However, this form drew inspiration from local Colonial production that dates from the circa 1720-1745 period. I have tried to document seventeenth century red earthenware production on this website from major urban areas like Charlestown (Boston), Massachusetts, Manhattan (New York City) and Philadelphia; although, the Yorktown settlement was different seeing it reached its height of development about 1750.
This type of production was published in the 2004 edition of Ceramics in America, in an article titled, 'Archaeology of a Colonial Pottery Factory: The Kilns of Ceramics of the "Poor Potter" of Yorktown.'
According to National Park Service, "For many years the only known clues to this potter's existence were large deposits of pottery fragments found in Yorktown; called the "Poor Potter" of Yorktown, this person helped break Great Britain's economic hold over the colonies.
In 1970, however, the remains of his factory were discovered, revealing a large-scaled eighteenth century operation. Evidence also showed the factory had produced quality wares equal to, and in competition with, products made by English potters.
Who was the poor potter? Research reveals he was Yorktown entrepreneur William Rogers (1684-1739), who was neither poor nor a potter. Rogers had emigrated to Yorktown around 1710 and a year later had begun his first enterprise - a brewery. By 1720, he was producing pottery at a complex that included two kilns and supporting work areas. A skilled workforce crafted at least 23 types of earthenware and stoneware products including milk pans, bowls, bird bottles, mugs, colanders, porringers, churns and chafing dishes. In addition to marketing his wares locally, Rogers sold his goods in the Potomac River region, New England and the West Indies. Though Rogers died in 1739, his family operated the pottery factory for several more years.
Questions about the William Rogers Pottery still persist, such as: Who were the potters? Many of the questions may also always remain open for speculation."
Circa 1720-1745 Red Earthenware Bird Bottle
18th Century Red Earthenware Bird Bottle
Manufactured at the William Rogers Pottery Factory in Yorktown, VA
Circa 1720-1745
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Another View of the Bird Bottle
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Art Museums of Colonial Williamsburg
Interestingly, it was published in Ceramics in America that "a number of fragments from large, wide-rimmed low dishes with flat bases were recovered from the William Rogers Pottery site. This form is usually slip decorated, but sometimes plain. The method of slip decoration includes trailing, combing, and marbleizing." Another type of dish was also recovered with "a highly unusual red and black slip trailed over a white ground slip and subsequently joggled to create a marbleized center pattern."
It may be a coincidence, but a similar type of marbleized production has been identified from French immigrant potters in Philadelphia about the mid-eighteenth century. These locally-made Colonial artifacts were recovered from privies at the site of the Museum of the American Revolution, located in the heart of the oldest part of Philadelphia, as well as other locations throughout the city. According to Philadelphia Magazine, "Before construction began for the museum, archaeologists from John Milner Associates (now Commonwealth Heritage Group) conducted field work from July through October 2014, and briefly again in the springs of 2015 and 2016.
The team excavated a well and 12 brick-lined pre-American Revolution privies, and found more than 87,000 Colonial artifacts from the tiny rowhouses that once lined the site. The privies and well were sealed when newer houses were built on top of the site in the nineteenth century."
A few months ago, some of the marbleized dishes from Philadelphia, as well pomegranate and tulip decorated red earthenware chargers were on display at the Ceramics and Glass Fair in New York City. The wares were reportedly made by French and German immigrant potters in Philadelphia before the American Revolution. Some of these objects were also illustrated in an interview with Ceramics in America editor, Rob Hunter for the November 2017 issue of the New England Antiques Journal.
The particular dish that I posted today was recovered by Chris Rowell from a circa 1740s-1780s brick-lined privy in Philadelphia, less than one-half mile from the Museum of the American Revolution. I suspect this dish dates closer to the 1740s period instead of the later years. Nevertheless, it would be fascinating to learn if the following objects share any kind of relationship, especially considering there was a French Huguenot population that began to arrive in Virginia in the early-1700s.
Marbleized Dishes Recovered in Yorktown, VA and Philadelphia
18th Century Marbleized Red Earthenware Dish
Recovered at the Site of the William Rogers Pottery Factory in Yorktown, VA
Circa 1720-1745
See Article for More Information
Published in the 2004 Issue of Ceramics in America
Photo Courtesy: National Park Service, Colonial National Historic Park, Yorktown Collection
18th Century Red Earthenware Marbleized Dish Attributed to Philadelphia
Recovered from a Circa 1740s-1780s Privy
The Privy was Located at 232 Race Street in Philadelphia
Related Artifacts Were on Display this Year at the Annual Ceramics and Glass Fair in NYC
Thought to Have Been Made by an Immigrant French Potter in Philadelphia
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Chris Rowell
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