The following group of nineteenth century black-glazed red earthenware artifacts were collected by Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins at the factory site of the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Massachusetts, circa 1821-1833. Some of these objects were even illustrated in figure 64 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' which was published in 1950; although, Watkins also analyzed this subject in detail in Chapter 13.
Aside from Watkins' book, the story about the teapots made in Whately has been previously published in 'Old Time New England' and Ceramics in America. However, I still feel there are some interesting characteristics that could be shared after studying these objects.
It is evidence that the style of teapot made at the Crafts pottery was not limited to only one style; whereas, the shapes varied in the form found in the overall teapot, the lids, the bases, the handles, the spouts and the number of holes punched for where the teapot spout was attached to the body.
For example, Watkins collected what appears to be three different bases, two or three different round and oval lids and four or five different handles. But I also noticed that the holes punched for where the spout was attached to the teapot body varied from six-to-eight holes with seven having been the most common number.
Note: There were additional artifacts from Whately, Massachusetts at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, which included stoneware and other styles of red earthenware production.
Thomas Crafts Pottery Teapot Sherds from Whately, Mass.
Some of the Artifacts Recovered at the Site of the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Mass.
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Teapot Lids
Round and Oval Lids Recovered at the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Mass.
Circa 1821-1833
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Teapot Rims
Round and Oblong Teapot Rims Recovered at the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Mass.
Circa 1821-1833
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Teapot Bases
Three Different Teapot Bases Recovered at the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Mass.
Circa 1821-1833
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Teapot Handles
Four-or-Five Different Handles Recovered at the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Mass.
Circa 1821-1833
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Another View of the Handles
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Teapot Spouts
Teapot Spout Recovered at the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Mass.
Circa 1821-1833
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
The Artifacts I Studied Revealed that the Holes Punched Varied from Six-to-Eight Holes
Seven Punched Holes was the Most Common
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
View of a Seven Hole Punched Spout
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
View of a Six Hole Punched Spout
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
View of Another Seven Hole Punched Spout
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Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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