The Samuel W. Pennypacker Collection that Sold at Freeman's in Philadelphia in the Summer of 1920

While visiting the home of antiques dealer, Greg Kramer a few years ago in Robesonia, Pennsylvania, I viewed a stack of old twentieth century auction catalogs that he had recently purchased. They were sitting on the floor; one of the catalogs really stood out from the rest, and it appears to be an important early collection that is not widely known today. I quickly flipped through the pages, and was really surprised to see an exceptional variety of Pennsylvania pottery, many with attributions that still hold true today.

The catalog presented the The Collection of Early Pennsylvania of the Late Honorable Samuel W. Pennypacker; the collection was sold through the course of four days on June 28, 29, 30 and July 1, 1920 at Samuel T. Freeman and Company in Philadelphia, more commonly known today as Freeman's Auction.

Samuel Whitaker Pennypacker (1843-1916) was a Pennsylvania judge, author and served as the state's 23rd Governor from 1903-1907. But he was also among the first group of collectors who appreciated the history of Pennsylvania's decorative arts, especially the state's spectacular sgraffito production from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, as well as Pennsylvania whimsical pottery figures.

According to Freeman's, "The early history of the people of Pennsylvania was the hobby of the late Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker. His collection of rare imprints from the first presses through eastern Pennsylvania was just celebrated, and while that part of his collection is better known, especially among bibliophiles, yet his interest as a collector was not limited to the output of printing presses. 

His accumulations of Pennsylvania Dutch (and German) pottery, Stiegel glass, and pewter is worthy of special attention, as are a number of pieces of antique furniture. Some of the other parts of the collection, while perhaps of less general interest, are most unique. These are exemplified in the woven baskets, linen and samplers, stove plates, tools, and implements made and used by the people of this state in times gone by. Many of these specimens could not be duplicated. To anyone who is interested in the early life of the Commonwealth, this sale is bound to be of great interest."

More recently, I thought about the Pennypacker Sale while I toured the red earthenware and stoneware collection at Winterthur Museum in Delaware. I speculated whether any of the pieces from the sale had been acquired by Henry Francis du Pont (1880-1969). But it would seem unlikely, seeing that the Pennypacker Collection was sold just before du Pont began purchasing items for his collection of American decorative arts and architectural elements in the 1920s.

I then thought about the pottery collection at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and if any of those objects had been purchased at Freeman's in Philadelphia in the summer of 1920. I figure the auction must have been a well-publicized event - and, while there are some similar objects, I have not been able to find any information that says the museum purchased any of Pennypacker's red earthenware, either.

Nevertheless, the museum does own a remarkable sgraffito handled jar that is clearly from the same maker as is a jar from the Pennypacker Collection. According to Freeman's, "This large yellow slip jar is manufactured with two broad loop handles and a narrow neck. It is profusely decorated with floral designs, peacocks, and an incised inscription along the shoulder. It was made by George Hubener (1757-1828) in his most lavish style from Montgomery County, Pennsylvania."

A few weeks ago, I took notice of an example of Hubener's sgraffito production in the form of a plate in the collection at Winterthur, prominently decorated in the center with the same type of peacock, supporting the attribution.

Another object of interest from the Pennypacker Sale was a sgraffito plate, possibly made by Johannes Neesz (Neis) or his son, John Neesz (Neis) (1785-1867) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. The Neeszs wares are certainly among my favorite types of Pennsylvania pottery, as well as David Spinner (1758-1811) in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Interestingly, production from these potters can appear similar since the elder Neesz was a student of Spinner's; their pottery is well-represented in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, as well as Winterthur, including a plate attributed to the younger Neesz of almost identical manufacture.

The information published by Freeman's reads, "Red earthenware pie plate with portrait of George Washington, with trumpet and swords in hands. Yellow slip with incised outlines and applied colors, has floral decorations and border. Made by Johannes Neesz, potter at Tylersport, Montgomery County in 1800."

According to an article published in the December 1940 issue of American Collector Magazine, "Near Tylersport, Montgomery County, John Neesz and his father Johannes Neesz, applied leaping stags, sprays of conventional flowers, festoons, to plates and vegetable dishes, platters, sugar bowls and pitchers. They made sets of dishes and sets of sugar bowls and creamer pitchers covered with dark glaze like some of the English ware, having ornate handles and festoons of slip. Humor crept in - crude, inelegant, timely - pointing obvious morals. In the possession of the Pennsylvania Museum is a piece of Neesz pottery in black-and-white, traced on the red body and forming the figure of a bird standing amongst heavy foliage. In German script are the words: "I cook what I can, Is my pig neat, so is my man."

Black Sgraffito Plate in the Collection of Winterthur

Possibly Made by the Neeszs or Neis in Montgomery County, PA

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to John Neesz or Neis in Montgomery County, PA

Circa 1810-1820

See Article for More Information

Photo  Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Certain of the pottery made by John Neesz is covered with a thin varnish, a process known as smear glaze. There is also proof that patterns were used by this man for some of his pieces. On a large pie dish of smear glaze is scratched the figure of a mounted soldier, resembling in many respects the figure and face of George Washington. The horse which he rides is in line relief, the figure of the mounted man in color, solidly filled in. Applied to flowers and leaves are patches of colored glazes. Sometimes a sabre was substituted for a pipe or a trumpet in the hand of a mounted figure."

In spite of all that, I wouldn't be surprised to learn that some of Samuel W. Pennypacker's pottery has been purchased or even gifted to museums, possibly lacking the Pennypacker provenance. But there may also be pieces out there today, which have also lost this provenance, thus why this is an important catalog to own, illustrating dozens of pieces of wonderful pottery, manufactured in Pennsylvania in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Samuel W. Pennypacker Sale, June 28, 29, 30 and July 1, 1920, Philadelphia

 Catalog for the Sale of Samuel W. Pennypacker's Collection of Pennsylvania Decorative Arts

Sold by Freeman's in Philadelphia on June 28, 29, 30 and July 1, 1920

See Article for More Information

Information Published in Catalog About Samuel W. Pennypacker, as well as the Auction Contract

See Article for More Information

 Lot No. 256

Remarkable Sgraffito Red Earthenware Jar

Sold in the Pennypacker Collection at Freeman's in Philadelphia in 1920

Attributed to George Hubener in Montgomery County, PA

See Lot No. 56 for Description

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

 A Similar But Not the Same Jar from the Pennypacker Sale

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art

Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art

 18th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to George Hubener in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, PA

The Peacock in the Center is the Same Bird Used on the Jars Above

Circa September 4, 1787

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

Lot No. 242

18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Plates

Sold in the Samuel W. Pennypacker Sale at Freeman's in Philadelphia in 1920

See Lot Numbers 236, 228 and 242 for Descriptions

See Article for More Information

(Right) Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to Johannes Neesz or Neis, Montgomery County, PA

See Objects Below for Similar Examples

See Article for More Information

 19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to John Neesz or Neis, Montgomery County, PA

Circa 1800-1820

See Plate from the Pennypacker Sale for a Similar Example

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

 19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to John Neesz or Neis, Montgomery County, PA

Circa 1800-1820

See Plate from the Pennypacker Sale for a Similar Example

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

 19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to John Neesz or Neis, Montgomery County, PA

Circa 1800-1820

See Plate from the Pennypacker Sale for a Similar Example

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

18th/19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Possibly Made by David Spinner in Bucks County, PA

Circa 1780-1811

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

 18th/19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to David Spinner in Bucks County, PA

Circa 1800

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

18th/19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Plate

Attributed to David Spinner in Bucks County, PA

Circa 1800

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

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