The base of the jar was marked with a hand-written abbreviated signature applied by Hamell; I recalled seeing this mark before, but I had not previously made the connection to who the mark belonged to. But after making that connection, I quickly realized this is a significant mark that needs to be common knowledge today within the American pottery community. Apparently, it seems that this mark may not be widely known, seeing that I was contacted by a few people after I posted the article, saying that they had seen this mark before, but they were not sure who it represented.
Mark Applied on Objects Owned by George R. Hamell
Mark Applied on Objects Owned by George R. Hamell
Hamell Marked Pieces He Owned with a Number and His Initials, "GRH"
Hamell Marked Pieces He Owned with a Number and His Initials, "GRH"
See Article for More Information
George R. Hamell is a name that should be largely recognized today, especially for his efforts as an archaeologist and a preservationist of the nineteenth century pottery industry in Western New York. He began researching the region's potters as early as the 1960s, and soon transitioned to archaeological research with the Rochester Museum and Science Center in Rochester, New York. His first published material came in 1971, when he co-authored a report with Daniel M. Barber for the Society of Historical Archaeology, titled, The Redware Pottery Factory of Alvin Wilcox at Mid-19th Century Later in his career, he worked as a museum specialist for the New York State Museum in Albany, New York.
It was also about this time that George began to collect pottery, but his approach came from the eye of an archaeologist, recording the important provenance of just about each and every object he owned, as well as finding a comparison of said wares with forms and glazes that were recovered from potter's sites throughout Western New York. Most of the pieces George owned were marked on the base with a number, as well as his initials, "GRH." There may be as many as a few hundred pieces of pottery adorned with this mark today.
George Hamell's Western New York pottery research has been published by Northeast Historical Archaeology, the Society of Historical Archaeology, as well as contributing to museum exhibits at the Rochester Science and Museum Center and the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.
However, Hamell's upstate New York red earthenware research has also served as a major source of information for authors like William C. Ketchum, Jr.'s book, Potters and Potteries of New York State, 1650-1900, along with several other books written by Ketchum and other authors. Examples of Western New York pottery from Hamell's collection have also been borrowed for illustration in such publications.
Although, it may not be widely known today that George Hamell also owned a significant collection of marked red earthenware from Western New York, much of which was sold through Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland on March 5, 2011. I have previously written about some of these pieces, but much like Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) with New England pottery, George Hamell and his research really needs to be recognized today for the overall contributions he made into identifying and preserving the history of pottery production in Western New York. Without George's work, there would likely be many unanswered questions about this significant industry today.
I would also like to mention that most of the objects posted below have been previously illustrated or cited in publication, and some have also been loaned for museum exhibits - but in spite of that, all of the information I have included in the captions below comes directly from the research notes of George R. Hamell.
Singed Western New York Pottery from the Collection of George R. Hamell
Wilcox-Prosser Marked Jar
19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Marked "A. WILCOX / Ed Prosser"
Made at the Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, NY
Prosser was One of Eight Men Employed at the Wilcox Pottery
The Remains of Another Jar Marked by Prosser was Recovered at the Site of the Wilcox Pottery
Circa 1850
Stands 9" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
View of the Mark
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Auburn, NY Marked Pot
19th Century Red Earthenware Pot
Attributed to Western New York
Impressed "AUBURN NY"
The Manufacturer us Currently Unknown
The Manufacturer us Currently Unknown
There are a Small Group of Related Extant Examples in Existence
Probably Circa 1850-1860
Stands 8" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
View of the Mark
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
C. Crolius / Manufacturer / New-York Marked Jug
19th Century Jug with an Unusual Albany Slip
Impressed "C. CROLIUS, / MANUFACTURER / NEW-YORK"
Circa 1832-1849
Stands 9" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Another View of the Jug
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Aurora Marked Pot
19th Century Red Earthenware Pot
Made by Cyrus Cornell in Aurora, NY (Now East Aurora, Erie County, NY)
Impressed "Aurora"
Circa 1835-1842
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: George R. Hamell
D.A. Brown Marked Jug
Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Attributed to Genesee Valley Region, New York
Impressed Seven Times "D.A. BROWN"
Although Further Information About the Potter is Unknown
Jug was Found in an Early Home in Nunda, Livingston County, NY
Circa 1790-1810
Stands 10 3/4" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Another View of the Jug
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
View of Three of the Nine Impressed Marks, "D.A. BROWN"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
E D Lewis / Bushnell's Basin Marked Jug
19th Century Buff-Bodied Earthenware Jug
Marked "E D LEWIS / BUSHNELLS BASIN"
Made at the Elonzo D. Lewis Pottery on the Erie Canal in Bushnell's Basin, NY
Bushnell's Basin is Located Near Present Day Fairport, Monroe County, NY
Lewis Relocated to West Bloomfield, NY in 1855
Circa 1848-1854
Stands 11 3/4" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
View of the Impressed Mark "E D LEWIS / BUSHNELLS BASIN"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
G.B. Hall Marked Pot
Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pot
Attributed to the Genesee Valley Region, NY
Impressed "G.B. HALL"
Hall May Have Been the Potter or the Person Whom the Pot was Made
The Pot was Found in an Early Home in Livonia, Livingston County, NY
Circa 1790-1820
Stands 7" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
James Pilsbury Inscribed Jar
19th Century Red Earthenware Tobacco Jar
Attributed to the Pilsbury Pottery in West Blomfield, NY
This Side Has Been Inscribed, "Wm. Hill / Tobacco"
Circa 1856
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
The Other Side is Inscribed, "William Hill / West Bloomfield"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Another View of the Jar
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
The Base is Inscribed, "James Pilsbury / West Bloomfield / 1856"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Lima Marked Jar
19th Century Red Earthenware Pot
Probably Made at the Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, NY
Written on Opposite Sides of the Interior of the Pot is the Town, "LIMA"
Lima, NY Borders West Bloomfield to the West
Circa 1840
Stands 12" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
View of the Interior
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Another View of the Interior
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
L. Johnson Signed Jug
19th Century Red Earthenware Jug
Made by Lorenzo Johnson in Newstead, Erie County, NY
Stamped "L. JOHNSON"
Designed to Resemble Stoneware Production of the Period
Circa 1850
Stands 9" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Another View of the Jug
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
View of the Mark, "L. JOHNSON"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Rochester-Genesee Valley, NY Jar
Unmarked 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar with Unusual Slip-Decoration
Attributed to Genesee Valley Region, NY
Stands 12" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
Another View of the Jar
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm
How & Co. Marked Pan
19th Century Red Earthenware Pan
Marked on the Base "HOW & CO."
Possibly Made by Thomas Howe & Company in Athens, Greene County, NY
Circa 1805-1813
Stands 4 3/4" Tall
Measures 13 1/2" in Diameter
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: George R. Hamell
View of the Mark, "HOW & CO."
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: George R. Hamell
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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