Colonial Red Earthenware Pans Manufactured at the Industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts

I find it really difficult to differentiate between eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware pans manufactured in New England. In fact, I really have no idea how to tell the difference of such a form since production did not really differ from the early-seventeenth century through the turn of the twentieth century.

For instance, while visiting Old Sturbridge Village's ceramics storage department a few years ago, I remember a friend looking at a red earthenware jug from the 1780s, and saying if it were not for the inscribed date that the jug would likely be attributed to early-nineteenth century production. That same statement certainly holds true for the production of pans with New England potters before and after the American Revolution.

The following artifacts were recovered by archaeologists in the 1980s in Charlestown, Massachusetts during Boston's Big Dig Project. These are the remains of pre-1775 red earthenware pans, which I believe if found intact today would likely be attributed to a more rural nineteenth century area in New England, such as Maine. But this was a brand of production that was actually manufactured throughout the region in both rural and urban locations.

Aside from the reassembled pan posted below, the two pan sherds were recovered at the site of the circa 1714-1754 Parker family pottery; they are decorated with a bright glaze, which is also randomly decorated with green dots. These type of dots are sometimes found on red earthenware produced in southern Maine in the 1800s, and consequently has been used as a tool for attribution on certain forms. However this is proof that it is very difficult to attribute a specific characteristic or glaze to a single potter's business, location or region today.

It should also be taken into consideration that pans were a form regularly manufactured at the industry in Colonial Charlestown in the seventeenth and eighteenth century. This is how the forms typically appear, and thus why I generally have no idea how to differentiate between this type of eighteenth century production and the pans made elsewhere in New England in the 1800s.

Colonial Red Earthenware Milk Pans from Charlestown, Mass.

Pre-1775 Red Earthenware Pan Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.
Made at the Colonial Industry in Charlestown, Mass.

This Style of Pan is Commonly Attributed to 19th Century New England Today

However, this was Also a Style Manufactured Throughout Coastal Colonial New England

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department

View of the Back of the Pan

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department

18th Century Century Red Earthenware Pan Sherds

Recovered at the Site of the Parker Family Pottery in Charlestown, Mass.

Circa 1714-1754

This Style of Pan is Commonly Attributed to 19th Century New England Today

However, this was Also a Style Manufactured Throughout Coastal Colonial New England

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department

View of the Rims

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department

View of the Back of the Sherds

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department

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