintree, Mass. or Lyndeborough, NH
Recently Discovered in Pennsylvania
Circa 1765-1826

Stands 6" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: William Flowers

Another View of the Jar and Banded Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: William Flowers

View of the Rim and the Interior

Photo Courtesy: William Flowers

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: William Flowers

Another Another View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: William Flowers

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

An Important Assemblage of Red Earthenware Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa and How These Artifacts Relate to Pieces that I Own Today

According to the Office of the State Archaeologist at the University of Iowa, "Between 1993-1995 archaeologists found a series of important historical archaeological sites associated with the 1830s-1870s Euro-American settlement of northeastern Jones County, Iowa while inspecting the area to be affected by the widening of U.S. Highway 151. Five sites that could not be preserved were researched and the Iowa Department of Transportation selected a team from the Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa, to conduct the research and preserve the artifacts that could be tied to the history that once happened at these sites.

Following the Black Hawk War in 1832, the U.S. Government established the Black Hawk Purchase, an area extending 50 miles west of the Mississippi River along the eastern border of the Territory of Iowa. The area that is now Jones County was located at the center of the Black Hawk Purchase. Early settlers were attracted here because of the proximity of good soil, water, land, timber, and building stone. 

The Bowen's Prairie Historical Archaeological District lies between the north and south forks of the Maquoketa River in northeastern Jones County. It is near the Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois borders - and, located about 300 miles east of Sioux City, Iowa and about 150 miles northeast of Des Moines, Iowa.

Census records suggest that, while most of the first arrivals in the 1830s and 1840s were American-born, almost 10 percent were immigrants hailing primarily from Ireland, Canada, England and Germany. 

In addition to farming, local industries included flour, saw, and grist milling, and stone quarrying. The dairy industry became prominent in the 1870s, which included cheese factories and creameries.

The Old Military Road was a key transportation corridor through the area in the mid-nineteenth century. Regular stagecoach routes linked homesteads such as that of Moses Collins and villages like Bowen's Prairie, Richland and Prairie Springs providing impetus to their growth and expansion. These same communities later witnessed a decline when bypassed by the first railroads. 

The relatively short interval of time during which sites on Bowen's Prairie existed provides a unique snapshot of nineteenth century life on the frontier and the changes that accompanied the opening of the Iowa Territory and the establishment of statehood."

The Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa produced a group of nineteenth century red earthenware preserve jars (see below) in similar shapes and sizes - they were all uncovered within a circa 1830s-1870s archaeological context. These type jars may commonly be attributed to Galena, Illinois today based on the form, glaze and stamped number, but it appears that these style of jars were also produced in Iowa in the 1800s. Although, archaeologists also recovered other forms of domestic red earthenware at the site, which included a rundlet (not pictured), a jug (see below), and a handled crock (see below) that appears directly related to a rare butter churn in my collection (see below).

According to author, William C. Ketchum, Jr. (American Redware), "Iowa had many potteries scattered throughout the state, but they either made stoneware or their output is uncertain. Among possible sites are Boonesborough, Eldora, and Ottumwa. However, there is no doubt that redware was manufactured at Sergeant Bluff, just south of Sioux City, Iowa. The first kiln was built in the 1850s by a man named Wortman. He was succeeded by Charles W. Borders, known as "Uncle Charlie," where Borders conducted an active business from 1870 until 1889 when he sold out to J.L. Mattocks, who was still in business as late as 1895.

Mabel Holman Gray of Sergeant Bluff recalled in 1939 that: 'The products of the pottery were mostly dark brown with a high glaze, although a seemingly endless number of flower pots of all sizes and shapes were left in the natural sandy pinkish color. The glaze was given by slip. I remember the large vats of slip in which the hand-turned hand-dipped wares went. Sometimes a light grayish slip was used, as for milk crocks. Sometimes the lower half of the jug or crock would be dark and the upper half light (note: a style that is also attributed to the industry in Galena, Illinois today).'

There is no doubt that this was a substantial manufactory. In the 1880s, the Sioux City Journal described it as turning out 3,000 gallons per week of churns (see below), butter pots, preserve jars (jars recovered at Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa), jugs, pitchers, spittoons and milk crocks."

