19th Century Pottery Utilized at the Shaker Community in Mount Lebanon, New York

I have previously written about the production of red earthenware, including slipware at the Union Village Shaker community in Warren County, Ohio, as well as a type of marked stoneware sometimes found from the Shakers in Sabathday Lake in Maine. In fact, some of the Warren County products were displayed a few years ago by Ohio potters, Greg and Mary Shooner at the 2016 session of Historic Eastfield Village's ceramic conference in Nassau, New York. However, an interesting group of ceramics are also associated today with the Shaker community in Mount Lebanon in New York.

According to the Shaker Museum of Mount Lebanon, "The Shakers owned many ceramic vessels. At the Mount Lebanon community, stoneware jugs and crocks were generally made at local commercial potteries - and there were plenty of those in the area. The only clay products the Shakers at Mount Lebanon made themselves were smoking pipes and pipes for draining wetland (although there is at least one small stoneware jar known today marked with this community's name).

The Shaker Museum at Mount Lebanon holds a collection of 60 pieces of stoneware. The Shakers had a considerable need for these vessels. Jugs, holding from one quart to ten gallons of liquid, were used to store and sell medicinal extracts and distilled liquids such as witch hazel. Crocks were traditionally used for putting up pickles and preserving other foodstuffs. Large jugs fitted with bung holes at the bottom were used as water coolers that could be taken to the brothers in the working fields."

This photo seems to demonstrate the Shakers need for stoneware - whereas, I was also informed by Connecticut antiques dealer, David Schorsch that the following photo of an attic in a building at Mount Lebanon, which reveals a large collection of New York stoneware was taken by William F. Winter, Jr. (1899-1939), circa 1930. This photo was also used in a catalog published by David Schorsch in 1989.

Stoneware Used at the Shaker Community in Mount Lebanon, NY

19th Century Stoneware Vessels in the Attic of a Building at Mount Lebanon, NY
Presumably All Made Locally in Upstate New York

Photo Taken Circa 1930s

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Photo Courtesy: Library of Congress

While on vacation last summer with my nephew Jason at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., we also saw three examples of nineteenth century household pottery from the Shaker community at Mount Lebanon. Each object was decorated with a floral pattern and the words "SHAKERS MT. LEBANON N.Y." 

These pieces were displayed as part of an exhibit at the museum; although, I cannot remember having seen this type of marked pottery from any Shaker community before, which I presume must have been produced by an American manufacturer.

Household Pottery on Display at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

19th Century Pitcher from the Shaker Community at Mount Lebanon in New York

Marked "SHAKERS MT. LEBANON N.Y." 

Currently Part of an Exhibit at the National Museum of American History

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

19th Century Bowl from the Shaker Community at Mount Lebanon in New York

Marked "SHAKERS MT. LEBANON N.Y." 

Currently Part of an Exhibit at the National Museum of American History

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

19th Century Plate from the Shaker Community at Mount Lebanon in New York

Marked "SHAKERS MT. LEBANON N.Y." 

Currently Part of an Exhibit at the National Museum of American History

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

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