However, before we visited MESDA, we actually toured the Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. Aside from the southern red earthenware and stoneware, the museum displays an incredible variety of art, portraits, folk art, furniture, weathervanes, architecture, some archaeology, carousel caricatures and so much more, representing both northern and southern eighteenth and nineteenth century manufacturers. There is also a fabulous exhibit on European pottery.
We also realized that MESDA's and Colonial Williamsburg's red earthenware and stoneware collections complement each other really well. Among the highlights at Colonial Williamsbug are an impressive collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware objects from Alamance County, North Carolina and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This brand of slip-decorated wares are unquestionably some the best objects produced anywhere in America before or after the American Revolution.
The manufacture of nineteenth century red earthenware cake molds were an unexpected surprise, as well from Winston-Salem; examples of this production are represented in both MESDA's and Colonial Williamsburg's collections. This type of production could probably easily be mistaken for similar molds that were made in Pennsylvania throughout the 1800s.
We also enjoyed viewing a circa 1775-1795 slip-decorated red earthenware dish with tulips (see below) from Winston-Salem, possibly made by German immigrant potter Gottfried Aust; whereas, we later saw Aust's absolutely breathtaking red earthenware shop sign at MESDA dated 1773.
Another object that we really enjoyed seeing was a great early-nineteenth century lidded double-handled red earthenware jar (see below) from Smyth County, Virginia, which appears directly related to a jar in the Mariner Gallery at MESDA. Both objects are adorned with vibrant colored glazes and slip-decorations.
I have been told before that there were more enslaved African-American artisans employed in the south than what is commonly recognized today. For instance, stoneware made by Dave Drake (ca. 1801-1875) at the Stoney Bluff plantation in Edgefield, South Carolina is well-recognized for the prolific pots he made, often mammoth in size and sometimes inscribed with a date and a verse.
But we quickly learned from both museums that slaves were actively involved with production that crossed over into a number of industries before the American Civil War. An example of this production is represented in a circa 1826 stoneware jar (see below) from Alexandria, Virginia in the collection of the Museums of Colonial Williamsburg. According to the museum, "The utilitarian jar bears the stamp "H. SMITH & CO.," a reference to the Hugh Smith Pottery in Alexandria. Smith purchased the facility from John Swann in 1825, but Swann had manufactured stoneware stamped with Smith's name as early as 1821.
The manufactory employed many potters in both the Swann and Smith years, including David Jarbour. An enslaved African American, Jarbour purchased his own freedom in 1820 and continued to work at the pottery as a free man until the 1840s. Based on the style of the cobalt decoration, the overall form and finish, the vessel appears to be Jarbour's work."
The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
My Nephew Jason Pictured with a Large 19th Century Stoneware Water Cooler
Attributed to the Craven Pottery in Henderson County, TN
Circa 1840-1850
Stands 33" Tall
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
My Nephew Jason Pictured with a Wonderful 19th Century Stoneware Jar
Made by Dave Drake at the Stoney Bluff Plantation in Edgefield, SC
Circa 1849
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Various Examples of Red Earthenware and Stoneware
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Virginia Stoneware
19th Century Stoneware Water Cooler
Made by Henry Lowndes in Petersburg, VA
Circa 1840-1842
Stands 17 1/2" Tall
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Stoneware Jar
Made at the Hugh Smith Pottery in Alexandria, VA
Made by David Jarbour, an Enslaved African American who Purchased his Freedom in 1820
He Continued to Work at the Pottery as a Free Man Until the 1840s
Style of the Cobalt Decoration, Overall Form and Finish Suggest Jarbour's Production
Circa 1826
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Storage Jar
Made by Thomas Amos in Henrico County, VA
Circa 1821-1822
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Stoneware Pitcher
Made by Benjamin Duval and Company Richmond, VA
Circa 1811-1819
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Alamance County, NC Red Earthenware
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1790-1820
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1790-1820
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Red Earthenware Sugar Pot
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1800-1830
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Sugar Pot
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1795-1820
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
(Left) 18th Century Red Earthenware Sugar Pot
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1790
(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Mug
Attributed to Solomon Loy in Alamance County, NC
Circa 1825-1840
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1820-1840
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1790-1820
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Winston-Salem, NC Red Earthenware
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1780-1800
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1775-1800
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
18th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Winston-Salem, NC
Possibly Made by Gottfried Aust
Circa 1775-1795
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Squirrel Bottle
Attributed to Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1820
(Right) 18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Flask
Attributed to Rudolph Christ in Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1780-1800
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Red Earthenware Cake Pan
Attributed to Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1830
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
(Left) 18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Dish
Attributed to Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1775-1800
(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Pickle Dish
Attributed to Rudolph Christ in Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1807
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
19th Century Red Earthenware Hand Bason
Attributed to Shaffner-Krause Pottery in Winston-Salem, NC
Circa 1834-1870
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Tennessee Red Earthenware
19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Attributed to the Cain Pottery in Sullivan County, TN
Circa 1820-1840
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Pot
Attributed to Sam Smith in Knoxville, TN
Circa 1825
(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Attributed to Christopher A. Haun in Green County, TN
Circa Mid-19th Century
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Smyth County, VA Red Earthenware
19th Century Red Earthenware Lidded Jar
Attributed to Smyth County, VA
Circa Early-19th Century
Photo Courtesy: The Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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