Red Earthenware Preserve Jars, Jug and Crock Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Various 19th Century Red Earthenware Preserve Jars Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Likely Made in Iowa or a Potter's Business Located Near Northeast Iowa

Circa 1830s-1870s

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa

(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Likely Made in Iowa or a Potter's Business Located Near Northeast Iowa

Circa 1830s-1870s

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Crock Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Likely Made in Iowa or a Potter's Business Located Near Northeast Iowa

Circa 1830s-1870s

The Butter Churn Shown Below is Directly Related to this Crock

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: The Office of the State Archaeologist, University of Iowa

A Collection of Midwestern Red Earthenware Objects

This is a collection of red earthenware objects, which I have collected over the years from various private collections, auctions and antique shops. Some of these objects have previously been generically attributed to New England, whereas, I have always doubted that attribution. I have also already written about some of these objects suggesting a New England origin, but I have always been open to opinion for any facts that could provide an accurate location for manufacture.

Nevertheless, I now believe these may be Midwestern products based on the preserve jars and crock, which were recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa. I also believe that at least two of these objects can be directly related to the residents and the type of utilitarian household pottery, which they used on the Bowen's Prairie in the nineteenth century.

19th Century Red Earthenware Objects Possibly Made in the Midwest

See Article for More Information

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

This nineteenth century red earthenware jar appears directly related to the preserve jars that were recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa. This jar closely resembles the preserve jar that I have marked with a number 1 above, the sharply cut base that I marked with a number 4 and the glaze also closely matches the crock (and churn below) that I have marked with a number 7 above.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Very-Possibly Made in Iowa

Object Closely Resembles Jars and a Crock Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa
Possibly Made in Iowa or Illinois
Circa 1830s-1870s

Stands 7 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

View of the Sharply Cut Base

A Similar Base is Shown Above Marked with the Number 4

View of the Rim and the Collar

Similar Collars are Shown Above

View of the Interior

View of the Base

19th Century Red Earthenware Butter Churn

This five gallon nineteenth century red earthenware butter churn pretty-much undoubtedly appears directly related to the crock that was recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa, which I have marked with a number 7 above. The handles, glaze and base are an identical match. 

The streaking glaze seen on the front of the churn also closely resembles the glaze seen on the preserve jar that I have marked with a number 1 above - and, the stamped gallon capacity is similar to the stamp that was used on the preserve jar that I marked with the number 2.

Note: The style for how the base on this butter churn and the edge of the lid was cut also closely resemble the sharply cut base marked with the number 4 above.

My Niece, Alexis is Pictured for a Size Comparison

19th Century 5 Gallon Red Earthenware Butter Churn Likely Made in Iowa

This Object is Directly Related to a Crock Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Likely Made in Iowa or Illinois

Circa 1830s-1870s

Stands 16 1/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Note: The Glaze on this Jar and Churn Closely Resemble Each Other

View of One of the Handles

Directly Related to a Crock Shown Above that was Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Another View of the Glaze

View of the Base

View of the Interior

View of the Lid

Another View of the Lid

View of the Sharply Cut Edge on the Lid

Edge Closely Resembles the Cut Base on the Preserve Jar Marked Above with the Number 4

Red Earthenware Jar

This jar is not an exact match to any of the objects recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa; although, it may be Midwestern in origin. The form is similar to the jars that were recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site, which are marked above with the numbers 2 and 3; however, the way the base is sharply cut is pretty-much a perfect match to the bases on all of the preserve jars shown above, especially the base that I have marked with the number 4.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Possibly Made in the Midwest, New England or even Pennsylvania

Shares Characteristics with Some of the Jars Recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa

Stands 8 5/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

View of the Sharply Cut Base

This Style of Base Closely Resembles the Bases on the Preserve Jars from the Bowen's Prairie Site

Red Earthenware Jars
These jars do not specifically match anything that was recovered at the Bowen's Prairie Site in Iowa, but I still believe that they may have been made in the Midwest. They may have been made Iowa, but they could have also been produced in Illinois or maybe even Missouri. The characteristic that can tie them to the preserve jars found at the Bowen's Prairie Site is the fact that these jars have been stamped with a number, which was also the case with the jar that I have marked above with the number 2. However, these jars have been marked with a vertical number, which is a documented characteristic that was used at the industry in Galena, Illinois in the nineteenth century.

