A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Milk Pan from the Thomas Crafts Pottery in Whately, Massachusetts

Thomas Crafts (1781-1861) is probably most known today for the black-glazed red earthenware teapots that his pottery (established ca. 1806) manufactured in Whately, Massachusetts during the circa 1821-1833 period. It has been reported that the Crafts company made as many as 2,067 dozen teapots annually, and they were sold at a wholesale price of $1.00/dozen. But aside from that, he also manufactured stoneware after 1833, as well as all of the typical forms of red earthenware.

It's in rough shape, but this is an extremely rare red earthenware milk pan that just sold on eBay, and was manufactured at the Crafts Pottery. The center has been impressed with the mark "T CRAFTS AND CO."  This is a mark that Crafts regularly applied to stoneware, which possibly suggests that his business continued to produced some red earthenware even after stoneware production began in the 1830s.

There are not many of these marked pans known today; in fact, the only other example that I know about is owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. Old Sturbridge Village and Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts also each own a marked milk pan from Thomas Crafts brother, Justus Crafts (1791-1869) that was likely made in Whately. But he also produced red earthenware in Berlin, Vermont, circa 1816-1823 along with his twin brother, Justin Crafts (1791-1850) who produced red earthenware in Berlin for a longer period.

Milk Pan from Whately, Massachusettts

19th Century Red Earthenware Milk Pan Market "T. CRAFTS AND CO."

Thomas Crafts Operated a Pottery in Whately, Mass.

Measures 16 1/2" in Diameter

Stands 4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

 A View of the Mark "T. CRAFTS AND CO."

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View of the Base

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