19th Century Stoneware Jar Acquired by Henry Chapman Mercer and Displayed at Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania

I plan to write about a few topics next week, which include my recent visit to Henry Chapman Mercer's (1856-1930) Moravian Pottery and Tile Works, as well as Fonthill Castle in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. But while touring the castle, I noticed this stoneware jar on display, which is an object that was actually acquired by Mercer more than 100 years ago.

According to Harvard Magazine, "Henry Chapman Mercer was born in 1856 to a wealthy Doylestown, Bucks County family. One of Mercer's greatest influences was his Aunt Lela, Elizabeth Lawrence. As she exposed Henry to her life in society she instilled in him a great sense of self and independence.

After graduating from Harvard in 1879, Mercer studied law at the University of Pennsylvania, but never pursued a career in the field. Instead, Mercer's interests turned to archaeology. He became the curator of American and Prehistoric Archaeology at the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia from 1894-1897. His site excavations as an archaeologist led to his interest in unearthing what drove America before the Industrial Age. Mercer began collecting objects that he felt told the story of human achievement. He believed that studying the tools that people used in everyday life painted a picture of their progression. 

While building his collection, Henry developed a special interest in the Pennsylvania German and Moravian settlers. He was particularly attracted to German pottery and Moravian tile work. By 1889 he was producing his own architectural tiles, for which he became famous."

This jar may have held some importance to Mercer since he kept it in the same room at Fonthill Castle that much of his prized archaeology was displayed. The glowing room surrounded by windows also exhibits an extravagant tile montage on the ceiling to Christopher Columbus. It's an impressive room!

But I was also drawn to this stoneware jar since the form, along with the impressed coggled fish and tadpole decoration just above the midsection, appear like Branch Green's production in Philadelphia and Old Bridge, New Jersey. Although it is my guess that this might be a Philadelphia example seeing that Mercer used to work in the city, and Doylestown is located just about 26 miles north of Philadelphia.

Stoneware Jar Owned by Henry Chapman Mercer

19th Century Stoneware Jar

Impressed with a Coggled Fish and Tadpole Decoration

Probably Made by Branch Green in Either Philadelphia or Old Bridge, NJ

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Fonthill Castle

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