For instance, we were told as the tour began that our view of eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture would never be the same. That may have even been an understatement, as we learned about a variety of hidden compartments found in many of the museum's examples of eighteenth century desks. While some of the compartments were easy to find, there were others that were manufactured like a maze and took us quite a bit of time to figure out. We also learned about the need to properly take accurate measurements of drawers when searching for these hidden areas - and we even saw two hidden compartments that had been individually marked in pencil "gold" and "silver."
Exquisite examples of southern red earthenware and stoneware from the Mariner and MESDA's collections were also included in some of the rooms, where the pottery accented brilliant pieces of southern furniture, paintings, prints, folk art, needlework, iron, arms, weapons, and many other decorative objects.
Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
My Nephew Jason Outside the Frank L. Horton Museum Center
The Mariner Collection is Displayed in this Building
MESDA is Located in Winston-Salem, NC
18th Century Red Earthenware Sugar Jar
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1770-1790
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher
Attributed to Alamance County, NC
Circa 1785-1810
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Early-to-Mid-19th Century Red Earthenware Jars
Attributed to the Buck Family Pottery in Wythe County, VA
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Touring MESDA's rooms are worth the price of admission to the museum alone; however, the Mariner Gallery must be the most important collection of southern pottery in any museum collection today. The collection is timeless with major examples representing production throughout most of the southern states.
Although, the most significant piece of pottery in the Mariner Collection may be an eleven inch nineteenth century stoneware churn decorated with an elaborate scene made by Thomas Mitchell Chandler Jr. (1810-1854) for his aunt and uncle in Baltimore, Maryland. In fact, the churn was acquired by the Mariners directly from descendant's of the family, where it had resided since 1829, and is undoubtedly one of the most important examples of southern pottery in existence. Afterwards, Chandler migrated south for employment in Edgefield, South Carolina, which he has garnered some fame for today.
According to Katherine C. Hughes, "The churn displays an agricultural landscape, with a detailed farmhouse, outbuilding, cow, five trees, and a woman churning butter in her own decorated churn. The churn is marked on its side "Mitchel Chandler" and the year "1829", and inscribed on the bottom "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829."
The scene decorating the butter churn illustrates a landscape and lifestyle once found in nineteenth century small towns all over Accomack County on Virginia's Eastern Shore.
Family lore, and the churn itself, tells us that Thomas made the churn for his Uncle Mitchell Chandler and Mitchell's sister Rosey Chandler Fitzgerald (1772-1858). Although Thomas Chandler's family had moved from the Shore to the City of Baltimore in 1817, it seems that young Thomas would often return to visit his extended family. The story handed down with the churn, generation after generation, is that when Thomas would return to the Shore, his Aunt Rosey would make him gifts of homemade butter, rolls, and biscuits to take back to the big city. As a thank you, Thomas made her the churn, decorated with her likeness."
Thomas Chandler's Churn, Baltimore, MD
(Left) 19th Century Stoneware Churn
Made by Thomas Chandler for his Aunt and Uncle in Baltimore, MD
Decorated with an Elaborate Farm Scene
Marked on the Side "Mitchel Chandler" and the year "1829"
Inscribed on the Bottom "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829"
See Pictures Below
(Right) 19th Century Stoneware Churn
Attributed to Thomas Chandler in Edgefield, SC
Circa 1840-1850
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
19th Century Stoneware Churn
Made by Thomas Chandler for his Aunt and Uncle in Baltimore, MD
Decorated with an Elaborate Farm Scene
Marked on the Side "Mitchel Chandler" and the year "1829"
Inscribed on the Bottom "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829"
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
19th Century Stoneware Churn
Made by Thomas Chandler for his Aunt and Uncle in Baltimore, MD
Decorated with an Elaborate Farm Scene
Marked on the Side "Mitchel Chandler" and the year "1829"
Inscribed on the Bottom "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829"
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
19th Century Stoneware Churn
Made by Thomas Chandler for his Aunt and Uncle in Baltimore, MD
Decorated with an Elaborate Farm Scene
Marked on the Side "Mitchel Chandler" and the year "1829"
Inscribed on the Bottom "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829"
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
19th Century Stoneware Churn
Made by Thomas Chandler for his Aunt and Uncle in Baltimore, MD
Decorated with an Elaborate Farm Scene
Marked on the Side "Mitchel Chandler" and the year "1829"
Inscribed on the Bottom "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829"
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Bottom of the Churn
Inscribed "Thomas M. Chandler / Maker / Baltimore / August 12 / 1829"
See Article for More Infomation
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Aside from the churn made by Thomas Chandler, another favorite object in the collection is a green-glazed red earthenware ring bottle made by Christopher A. Haun (1821-1861) in Greene County, Tennessee, circa 1850-1860. The bottle is marked "Haun" and is decorated with an impressed pattern, a decoration also found on some handles manufactured by Haun. This object is also regarded as the only ring bottle known today from Haun's production.
However, Haun may be most known today as a Union loyalist from Tennessee during the American Civil War, who was executed by Confederate forces in Knoxville, Tennessee on December 11, 1861 for helping to burn the Lick Creek Railroad Bridge in Green County.
According to John Case from Case Antiques in Knoxville who originally sold the ring bottle, "This important event in East Tennessee Civil War history was initiated with a campaign by Union loyalists to burn nine bridges. It was led by William B. Carter and strongly supported and encouraged by President Abraham Lincoln. Several potters from the Pottertown, Tennessee area were among the men who conspired and succeeding the bridge. The potters decided not to capture or kill the Confederated bridge guards, but allowed them to go free based upon their solemn promises to not reveal their identities. Union troops did not materialize as promised and the Confederates were able to pursue and capture some of the perpetrators. The Confederate guards, who were allowed to live, were the very ones who served as witnesses to implicate the five men who were hung, four of them potters."
Christopher Haun's Ring Bottle, Greene County, TN
(Front Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Ring Bottle
Made by Christopher A. Haun in Greene County, TN
Marked "Haun"
Circa 1850-1860
(Back Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Made by Christopher A. Haun in Greene County, TN
Circa 1850-1860
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
View of the Impressed Decoration on the Ring Bottle
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
View of One of the Handles on the Jar
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Christopher A. Haun Departing from His Family Before Execution on December 11, 1861
Wood Engraving Published in 1862
Photo Courtesy: Library of Congress
Nevertheless, those are merely two of the remarkable objects from the collection of 160 pieces of red earthenware and stoneware currently on display in the Mariner Gallery at MESDA. This is a collection that should not be missed and is certainly worth the trip, whether your passion is historical pottery or if you just appreciate art, history, museums, etc.
I have posted most of the objects on display in group pictures below - and as I have already mentioned two of my favorite objects, but I'm sure everyone who sees this gallery will have their favorites, as well. Many thanks are owed to the Mariners for allowing this collection to become a permanent public fixture at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in central North Carolina.
The William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery
Photo Courtesy: Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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