Wonderful 19th Century Hand-Painted Easter Egg Manufactured in North Cambridge, Massachusetts

As I promised earlier this week, here are better pictures of the nineteenth century hand-painted Easter egg that was recently found at a thrift store in Fall River, Massachusetts. The egg was made at the A.H. Hews pottery in North Cambridge, Massachusetts after 1871, having been stamped on the base, "A.H. HEWS & CO. / NO. CAMBRIDGE / MASS." - and the paint is also believed to be original to the manufacturer. The color of the blue used for the egg closely resembles the color of a Robin's egg, and that may be the type of bird's nest that was painted on top of the Easter egg. Although, I have also posted an advertising envelope, which I recently acquired from this company.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "Far more important of these minor potteries was one founded by Abraham Hews (1741-1818) in Weston, Massachusetts in 1765. The beautiful house that he later built and occupied is standing today on the Main Street, just east of the Baptist church. The earthenware workshop stood a short distance east of the house. 

For 100 years the successive generations of the family carried on their trade in this building. About the time of the Civil War a new shop was built on the other side of the Post Road, where it joins the present highway.

In 1871, the shop in turn was abandoned, and the whole manufacture moved to its present site in North Cambridge. The firm name A.H. Hews was then adopted.

When the manufactory was transferred to its larger buildings in Cambridge, it employed 15 men and produced annually 800,000 pieces of ware, principally flowerpots. By 1889 the force had grown to 85 or 100 men and the yearly output to 7,000,000 pieces. 

In prosperous seasons the Hews pottery, in addition to other ornamental wares, has made as many as 20,000,000 flowerpots. Its growth, must, of course be attributed to machine methods that make possible such a large output. Although several potters still work there at the wheel, the restrictions of mass-production preclude any vigorous self-expression."

Easter Egg Made at the A.H. Hews Pottery in North Cambridge, Mass.

  Late-19th Century Hand-Painted Red Earthenware Easter Egg

The Paint is Likely Original to the Manufacturer

Impressed on the Base "A.H. HEWS & CO. / NO. CAMBRIDGE / MASS."

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  View of the Painted Decoration

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  View of the Interior

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 View of the Mark on the Base

Impressed "A.H. HEWS & CO. / NO. CAMBRIDGE / MASS."

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19th Century Envelope from the A.H. Hews Pottery in North Cambridge, Mass.

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