EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Discovered in Vermont in the 1960s

Thursday, February 8, 2018

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Discovered in Vermont in the 1960s

I acquired this nineteenth century red earthenware jar about ten years ago from New Hampshire antique pickers, Dan and Jan Olmstead's personal collection, which they sold themselves at an auction held at the Frank Jones Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. It was a heck of a sale to attend with objects that the Olmsteads had personally picked over the past forty-or-so years. Almost every object was also accompanied with a story.

The story behind this jar is that it was discovered by the Olmsteads in an old home in Vermont in the 1960s. They said it was among the first pieces of red earthenware that they had ever acquired; whereas, I was the lucky winning bidder, surprisingly taking the jar home for the opening bid.

My feeling behind this jar is that it was made in Vermont during the circa 1790-1830/40 period - this is also the same period that I have been writing about for the better part of 2018 with red earthenware from Vermont.

The dark-green glaze with orange halos found on this jar would often be attributed to New Hampshire today, but that is an overused attribution that should never be based on just a glaze. This type of glaze is found all over America, where red earthenware was produced in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

However, the handles, the overall form and the unusual interior glaze are what led me to believe that this object was made in Vermont.

Last month, you may recall, I wrote about the Woodman Pottery in Poultney, Vermont, which is kind of known today for decorating objects with varying exterior and interior glazes. This jar is decorated in a similar style, but with different colors than what I have previously posted.

Nonetheless, I can not say that this jar is related to the Woodmans' production, but I do feel that it was made in Vermont. I also feel this is a rare object to find today since I can not recall having seen another identical jar in any of the museum or private collections that I have studied.

Note: I have also posted an image of another jar that is decorated with a similar exterior glaze, which would normally be attributed to New Hampshire today. However, this jar is also attributed to Vermont and owned today by the Vermont Historical Society in Barre, Vermont.

Red Earthenware Jar Discovered in Vermont in 1960s