EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: An Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Recently Found Near Portland, Maine

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

An Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Recently Found Near Portland, Maine

Over the years, I have found not every piece of red earthenware that I acquire for my private collection needs to be in perfect condition. I would miss out on some exciting pottery if this was my only approach. Rather, I look for pottery that was made by certain makers or regions, form, rarity, color and the story it can tell.

For example, this is a nicely glazed red earthenware jug that I acquired from a friend yesterday that was recently found near Portland, Maine. The manufacture of the jug appears like it was made in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, possibly at the William Pecker Pottery, circa 1790-1820.

The glaze is interesting on this object, where it is glazed brown, but there is also a partial overglaze of green. This is also a characteristic that I have seen from red earthenware produced in Merrimacport.

The handle snapped off this jug a longtime ago; whereas, it was not thrown away, but the remains of a leather strap still remain around the neck. The top of the jug is also covered in syrup, which suggests that this jug was used to store syrup or possibly even sell syrup.

It is a story like this that can transform a damaged jug into something special - in this instance, the broken handle, leather strap and syrup tell a story about how this jug was once used in the nineteenth century. This story also relates to the potter's business that made this jug, where it shows how this object was actually used after it was manufactured. It is this type of story that I genuinely enjoy, which demonstrates early ownership and shows how this object is truly utilitarian after it was created by a skilled artisan likely in the early-1800s.

Red Earthenware Jug Found Near Portland, ME