An Intriguing Red Earthenware Jug that Retains an Old Note that Says it was Made in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Circa 1780-1810

In 2005, Skinner in Boston sold a slip-decorated red earthenware loaf dish that was accompanied with a fascinating old tag that was reportedly found with the dish, which read, "...John Parker (b. 1725) of Charlestown, Massachusetts, a potter peddled it as far as Middleboro (Mass.). He was met there by Cape (Cod) merchants who sold it door to door. John Smith & Hiram Stone of Harwich (Mass.) were customers of John Parker."

Unfortunately, this dish is not what I recognize today as a style of red earthenware that was manufactured in Charlestown before the American Revolution. It actually strikes me as an object that was manufactured in southeastern Pennsylvania, possibly Philadelphia in the early-to-mid nineteenth century. It is not unheard of today to find Philadelphia red earthenware in early-contexts in New England, whereas I have seen Philadelphia sherds recovered in Boston, Salem, Massachusetts, and as far north as Yarmouth, Maine. It was even advertised in the 1760s that a potter was manufacturing red earthenware in Providence, Rhode Island, which was comparable to what was produced in Philadelphia.

Nevertheless, yesterday, I was in attendance at a Northeast Auction in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where a group of red earthenware, among other antiques were sold. All of the red earthenware sold for strong prices with the top lot, an eighteenth century sgraffito red earthenware dish, dated 1793, which was made in Montgomery County in southeastern Pennsylvania (near Philadelphia) sold for more than $40,000 (including the buyer's premium).

However, there was a lot of three red earthenware jugs (some with condition issues) with a cup that intrigued me; this lot contained a small dark colored jug with an old tag that was attached to the base, which read, "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810."

It is not widely known today, but there were potters in Charlestown producing red earthenware after the American Revolution and into the nineteenth century. The industry in Charlestown before the American Revolution is what is known today, which burned at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. But some potters did return to Charlestown to produce pottery; although, there is not a lot of evidence that survives today to prove how this entire production appeared.

The Charlestown Archaeology Collection at the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachusetts does include later artifacts that relate to this post-American Revolution production, but it is still under investigation today in order to determine what-is-what.

It is difficult to currently say whether the old tag that accompany's this jug is an accurate attribution. But it is certainly exciting to see this tag; although, similar forms were made just to the north in Essex County, Massachusetts in the 1800s.

But I do want to mention that I have seen this form before, and it would be extremely exciting to learn that this is something that was made in Charlestown after 1780. Nonetheless, like I have already written, there still needs to be more research or prove or discredit such an attribution.

Note: Here are links to two articles that I posted in 2016 that discuss two pieces of Philadelphia pottery found in early-contexts of ownership in Massachusetts.

1) Philadelphia Red Earthenware in Salem, Massachusetts

2) Philadelphia Red Earthenware Owned by Historic New England

Red Earthenware Jug that Sold Yesterday

 Late-18th or 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Possibly Made in Massachusetts

Retains Old Note that Reads "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810"

Stands 4 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Here is a Link to the Auction Listing

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

 View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

View of the Base

The Jug Retains an Old Note that Reads "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Northeast Auctions - Portsmouth, NH

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