19th Century Earthenware Jug Made with the Intent to Imitate Stoneware of the Period

I included this observation, while recently writing a story about a nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware jar, attributed to Lorenzo Johnson's pottery in Newstead, Erie County, New York: "From my experience, it seems that nineteenth century red earthenware decorated with numbers and/or flowers in slip-decoration can be over-attributed to Lorenzo Johnson's pottery in Western New York. For example, Johnson is known to have manufactured some red earthenware imitating stoneware production of the period, often decorated with floral motifs and sometimes even numbers representing the gallon capacity. This information is known based on archaeology, as well as marked examples owned privately and by the New York State Museum in Albany, New York. But this style of production was not exclusive to Johnson, although the combination of forms, glazes and decorations that Johnson produced together were unique. However, I have seen a small group of red earthenware jars in recent years said to have been made by Johnson just because they were decorated with flowers in slip - and while Johnson was an incredibly talented potter, there were certainly other potters who produced red earthenware jars with this type of decoration in America and Canada."

As I noted in that article, this type of slip-decoration is not exclusive to Western New York production; in fact, it is found in other areas, such as Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and even Ontario in Canada. For example, the jug I posted today was a subject of interest yesterday in a Canadian Pottery Group on Facebook, where Ontario collector and researcher, Paul Slater posted a story about the circa 1852-1910 Huron Pottery in Edmondville Ontario. The company existed through multiple owners, and this jug has been impressed twice, "J.B. Weber / Huron Pottery / Edmondville, Ont." 

The site of the Huron Pottery was excavated by archaeologists from 1974-1976, recovering a wide variety of kiln evidence. All of this material is stored today at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Ontario.

Nonetheless, I would not be surprised to learn that this type of jug were attributed to Western New York production had it not been for the impressed marks. This jug was made with the intent to imitate stoneware of the period, which was the same goal that Lorenzo Johnson set out to achieve with some of the wares he made in Newstead, New York during the circa 1850-1875 period.

The Huron Pottery - Edmondville, ON

Early-20th Century Photograph of the Huron Pottery in Edmondville, ON

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Photo Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum

Ontario Earthenware Jug Made to Imitate Stoneware of the Period

19th Century Earthenware Jug Manufactured to Imitate Stoneware Production of the Period

Made by Jacob Weber at the Huron Pottery in Edmondville, Ontario

Impressed Twice "J.B. Weber / Huron Pottery / Edmondville, Ont." 

Circa 1880-1890

Stands 11 7/8" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum 

 View of the Floral Slip-Decoration as well as One of the Impressed Marks

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Photo Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum 

The Jug Has Been Impressed Twice "J.B. Weber / Huron Pottery / Edmondville, Ont." 

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Photo Courtesy: Royal Ontario Museum 

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