19th Century Porcelain Busts of Cleopatra Originally Manufactured During the Grecian Revival in Trenton, New Jersey

As I noted in a post from earlier today, when traveling to Philadelphia last week, I stopped at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, New Jersey in order to see some of the museum's locally made pottery on display. But I was not aware until I arrived at the museum that I would see some of the most prolific porcelain figures manufactured anywhere in America in the nineteenth century.

According to the museum, "The word "porcelain" conjures up images of delicate dishware and tiny tea sets. But New Jersey ceramic artist Isaac Broome (1835-1922) liked to make big things out of porcelain. 

In 1873, the Trenton pottery firm Ott & Brewer hired Broome to create display pieces for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia. Reproduced several times using his original mold, Broome's multicolored bust of Cleopatra garnered much attention and even appeared in magazine accounts about Trenton potteries."

Although, this form was later reproduced in 1914 "when the renowned  Trenton pottery firm Lenox, Inc. created a bust using Broome's original mold. Walter Scott Lenox, the company's namesake, worked with Ott & Brewer in the 1870s before starting his Ceramic Art Company. It later became Lenox, Inc."

To my knowledge, the majority of the Cleopatra busts in existence today were manufactured in 1914, such as those owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. But the New Jersey State Museum currently displays three original busts created by Broome for the Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, as well as a fourth example that was made at Lenox, Inc. in 1914.

According to the MET, "The design of Broome's Cleopatra bust originates to the early period of his career; shown at the Paris Exposition Universelle, where it won a gold medal, Cleopatra garnered a lot of attention because it was an extraordinary representation of the dark-skinned beauty with the use of clays colored with oxides and elaborate gilded details. The work captured the attention of many admirers (and some detractors), and was widely discussed in the press at the time.

Porcelain Busts of Cleopatra - Trenton, NJ

(Bottom Left) 19th Century Polychromatic Porcelain Bust of Cleopatra

Made by Isaac Broome for Ott & Brewer in Trenton, NJ 

Circa 1873-1876
Won Gold Medal at the Paris Exposition Universells

(Top Right) 20th Century Parian Porcelain Bust of Cleopatra

Made at Lenox, Inc. in 1914

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

(Bottom Left) Information Displayed with the Cleopatra Bust Made by Broome

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

(Top Right) Information Displayed with the Cleopatra Bust Made at Lenox, Inc. in 1914

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

(Top Left) 19th Century Porcelain Bust of Cleopatra

Made by Isaac Broome for Ott & Brewer in Trenton, NJ 

Circa 1873-1876

(Bottom Right) 19th Century Chocolate Porcelain Bust of Cleopatra

Made by Isaac Broome for Ott & Brewer in Trenton, NJ 

Circa 1873-1876

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

(Top Left) Information Displayed with the Cleopatra Bust Made by Broome

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

(Bottom Right) Information Displayed with the Cleopatra Bust Made by Broome

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

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"The Baseball Vase" Owned by the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, New Jersey

Last summer, I posted a story showing some of the nineteenth century ceramic objects on display at the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York, depicting baseball players of various ages and scenes. Although, I was surprised to recently see a monumental porcelain object made with a baseball theme that likely predates all of the objects owned by the Baseball Hall of Fame.

When traveling to Philadelphia last week, I stopped at the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, New Jersey in order to see some of the museum's locally made pottery on display. But I had no idea that I would see this remarkable nineteenth century porcelain sculpture, known as "The Baseball Vase," made by Isaac Broome (1835-1922) in Trenton in 1876, who is regarded to be one of the premier pottery and tile designers from the American pottery industry of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century.

According to the museum, "In 1873, the Trenton pottery firm Ott & Brewer hired Broome to create display pieces for the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia. Broome's monumental baseball vase captures the essence and spirit of a great American pastime still in its infancy.

The monumental vase is made of parian, an unglazed porcelain named for the marble that it resembles. It is considered to be a masterpiece of American ceramic art. 

When Broome crafted the baseball vase, he probably knew little about the sport's strong historical connection to the state of New Jersey. On June 19, 1846, the first officially-recorded game of baseball as we know it today took place at the Elysian Fields in Hoboken. New Jersey is where modern baseball was born."

