The wares made in Greenport in the nineteenth century are virtually unknown today, even though some locals on Long Island are aware that this business existed, somewhat living in the shadow of the well-published Huntington Pottery, also on Long Island. But it is this type of challenge that inspires adventurers and researchers, determined to uncover the facts surrounding the identity of a forgotten potter's business.
While out-and-about yesterday, I received an email from Chris Pickerell; within that email, a few dozen images were attached of artifacts he had collected throughout the years, representing some of the skilled wares manufactured at the previously unknown Greenport Pottery. I was thrilled to see this information, since some of the slip techniques appear unique to Greenport, such as a wonderful bird and an unmistakable hand used to apply slip-script. However, some of the other styles of slip could easily be misrepresented for wares made outside of the area, in places like Pennsylvania and maybe even Connecticut.
All of these artifacts were recovered by Chris at either the site of the pottery or from nearby homes in Greenport - and it is my interpretation that this is really important information. He also discovered some wasters and other artifacts, while scuba diving along the shoreline adjacent to the original pottery site.
Within the article Chris wrote for Ceramics in America, he described how some sherds were discovered, and this adventure certainly translates with how he found some of the artifacts I have posted in this article. "In the summer of 2006, I had been given permission to investigate the crawl space under an eighteenth century home located on the shore of Sterling Harbor in Greenport, directly adjacent to the Hempstead kiln. The house was to be lifted to make way for a full basement, and I was able to perform a little salvage archaeology before the dig. Over several hours of crawling under this home, I gathered a large number of shell-edge banded, and luster fragments along with quantities of redware. I suspect that some of the redware originated from the nearby kiln based on the proximity of the home as well as the number of misfired and damaged "seconds" in the assemblage."
Furthermore, here is a link to a feature story written by Chris Pickerell for Edible East End in March of 2017, entitled One Man's Century-Old Culinary Trash is Another Man's Treasure on the North Folk, describing his adventures and some of the objects he has discovered over the years that are not only limited to pottery.
Artifacts Representing Production from the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Wonderful Red Earthenware Plate Remains Decorated with a Bird in Slip
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Script Red Earthenware Plate
The Slip is Thought to be a Gospel
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plates
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plates
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of Handles Red Earthenware Pots, Including a Black Glazed Example
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate with a Stoneware Sherd
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Sherds
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Kiln Furniture Remains and Scuba Diving Adjacent to the Site of the Greenport Pottery
Chris Pickerell Scuba Diving Along the Shoreline Adjacent to the Original Pottery Site
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Chris Pickerell Scuba Diving Along the Shoreline Adjacent to the Original Pottery Site
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Saggar from the Greenport Pottery Site
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Saggar and Pieces of the Kiln Floor from the Greenport Pottery Site
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Surviving Examples of Greenport Pottery
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Below for a Comparable Surviving Example
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Attributed to the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Above for a Similar Example Represented in Archaeological Evidence
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar Compared to a Surviving Jar
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Below for a Comparable Surviving Example
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
Remains of a Slip-Script Red Earthenware Plate
The Slip is Thought to be a Gospel
Made at the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Below for a Comparable Surviving Example
Photo Courtesy: Christopher H. Pickerell
19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate, Inscribed "Emma's Pie"
Attributed to the Greenport Pottery on Long Island
Circa After 1819
See Above for a Similar Example Represented in Archaeological Evidence
Photo Courtesy: The Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities
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