An Impressive Cobalt Decorated Sherd Recovered Today In Merrimacport, Massachusetts

It is well-documented today that William Pecker (1758-1820), an eighteenth and early-nineteenth century potter in Merrimacport, Massachusetts produced a lot of skilled red earthenware in the span of his career; although, it is lesser known today that he was also an accomplished stoneware potter. I recently posted an article to this website that analyzed the stoneware production, and provided links to all of the known published material.

However, it is also thought that Pecker applied only subtle amounts of cobalt decoration to highlight some impressed characters, such as birds, flowers and fish, as well as his own stamp, "Wm PECKER" and sometimes he also highlighted handles in cobalt. But until today, I had never seen any evidence, which would suggest that he embellished his stoneware with further amounts of cobalt.

Nevertheless, it is also possible that Pecker used cobalt as a means of decoration based on a sherd that I discovered today at the site of Pecker's pottery. I recovered this sherd surrounded by stoneware kiln furniture and undecorated salt-glazed sherds. This newly discovered sherd is heavily decorated with cobalt; whereas, this sherd may suggest Pecker also produced some cobalt decorated stoneware, circa 1790-1820, which was not only used to highlight stamps and related decorations.

But it has also been suggested that this sherd may be unrelated to Pecker; rather, it may have somehow been mixed in with some of Pecker's kiln waste years ago. I guess only time will tell if this sherd is related.

Note: It is clear from the kiln evidence that I have recovered in recent years at the site of William Pecker's pottery in Merrimacport, Massachusetts that he manufactured a bunch of stoneware before 1820. But it appears that very-little of that production has survived; although, I now wonder if the combination of some of the known Pecker stoneware forms with this newly discovered sherd could lead to the discovery of some previously undocumented pieces, which were thought to have been made elsewhere. I am also curious to know where Pecker was taught how to manufacture stoneware, whether it be from the potters in Charlestown, Massachusetts, New York City or another industry.

Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Sherd

 Stoneware Sherd Discovered Today in Merrimacport, Mass.

Recovered at the Site of Where William Pecker Produced Red Earthenware and Stoneware

Possibly Made in Merrimacport, Mass.

Possibly Circa 1790-1820

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Interior of the Sherd

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Stoneware Kiln Furniture

  Stoneware Kiln Furniture Discovered Today in Merrimacport, Mass.

Recovered at the Site of Where William Pecker Produced Red Earthenware and Stoneware

Circa 1790-1820

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Another View of the Kiln Furniture

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Salt-Glazed Stoneware Sherds

 Salt-Glazed Stoneware Sherds Discovered Today in Merrimacport, Mass.
Recovered at the Site of Where William Pecker Produced Red Earthenware and Stoneware
Circa 1790-1820
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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...