Interestingly, I also learned through the Potteries of Trenton, New Jersey Society that Broome actually produced two of these vases, and the other is owned by the Detroit Historical Society in Michigan. "The model Broome used for the figures was Al Van Horn, catcher for Trenton's baseball team. 

After the exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, one of the vases became part of John Hart Brewer's personal collection and remained there until it was donated to the New Jersey State Museum. The other vase was presented by Brewer to the National Baseball League in 1887. The Detroit Wolverines won the championship that fall and were awarded the vase as their trophy. It has remained in Detroit ever since."

"The Baseball Vase" - Trenton, NJ

"The Baseball Vase"

Made by Isaac Broome in Trenton, NJ for the Firm Ott & Brewer

Circa 1873-1876

Stands at a Monumental Height

One of Two Baseball Vases Manufactured by Brewer

The Other is Owned by the Detroit Historical Society

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

Information Displayed with the Vase

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Photo Courtesy: New Jersey State Museum

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John Vickers: 19th Century Quaker, Potter and Abolitionist from Chester County, Pennsylvania

While attending the Philadelphia Antiques & Art Show two days ago, I also visited the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton, New Jersey and the Chester County Historical Society in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Among the spectacular objects that I saw gathered at the museums and the antique show was this incredible nineteenth century sgraffito lead glazed red earthenware flowerpot and saucer made by John Vickers in Lionville, Pennsylvania.

According to the historical society, "The inscription around the body of this pot reads, "Is this a Christian world? / Are we a human race? / And can man from his brother's soul / God's imprint dare efface?" These words were an expression of the abolitionist sentiments of the Quaker potter, John Vickers. Active in the Underground Railroad, Vickers entertained many escaped slaves in his home near Lionville."

Furthermore, this information was published in 2008 in an article written by Susan Hanway Scott for The Hunt Magazine, titled, Chester County Redware: "Unlike the Pennsylvania Germans, the mostly Quaker potters of Chester County did not generally decorate their wares. In their rare spare time, they might decorate a pot, such as some made by John Vickers, a Quaker potter of the Uwchlan Anti-Slavery Society. 

Vickers walked his talk, helping many escaped slaves in his Lionville home. According to Arthur James, John Vickers and his father Thomas each typified the Chester County trilogy of Quaker, Potter and Abolitionist. When forwarding slaves to the next runaway station on the Underground Railroad, Vickers often signed a letter of introduction, "thy friend pot." 

A variety of pottery from John and Thomas' production survives today, including other objects currently on display at the Chester County Historical Society. However the Philadelphia Museum of Art owns a wide variety of this family's production, including black glazed jars, cake molds, figures, slip-decorated wares, slip-script wares, green glazed objects and some of the actual molds used in the manufacturing of plates and dishes.

But this flowerpot and saucer are certainly among the better surviving objects known from the Vickers today, especially considering the historical context behind the inscription.

John Vickers Sgraffito Flowerpot and Saucer

19th Century Sgraffito Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Flowerpot and Saucer

Attributed to John Vickers in Lionville, PA

The Inscription Reads an Anti-Slavery Sentiment

Circa 1840-1860

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Photo Courtesy: Chester County Historical Society

View of the Inscription

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Photo Courtesy: Chester County Historical Society

Another View of the Pot and Saucer

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Photo Courtesy: Chester County Historical Society

Another View of the Pot and Saucer

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Photo Courtesy: Chester County Historical Society

View of the Interior

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Photo Courtesy: Chester County Historical Society

Information on Display with the Flowerpot

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Photo Courtesy: Chester County Historical Society

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Early Rhode Island Pottery

Published in the January 1931 issue of The Magazine Antiques is a feature story written by Cape Cod and Providence, Rhode Island collector, Charles D. Cook, titled Early Rhode Island Pottery. Illustrated in the story are examples of what Cook describes as green lead glazed red earthenware made in Rhode Island, including wares from the Upton brothers pottery in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. However, the source of information that Cook used to attribute these objects to East Greenwich has been a subject that I have been researching for years, and until recently have not been able to determine that resource.

