I cited a paragraph from a book yesterday that stated McCully established his pottery about 1780 - and despite his death in 1820, the business remained in operation until the mid-nineteenth century.
According to the 'Encyclopedia of New Jersey,' "Red earthenware vessels, including sturdy plates, milk pans, and jugs made of local clay, were produced throughout New Jersey from the earliest European occupation to fill common household and dairy needs. Sites of significant production include Elizabeth, Rahway, Hackensack, and Trenton.
During the early 1800s, the potteries of John Mann in Rahway and Edward Griffith in Elizabeth were particularly important. They specialized in making black and red glazed teapots by pressing clay into molds.
In Trenton, Joseph McCully and his nephew, also Joseph McCully (1771-1857) operated a redware pottery from the late eighteenth century until 1852."
There is not a lot known about the McCully Pottery's production today, but some objects are properly connected to this business based on a stamp that was intermittently applied in production. The mark reads, "J. McCULLY / TRENTON." However, I am not familiar if this mark was used by both McCullys since the published marked objects, which I know about (i.e. museum and auction records) are typically attributed to the life of the business.
Some of the marked pottery manufactured by the McCullys are exciting since they were decorated with slip-decoration, and some of the slip styles even resemble wares manufactured in Pennsylvania in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Although, it can also likely be assumed that this business manufactured all the typical forms associated with utilitarian red earthenware production after the American Revolution.
Nonetheless, last summer, I visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, where I viewed two objects stamped with the McCully mark. One object is a platter decorated with some manganese, and the second object is a plate adorned in a wonderful slip-decoration.
Note: It should be taken into consideration that black-glazed wares were also likely regularly produced at the McCully Pottery based on the platter owned by the MET, which is decorated with manganese. But I also assume that a variety of glazes and slip designs must have been produced at this business during the circa 1780-1852 period.
Red Earthenware from the McCully Pottery in Trenton, NJ
(Far Right) 18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Platter
Made at the McCully Pottery in Trenton, NJ
Stamped Three Times with the Company Mark "J. McCULLY / TRENTON"
Circa 1780-1852
Measures 12 1/2" by 19 3/4"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Platter
Made at the McCully Pottery in Trenton, NJ
Stamped with the Company Mark "J. McCULLY / TRENTON"
Circa 1780-1852
Measures 11 1/2" in Diameter
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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