A 19th Century East Tennessee Red Earthenware Jar Recently Discovered in an Old Barn in Bristol, Tennessee

A few days ago, I arrived home from the antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts to find a large cardboard box that had been left on my front porch with my name attached to it. Inside the box was a nineteenth century red earthenware jar, which I had just purchased from an antiques picker in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was also a box that I had been anticipating for its arrival since last week.

This wonderful jar was recently found inside a nineteenth century barn in Bristol, Tennessee, which is also located in Sullivan County, Tennessee, a county, where an important family's potter's business once operated in the 1800s. It has been suggested that this jar may have been manufactured at the Cain Pottery in East Tennessee since the unusual glaze color, clay, rounded foot and form is similar to some known objects that are reportedly attributed to the Cain Pottery today. But I also suspect that this jar could have been made at another East Tennessee potter's business, as well.

According to Knoxville antiques dealer, Carole Wahler, "Pottery attributed to the Cains is found in a variety of colors and shows a wide range of potting skills. Some pieces are very thick and heavy to both the eye and the hand. Others are delicate and skillfully potted. These differences, one would assume, were due to a variety of men actually doing the work over the years. 

The glazes are as varied as the skill of potting. A range of surface colors from the transparent lead glaze over the red clay body to opaque orange, yellows, olives, browns and black are all due to the presence of various oxides in the glaze. 

The decoration of straight and wavy incised lines is relatively common. However, the most desirable pieces and almost a Cain trademark are those which show a decorative use of manganese splotches."

Note: For more information about the Cain Pottery: I suggest this link, which will redirect you to an online version of the book, 'Tennessee Potteries, Pots and Potters: 1790s to 1950;' the Cain family (as well as Sullivan County) is discussed on pages 248-255.

Red Earthenware Jar Recently Found in an Old Barn in East Tennessee

My Niece, Alexis Holding the East Tennessee Jar

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to East Tennessee

Possibly Made at the Cain Pottery in Sullivan County, TN
But Could Have also Been Made at Another East TN Potter's Business

Recently Found in a 19th Century Barn in Bristol, Tennessee

Bristol is also Located in Sullivan County, TN

Circa 1820-1880

Stands 9 3/8" Tall
See Article for More Information

View of the Interior Glaze

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