The facts revolving around the Upton pottery appear to have been first published in D.H. Greene's History of the Town of East Greenwich in 1877, and cited again in 1892 by historian and author, Alice Morse Earle (1851-1911), a native of Worcester, Massachusetts, who wrote a paper called Early New England Pottery. Within this paper, she cites Greene's information about the East Greenwich pottery, "At the commencement of the Revolutionary War, a man named Upton came from Nantucket to East Greenwich, R.I., and there manufactured earthenware. The pottery when made was baked in a kiln which stood at the corner of King and Marlboro Streets. He made pans, bowls, plates, cups and saucers of common red clay, a little finer than that now used in the manufacture of flower pots. As little porcelain was imported from Europe during the war, people used willingly and even eagerly the coarse plates and drank their "Liberty tea" from the coarse cups and saucers. The clay came from Gould's Mount, now owned by Mr. Henry Waterman of Quidneset. After the war was ended, potter Upton went back to his safety assured home on Nantucket, and the Greenwich pottery was closed."

But Cook added to Earle's information when he wrote a story that further expanded upon the Upton pottery for the July 1925 quarterly issue of Rhode Island Historical Society Collections. He identified the Uptons as Isaac and Samuel Upton, and he found that some of the previously published information was inaccurate, such as possibly their connection to Nantucket. But I also discovered that it was in this article that Cook identified his reason for attributing those objects that were published in The Magazine Antiques to East Greenwich. To my knowledge, this is the only location that I can find that gives reason for such an attribution, although Cook's East Greenwich attributions have been cited by various sources since, including museums.

July 1925 Issue of Rhode Island Historical Society Collections

July 1925 Issue of Rhode Island Historical Society Collections

See Article for More Information

From these words, I can not see actual evidence that supports the attribution, and recent archaeology has also proven that the wares made in Bristol County, Massachusetts were regularly exported throughout Rhode Island in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. According to Cook, "I have several pieces of pottery that came from East Greenwich and which seem to fit the description of the Upton's work." He gave no further information to support his claim, and some of the objects he published appear to have been made elsewhere in New England. But this article has certainly generated a lot of discussion through the years about the wares made by the Uptons, some of which may have been published by Cook.

Nonetheless, I am currently working with the East Greenwich Historical Society, and I hope to be able to present some facts about the wares made by the Uptons around the American Revolution in the near future.

January 1931 Issue of The Magazine Antiques

Early Rhode Island Pottery Published in January 1931 Issue of The Magazine Antiques

 See Article for More Information

 Charles D. Cook Attributes These Objects to the Upton Pottery in East Greenwich, RI

See Article for More Information

 The Rest of Cook's Article Early Rhode Island Pottery

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 Cook Attributes These Objects to Rhode Island

(Left & Middle) Appear Like 18th/19th Century Production from Bristol County, Mass.

(Right) This Form was Likely Made in Southern Maine in the 1800s

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This Pitcher is Also Attributed to Rhode Island by Cook

Ascribed to Joseph Wilson who was Employed in Providence, RI in the 1760s

But Wilson also Worked in Dedham, Mass & Essex County, Mass.

See Article for More Information

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

Examples of Red Earthenware from the Jethro Furber Pottery Owned by the Conway, New Hampshire Historical Society

Earlier this year, I posted a story about Jethro Furber (1800-1876), a Concord, New Hampshire trained potter who eventually migrated north to produce lead glazed red earthenware in the White Mountains Region in the late-1830s.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "Farthest north of New Hampshire potteries was an earthenware shop in North Conway started by Jethro Furber before 1839. Jethro was probably one of Concord Furbers and connected with the Millville group in that city, for he was in that section in 1827, when he bought 15 acres from Peter Whittemore. Six acres of this land, which was all on the north side of the Hopkinton Road, was the south end of a lot formerly owned by Joseph F. Stickney and adjoined on the east land of Samuel Fletcher. The other nine acres had been part of the dower of Mary Whittemore. Furber and his wife Eliza Eastman Furber (1802-1884) conveyed the two pieces to Hiram Dow and Samuel L. Baker, both of Concord, July 6, 1839. His pottery in the mountains was still running in 1856, when he advertised in the New England Business Directory."

However, it seems that Jethro Furber's career spanned even longer, seeing that he was still listed as a potter in the The New Hampshire Register and Farmer's Almanac for 1873.

Upon Jethro's death in 1876, it appears that his pottery business ceased production. He and his wife had two children, John Furber (1833-1899) and Alpheus Furber (1835-1913), but neither appear to have followed in their father's footsteps. In fact, they are both listed in the The New Hampshire Register and Farmer's Almanac for 1873, which I previously cited; John is listed as being employed in the lumber industry in North Conway, and Alpheus is listed as a carpenter, also in North Conway.

