A Beautiful 19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jug Owned by the Paul Revere House in Boston

This is a nineteenth century ovoid red earthenware jug that is owned today by the Paul Revere Memorial Association, and kept in the kitchen at the Paul Revere House (circa 1680) in Boston's North End neighborhood. It has been owned by the Paul Revere House since at least the early-twentieth century, when Paul Revere's great-grandson, Paul P. Reynolds, Jr. purchased the house in 1902 in order to preserve the building from future demolition. Money was eventually raised, the Paul Revere Memorial Association was established and the building was completely restored when the museum officially opened its doors to the public in 1908. The museum's records suggest that this jug was reportedly acquired sometime during the 1902-1908 period or the few years that followed; however, no further information was provided.

Presumably, this jug must have been found in the Boston-area, which may suggest that it also retains a local history of ownership, as well. It may have also been made somewhere along coastal Massachusetts.

Nonetheless, this jug has never been cleaned and much of it is still covered in dirt - two days ago, I examined this jug in the sunlight and it is actually decorated with a vibrant green glaze, orange halos, along with some decorative separation in the glaze.

Similar formed jugs have been linked to nineteenth century potters in Essex County, Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and southern Maine; although, Essex County red earthenware has been recovered in various archaeological contexts in the Boston-area, which does include sherds recovered from a previous archaeology dig in the backyard at the Paul Revere House. Whereas, additional archaeological contexts include Charlestown, Massachusetts, Dorchester, Massachusetts and a wonderful bowl from Peabody, Massachusetts, which was recovered a few years ago from a late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century context at Boston Common.

Note: For what it is worth: I have not seen any red earthenware associated with Maine or New Hampshire recovered (yet?) at any archaeological sites in the Boston-area.

Here is also a link to a story that I wrote last year about an Iberian storage jar that was just discovered in Amesbury, Massachusetts, which matched exactly an object that was recovered from a wooden privy in the backyard of the Paul Revere House.

Jug Owned by the Paul Revere House in Boston

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug on Display in the Kitchen in the Paul Revere House in Boston
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Owned by Paul Revere House in Boston

It May Retain a Local 19th Century History of Ownership

Circa 1790-1860

Stands Approximately 8 1/2" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

 Another View of the Jug
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

View of the Handle
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

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