EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: An Outstanding Red Earthenware Tobacco Jar from the Pilsbury Pottery in Western New York

Saturday, January 5, 2019

An Outstanding Red Earthenware Tobacco Jar from the Pilsbury Pottery in Western New York

I wrote in an article posted yesterday, "Over the next month, I plan to highlight some of the best Western New York red earthenware objects owned by Victor, New York antiques dealer, Gene Pratt and his wife, which is really generous since this is a private collection, much of which was assembled years ago. This also happens to be a region that is not widely publicized or published today, and seeing some of these objects may help provide a better understanding of the forms and glazes that are actually from Western New York. Aside from these objects, the Pratts also happen to own some great examples of archaeology from this region, that aside from the forms, reveal a great deal of overlap in glazes from one potter's business to the next, thus verifying why forms (before anything else) are so important today."

According to a book written by New York author, William C. Ketchum, Jr., Potters and Potteries of New York State, 1650-1900, "William A. Pilsbury, a local merchant, produced $1,400 worth of earthenware with "$50 in tools etc.," a horse for power, and a single employee (probably the James Pilsbury whose name with the date 1856 are inscribed on a yellow-glazed redware tobacco humidor now in a private collection). Pilsbury owned land on Route 20 just west of the four corners and east of Alvin Wilcox's property in West Bloomfield, New York, and it is possible that his kiln was located here. Surface finds have included fragments of pottery and drain tile, but no thorough search has been made."

Furthermore, it was published in 1893 in a book written by Lewis C. Aldrich, titled, History of Ontario County, New York, "About 1820 two Pilsbury brothers opened a blacksmith's shop, and W.D. Pilsbury started a foundry about 1830. However, to recall the names of all the proprietors of business enterprises which from time to time have been established in West Bloomfield Village would be difficult to accomplish, and even then could have no special interest." Although, I would like to believe that these Pilsbury men were related to William A. and James, showing some of the family's entrepreneurship in West Bloomfield in the nineteenth century.

I have recently posted three stories about the circa 1818-1831 Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) Pottery in nearby Rochester, New York. In this case, Rochester offered some of his property for rent in 1818, to be used as a pottery; he was not the potter himself, but the business is known by his name today. The result of this partnership is what I consider to be some of the most colorful red earthenware produced anywhere in America in the 1800s. But, to my knowledge, the potter or potters who were employed on Rochester's land during the circa 1818-1831 period have not been identified.

The manufacture of this outstanding tobacco jar, now owned by Victor, New York antiques dealer, Gene Pratt, may have been the result of a similar partnership. Although, in this case, the potter is known - and, like Nathaniel Rochester, William A. Pilsbury may have been the proprietor, while James Pilsbury is believed to have been the potter.

On one side of this jar is the inscription, "Wm. Hill / Tobacco," and the reverse side is inscribed, "William Hill / West Bloomfield." In addition to that, the base is inscribed, "James Pilsbury / West Bloomfield / 1856."

Outstanding Tobacco Jar from the Pilsbury Pottery in West Bloomfield, NY