Note: The style that the base has been cut on these jars is also similar to the crock shown above, which I marked with a number 7, but this style is also found in Illinois and Missouri.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars Stamped with Vertical Numbers

Possibly Made in the Midwest or New England

(Left) Stands 7 1/2" Tall

(Right) Stands 6 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

View of the Cut Bases

Pleas Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

Two Pieces of 19th Century Red Earthenware Likely from Upstate New York

This nineteenth century red earthenware jar recently appeared on eBay and it was reportedly just discovered in upstate New York. I feel this is an object that is worth sharing today since it is said to have been made at the potter's industry in Western New York (but it could also be from Ontario); although, it is also decorated with slip-decoration, which appears to have been applied by a brush. I can only speak for myself when I say that I cannot recall having seen this exact slip technique before from Western New York.

From what I have seen, the vast majority of slip-decorated red earthenware produced in Western New York is attributed to the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery, as well as the potteries in West Bloomfield, New York. Whereas, some of the known slip from the Rochester Pottery somewhat resembles the slip technique found on this jar, but it is by no means an exact comparison - instead, the major difference being that the wares from the Rochester Pottery were often splashed or dripped with slip.

According to an article written in 1980 by George R. Hammell for 'Northeast Historical Archaeology,' "Slip-decorated red earthenware was produced in western New York from circa 1773-1850. Trailed slip-decoration upon wheel thrown-pans and deep dishes, upon a few hollow wares and upon drape-molded, coggle-rimmed plates were found at both the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery  site, circa 1818-1831 - and, the Wheeler Griffin-Alvin Wilcox Pottery site in West Bloomfield, New York, circa 1801-1830. There is limited archaeological evidence that similar wares were produced at other earthenware potteries in this region during the same period. 

Usually this trailed-slip-decoration was done in white slip only (appearing yellow through the glaze). However, several sherds pertaining to wheel-thrown pans and deep dishes, and to a few hollow wares have been decorated in both white and dark brown-black, or white and green trailed-slip.

Numerous fragments of drape-molded coggle-rimmed plates were also found at the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery site, which had been decorated in marbleized or joggled white slip. These plates are similar in both form and technique to decoration in 18th century wares produced in Philadelphia, England and France. A few of the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery examples had the marbleized white slip dusted with specks of copper green.

Fragments of two plain rim, drape-molded plates and a bulbous pot or jar and a cover from such a pot or jar were found at the site of the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery. The plates were decorated on their interiors, and the pot or jar and cover were decorated on their exteriors with white slip, manganese black and copper green dripped/splashed onto the clay body of the wares or into their glaze."

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar Said to Have Been Made in Western New York

But Could Also Have Been Made in Ontario

The Jar was Originally Made with a Lid

Reportedly Just Found in Upstate New York

Stands 6 1/8" Tall

 See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

Another View of the Slip-Decoration

 Photo Courtesy: eBay

 Another View of the Slip-Decoration

 Photo Courtesy: eBay

 Another View of the Slip-Decoration

 Photo Courtesy: eBay

 Another View of the Slip-Decoration

 Photo Courtesy: eBay

 View of the Interior
This Jar Would Have Originally Been Made with a Lid

Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: eBay

While we are on the topic of nineteenth century upstate New York red earthenware, I would also like to show this highly unusual red earthenware crock, which has been stamped "W:H::P:S::1812:" Each letter appears to have been created from an individual stamp, and the incised lines above and below the inscription were likely applied to keep the mark level. However, it is unclear if this mark is related to the War of 1812, or possibly even initials since the use of multiple colon punctuation appears to separate the W:H from the P:S. 

I should also mention that the form is similar to styles of stoneware produced in upstate New York, and the interior appears to be a brownish glaze, such as an Albany slip, which is highly unusual for red earthenware potters.

Nonetheless, this pot may be an example of red earthenware production from eastern upstate New York, an area that likely deserves a lot more attention today for its red earthenware production in the early-nineteenth century. This is an area that has received a lot of attention in the last century for its stoneware production, but I suspect there were also red earthenware potters mixed in with this industry.

Note: This crock sold through Pook and Pook Auctions in Downington, Pennsylvania in 2016, where they attributed it to Paul Cushman's pottery in Albany, New York.

Red Earthenware Crock Stamped W:H::P:S::1812:

Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Crock Likely Made in Eastern Upstate New York
The Form Resembles Similar Stoneware Forms

Stamped "W:H::P:S::1812"

Stands 11" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Pennsylvania Collection

 Another View of the Stamped Inscription
Stamped "W:H::P:S::1812"
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Pennsylvania Collection

Another View of the Stamped Inscription

Stamped "W:H::P:S::1812"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Pennsylvania Collection

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