19th Century Slip-Script New York Presentation Jar in the Collection of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

As I have written over the past week-and-a-half, as well as a feature story written for the October 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Red Earthenware Available in the 18th and 19th Centuries in New York City, slip-decorated red earthenware was produced allover the state of New York.

More notably, I have written about the production of slipware on Long Island, New York City, upstate Central New York, as well as Western New York. In each area, the manufacturing styles differ, from the wares produced at Nathaniel Rochester's (1752-1831) circa 1818-1831 pottery in Rochester, New York, to the wares made by John Betts Gregory (1782-1842) in Clinton, New York, as well as the various Colonial potters employed in Manhattan, and the post-Revolution slip also made in Manhattan along with Long Island.

The collective group of red earthenware produced by the potters employed in New York's various regions is really some of the best pottery produced anywhere in America. Although, in some ways, this production can certainly be somewhat overlooked today in exchange for the state's prolific eighteenth and nineteenth century stoneware industries.

In spite of that, this is another New York object I handled while studying a few summers ago in the storage department of the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. I suspect this jar may have been made in the Hudson Valley Region or central upstate New York, but I am not certain of that observation; although, it is decorated in slip-script.

Unfortunately, I cannot remember the exact wording inscribed on this presentation jar, but a friend, Gary Hammond said that it appears to read, "Earthenware / Factory Champion Jefferson / State of New York."

During my next visit to the Smithsonian, I will make it a priority to re-visit this jar and write down the word-for-word inscription. But regardless of that, this jar could be mistaken for another state's production if it were not for the slip-script.

New York Slip-Script Presentation Jar

19th Century New York Red Earthenware Slip-Script Presentation Jar

Slip Appears to Read, "Earthenware / Factory Champion Jefferson / State of New York."

Stands About 9" to 10" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

View of a Tulip Applied in Slip

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian

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