EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Sherds Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

Friday, August 25, 2017

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Sherds Recovered at the African-American Meeting House in Boston

Last night, I posted an article about a green glazed red earthenware lid finial that was recovered within an early-nineteenth century archaeological context at the African-American Meeting House in Boston. I also wrote "The African-American Meeting House on Beacon Hill in Boston was built in 1806 in what once was the heart of Boston's nineteenth century free black community. The Meeting House was host to giants in the Abolitionist Movement who were responsible for monumental historical events that changed this nation."

Earlier this summer, I also posted an article about a nineteenth century green glazed red earthenware jug that is owned today by the Paul Revere House in Boston, which was acquired by the museum during the 1902-1908 period. The jug also likely retains a local history of ownership in Boston.

I had written, "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.

Although, 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."

I was excited yesterday when I found a red earthenware sherd and handle that were the remains of a similar glazed and shaped jug, which were found within an early-to-mid nineteenth century archaeological context. I handled these artifacts while studying the archaeology collection from the African-American Meeting House at the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

The sherds really suggested to me that they appeared to have been made in the same area as was the jug that is owned by the Paul Revere House; however, the finger impression seen on the handle terminals is different. But this may simply suggest two different potters rather than separate states or areas/regions in New England.

Note: Here is a link to an online document that further analyzes the archaeology from the nineteenth century African-American Meeting House in Boston.

Red Earthenware Sherds Recovered at African-American Meeting House in Boston