19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, Maine

A few years ago, I underbid a rare nineteenth century brown-glazed lidded red earthenware jar, attributed to the circa 1790-1882 Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, Maine. The jar had sold as part of a red earthenware collection that had been consigned to a Tim Gould auction in Augusta, Maine.

At the time, I could only recall seeing one other comparable example. But I had actually only read about that object, where it was illustrated in a well-documented auction catalog from the late-1990s. This jar was also decorated with a colorful glaze - and it sold in the Berdan Collection at Cyr Auction Galleries in Gray, Maine on January 28, 1998. Some of the red earthenware from this collection was also purchased directly by the Maine State Museum, and this jar may have been included with the museum's auction purchases.

For some reason, though, the brown-glazed lidded jar that I underbid is an object that has always remained on my mind, despite the fact that it now resides in a well-known prominent collection in Maine.

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins wrote in 1950 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "...Rather more is known about the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, which is thought to have started about 1790. Ezra Porter (1769-1847), its founder, was a grandson of Joseph Osborn of Danvers, Massachusetts and the son of Benjamin Porter, another Danvers potter. His own statement published in the 'Lincoln Intelligencer,' August 1826, declares: "I, Ezra Porter, potter by trade, have worked at the potter's business for about forty years, in Danvers, and Watertown, Mass., in Newcastle and Wiscasset, in the County of Lincoln, in the state of Maine."

According to this, he began his career in 1786 at the age of seventeen. Ezra's pottery in Wiscasset has not been located, but that of his son, Silas, who succeeded him was built on the site of the old country poor house in the southern part of the town. This is described as being near Hilton's Cove at Birth Point, on the cross road connecting the state highway with the old road in Jewankee. In this district, near a bed of excellent clay, Silas Porter (1804-1882) made a great variety of earthenware including pipkins, cake molds, money jugs, snuff jars, and the usual assortment of cooking dishes and containers. He also operated a brickyard that was later sold to the New England Brick Company."

It was published in 1910 in 'Geological and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts: Volume IV," that Silas Porter learned the potter's trade from his father, Ezra and the family pottery operated until his death in 1882.

Nevertheless, I am fortunate to have been able to just acquire a jar attributed to the Porter Pottery, which is very-similar to the jar that I underbid in Maine, as well as the jar that was sold in the Berdan Collection. This object also survives in remarkable condition - and, until recently, it had been owned for years in a prominent Long Island collection.

Interestingly, the colorful glaze found on the jar that I just acquired, closely matches a wonderful nineteenth century jug that I purchased about two years ago, which is also attributed to the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, circa 1790-1882.

Note: Four nineteenth century objects manufactured at the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, Maine were the subject of an article that I posted last month, which were illustrated in a book published in 1929, 'The Pine Furniture of Early New England.'

Red Earthenware Objects from Maine's Midcoast Region

(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, ME

Circa 1790-1882

Stands 7" Tall

See Article for More Information

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, ME

Circa 1790-1882

Stands 8 1/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

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