19th Century Ceramic Imports and the USS Constitution at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston

I visited the USS Constitution Museum and the Charlestown Navy Yard Visitor Center in Boston earlier this week, with hopes that I could view a wonderful incised red earthenware flowerpot. The flowerpot was recovered years ago on the property of the Navy Yard. I have been told it is the same manufacturer as is another flowerpot, recovered by archaeologists from a brick-lined privy within a circa 1770-1810 context, on the property of the Narbonne House in Salem, Massachusetts.

The flowerpot found in Salem is also thought to have been manufactured locally, most-likely after the American Revolution at the industry in Peabody (formerly known as South Danvers), Massachusetts. This wouldn't be an anomaly, either to learn that both of the these flowerpots are related seeing that the potters in Peabody are known to have distributed their production throughout the Boston area after 1790 and all through the nineteenth century.

For example, some of the Peabody artifacts found in Boston were published last year in a feature story I wrote for the New England Antiques Journal, entitled, 'Digging Into the Peabody Potteries: Archaeology and Red Earthenware.' But I have also written an in-depth feature story about the Moses Paige Pottery in Peabody, circa 1876-1940s that describes this export business in further detail - I hope this story will be published later this year. Although, red earthenware from Peabody has also been recovered by archaeologists elsewhere in Charlestown; many of those artifacts are kept today at the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.

Unfortunately, the Navy Yard's flowerpot wasn't on view, and nobody could provide get any further information about its whereabouts. But I hope I will be able to publish pictures of it soon on this website.

Nevertheless, the USS Constitution Museum did display a wonderful collection of imported ceramics that were manufactured to celebrate the ship, also known as Old Ironsides. Seeing some of these ceramics reminded me about some of the other European ceramics that I have previously written about, such as a circa 1770s English creamware mug that is inscribed "Success to ye City of Boston / Liberty for Ever," a circa 1766 English teapot imprinted "Stamp Act Repeal'd," and a circa 1766-1770 teapot imprinted "No Stamp Act / America. Liberty. Restored."

The USS Constitution began construction on November 1, 1795 and was launched on October 21, 1797. It was named by George Washington after the United States Constitution, and most noted for its involvement in the War of 1812 against the United Kingdom (and their allies), capturing numerous merchant ships and defeating five British Warships.

Some of the museum's imported ceramics can be linked to the Constitution's involvement in the War of 1812, like a circa 1815-1820 English creamware jug that depicts "two of Constitution's escapades during the War of 1812. The first, in mid June 1812, recounts the ship's 57 hour escape from a British squadron off the coast of Long Island. The second shows the climax of the February 20, 1812 battle between "Old Ironsides" and two British warships."

USS Constitution

USS Constitution, Also Known as Old Ironsides

Construction Began November 1, 1794

Launched October 21, 1797

203 Feet in Length

Built at the Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston

See Article for More Information

Imported Ceramics and the USS Constitution

 Circa 1800 English Creamware Jug

Made to Commemorate the U.S. Navy Yard and USS Constitution

Poem Printed on the Pitcher

Poem Describes Gathering Wood to Build the U.S. Navy Yard and Honor's Hartt's Shipyard where the USS Constitution was Built

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

View of the Poem

Poem Describes Gathering Wood to Build the U.S. Navy Yard and Honor's Hartt's Shipyard where the USS Constitution was Built

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

 Information on Display with the Creamware Jug

Photo Courtesy: U.S.S. Constitution Museum 

19th Century USS Constitution Creamware Jug

Attributed to the Herculaneum Pottery in Staffordshire, England

Circa 1818-1825

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

 Early-19th Century Creamware Pitcher, Staffordshire, England
Featuring Scenes from Constitution' Victories in War of 1812

1) Constitution's Escape from the British Squadron after a Chase of Sixty Hours'

2) USS Constitution vs. Cyane and Levant
Circa 1815-1820

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

  Early-19th Century Creamware Pitcher, Staffordshire, England
Featuring Scenes from the War of 1812

1) USS Constitution vs. Cyane and Levant

2) HMS Wasp vs. USS Reindeer
Circa 1815-1820

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

  Early-19th Century Creamware Pitcher, Staffordshire, England

Isaac Hull (1773-1843) / USS General Pike

General Pike was Fitted with 26 of the Pattern 1794 24-Pound Long Guns 

The Guns were Originally Fitted to the USS Constitution

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

19th Century Porcelain Vase

Naval Commander Oliver Hazard Perry (1785-1819)

Perry Served Under Captain John Rogers on the USS Constitution

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

19th Century Porcelain Vase

Commodore Issac Hull (1773-1843)

Hull Served Aboard the USS Constitution During the War of 1812

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

19th Century Century Porcelain Cup and Saucer

Used in the USS Constitution's Ward Room in the 1880s

Photo Courtesy: USS Constitution Museum 

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...