EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Two New Pieces of Red Earthenware Acquired Yesterday at Antiques Week in New Hampshire

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Two New Pieces of Red Earthenware Acquired Yesterday at Antiques Week in New Hampshire

Yesterday, I attended the Americana Celebration Antique Show in Concord, New Hampshire, as part of the annual Antiques Week in New Hampshire. There was plenty to be seen at this show; although, I ended up purchasing two objects from Youngstown, Ohio antiques dealer, Steve Sherhag.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher with Face
The first object that I bought is a rare nineteenth century red earthenware face pitcher that may have been made in New Jersey or eastern Pennsylvania. But it should be noted that the pitcher also retains an old tag on the base, which reads, "New Jersey."

Interestingly, the face also resembles the bearded faces that were applied on European Bellarmine or Bartmann stoneware jugs from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. These type of jugs are regularly found in archaeological contexts in European and also occasionally America.

Although, I also wonder if this pitcher could be related to a style of commemorative red earthenware plate with various faces from historical figures applied in the center, which was made by Henry Van Saun and possibly other potters, as well in River Edge, New Jersey in the 1820s.

Here is a link to an article that I posted in June 2014 that further discusses the production that took place in River Edge, New Jersey before 1850.

19th Century 24 Tube Red Earthenware Candle Mold
The second object that I purchased is a very-rare nineteenth century 24 tube red earthenware candle mold with a pine frame. This is something that I have always wanted to own. But what is great about this mold is the fact that it is complete, where all 24 tubes survive in terrific condition and the metal rods are still intact, which were used to hang the candles. The wooden frame even has an old repair, which I enjoy.

Any comparable red earthenware candle mold is rare to find today, but it is even rarer to find it with all the tubes still intact and for the metal hangers to have survived, as well. The metal hangers could have easily been removed and re-purposed or even lost years ago.

These type of candle molds are typically attributed to the Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York in the 1850s and early-1860s.

Here is a link to a similar 'as-is' candle mold that I wrote about last winter, which was sold at an auction in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This story also provides a much-more detailed history about these type of objects from western New York.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher with Face