While visiting the storage department a few summers ago at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., I viewed this colorfully glazed nineteenth century bottle, as part of the museum's collection of upstate New York red earthenware. The bottle came without a specific attribution; although, it was attributed to upstate New York, likely having been produced in either central or western New York before 1860.
I have always regarded the red earthenware manufactured in central and western New York as some of the best pottery produced anywhere in America in the 1800s. But this production has also been somewhat overlooked since the twentieth century because of the prolific stoneware industry employed in this region in the 1800s.
I believe a similar situation has also occurred with stoneware manufactured in Vermont, where there must have been as many as a few dozen longstanding red earthenware potteries in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth century. But it seems that there has been more archaeology and published scholarship revolving around the potteries in central and western New York.
Even though I cannot provide a specific attribution to a potter's business for this bottle - I thought it would still be an object of interest, seeing that it fits in with some of the stories I have recently written about red earthenware production in upstate New York.
Upstate New York Red Earthenware Bottle
19th Century Red Earthenware Bottle
Reportedly Made in Upstate New York
Most Likely Made in Central or Western New York Before 1860
Stands About 6" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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