18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl Recovered in New York City in the 1980s

This restored eighteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware bowl was recovered by Manny Birittieri from an eighteenth century privy in Lower Manhattan in the 1980s. The production may appear like wares made in eastern Pennsylvania during the period, but I suspect this may represent local production. 

I do not want to give away a lot of information in this article today since I have written a feature story about local seventeenth and eighteenth century production in New York City, as well as the type of wares imported into the city in the nineteenth century, which should be published sometime later this year. But the technique used to apply the slip on this bowl is very similar to some eighteenth century artifacts that I have studied, which were recovered in Manhattan, and kept today at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York. Those sherds are thought to have been produced locally. 

There were at least two red earthenware potteries in operation before and after the American Revolution in Manhattan; the first was owned and operated by Jonathan Durell, a potter who trained in Philadelphia; whereas, the second pottery was run by the Campbell family. Not a lot of information is known about either pottery, but this bowl could certainly represent either business.

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl Recovered in New York City

18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

Recovered from an 18th Century Privy in Lower Manhattan in the 1980s

Very Possibly Manufactured in Manhattan

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Manny Birittieri

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