Exceptional 19th Century Marbled Red Earthenware Jar Manufactured in Western New York

I spent the better part of last month writing about nineteenth century red earthenware potteries located in upstate New York, much of which was focused towards the potters employed in Western New York. In fact, this is a region that deserves a lot more attention today, seeing that some of this production is responsible for some of the most dramatic red earthenware produced anywhere in America in the 1800s. Among the better known Western New York potters is Nathaniel Rochester, whom Rochester, New York is named after today.

According to the Genesee Country Village and Museum, "After the American Revolution, when land in Western New York opened up for settlement, men and women left their rocky farms in New England and moved west. Pennsylvanians and Marylanders migrated from the south. 

The pioneers who rushed to clear and develop the rich frontier were all hoping to improve their lot. Some would turn back. Some would be struck by Genesee Fever, a form of malaria. Some would move on to Ohio and Michigan. But many would stay.

In 1801, Colonel Nathaniel Rochester left his comfortable circumstances in Hagerstown, Maryland, to move north to 155 acres in Dansville, New York, that had been bought on his trip to the Genesee Country in September 1800. The perilous 275-mile journey north through almost impassible mountains took three weeks.

On horseback the Colonel led a procession of carriages bearing the younger children and women of the household and three great Conestoga wagons with household goods, his ten slaves and some of his neighbors who came along to help. The Colonel moved north, he said, "to escape the influence of slavery, to set his slaves free and to rear his family in a free state."

In Dansville, Colonel Rochester purchased from David Scholl a plank house, believed to have been built around 1797 - and once settled in Dansville, he purchased most of the water rights at Canaseraga Creek. Colonel Rochester erected a large paper mill and a gristmill. In the meantime, he began to survey the 100 acre-tract at the falls of the Genesee River that he and his colleagues had purchased in 1803.

After five years in Dansville, Colonel Rochester moved to a large farm in East Bloomfield, New York, and continued his work laying out what would become the Village of Rochester. In 1818, he and his family finally moved near the falls into a house with a large garden and grounds sloping down to the river. In 1824, he erected a brick house on higher ground where he resided for the rest of his life."

As I have recently noted, Rochester also offered some of his property in the Village in 1818, to be used as a pottery; he was not the potter himself, but the business is known by his name today. The potter or potters who worked at the Rochester Pottery produced some of the earliest wares in this region. Although, to my knowledge, the name is not known of the potter or potters employed here, but they were clearly skilled in their craft by what is known about this pottery from both archaeology and surviving objects.

This multi-colored marbled red earthenware jar is attributed to Western New York, and thought to have been manufactured at the Rochester Pottery. I also cannot recall having seen this form from this business or region before, suggesting that it is quite a rare form to find today.

Nevertheless, while this jar currently resides in a private collection, it was previously owned for many years by Camden, Ohio antiques dealer, David Good.

Exceptional Marbled Red Earthenware Jar from Western New York

19th Century Marbled Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to Western New York

Very Likely Made at Nathaniel Rochester's Pottery in Rochester, NY

Very Likely Circa 1818-1831

Stands About 6 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: David Good

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