Last month, I contacted the Conway, New Hampshire Historical Society in order to see if they owned any examples of pottery from Furbur - they told me they did, but they were utilitarian pots glazed only on the interior. Either way, I was pleased to hear that they did, seeing that not a lot is known about Furber's production today, even though I suspect that there must be pieces in existence that are lacking identification. In fact, I would not be surprised to learn that Furber's production resembles the better-known wares made in Concord in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth century. Both of the following objects also retain local histories of ownership, having been acquired many years ago by the historical society from homeowners in the Conway area.

Interestingly enough, the information on file with one of the pots at the historical society identifies it as having been made by Alpheus Furber, but I can not find any information to support the claim that Alpheus was also a potter. It's quite interesting, nonetheless, and I don't think it's a far fetched claim. Alpheus could have easily taught his boys the potter's craft to go along with the professions that they are documented in today.

Note: Last month I also posted a great nineteenth century painting showing a nineteenth century brick-making business located in the White Mountains.

Jethro Furber's Pottery in North Conway, NH

Aerial Drone View of North Conway, New Hampshire

Some of the White Mountains Can be Seen in the Background

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19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pot

Attributed to Jethro Furber's Pottery in North Conway, NH

Circa 1839-1873

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society

View o the Interior

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Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society 

 Another View of the Base

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society 

 19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pot

Attributed to Jethro Furber's Pottery in North Conway, NH

Reportedly Made by Alpheus Furber

Circa 1839-1873

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society

View o the Interior

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Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society

Museum Archive Information Stating this Pot was Made by Alpheus Furber

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Photo Courtesy: Conway, NH Historical Society

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

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Found in an Old Barn in Woolwich, Maine

While finalizing some archaeology research over the weekend that relates to the circa 1791-1890 red earthenware industry in North Yarmouth, Maine, I acquired this nineteenth century lead glazed red earthenware jug from Gorham, Maine historian and preservationist, Chris Havey. The jug is decorated with a wonderful vibrant colored glaze - although the handle is missing, but that often happened to jugs that stored maple syrup in the 1800s.

As a matter of fact, I suspect that this jug was used to store maple syrup, considering the weight caused by a dried substance adhered to the interior of the jug. The jug also retains a very old corn cob stopper.

Aside from the colorful glaze, my interest in this jug revolved around the context that it was discovered. Years ago it was found in an old barn that was about to be torn down across the street from the Montsweag Flea Market, located at 901 US Route 1 in Woolwich, Maine.

I also suspect that this jug was made somewhere locally along the Mid-Coast of Maine or maybe a little further south, but I cannot currently provide any further information about the potter's business. But the aesthetic appeal is certainly alluring along with the jug's known history of ownership.

Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Jug Found in a Barn in Woolwich, Maine

Montsweag Flea Market in Woolwich, Maine

The Jug was Found in an Old Barn that was Torn Down Across the Street

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 19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Maine

Found in an Old Barn in Wiscasset, Maine

Stands 7 3/8" Tall

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 Another View of the Jug

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 View of the Handle Remains

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 The Interior May be Filled with Dried Maple Syrup

The Jug is Sealed with and Old Corn Cob Stopper

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View of the Base

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

Remarkable 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Found Yesterday in Camden, Maine

As I wrote in a post from earlier today, I traveled to the Mid-Coast of Maine yesterday with my niece Alexis in order to pick through a number of shops located between Brunswick, Maine and Camden, Maine. It was also perfect timing to make this trip, seeing that it was a beautiful spring day in New England with incredible scenery along the coast.

But we were beyond thrilled when we arrived in historic downtown Camden, and walked into a vintage group shop that offered an eclectic variety of goods ranging from legitimate antiques to vintage clothing and accessories.

While walking around the store and inspecting each booth, we found this gem hidden amongst a group of nineteenth century European ceramics and American art pottery. We were shocked to see what we saw just sitting there in plain sight.

This nineteenth century lead glazed red earthenware pitcher is decorated in one of the better glazes that I have ever seen (aside from slip-decoration). My immediate reaction was that I could remember seeing this glaze before, but I could not recall exactly where I had viewed it.

Although, on our ride home, I remembered seeing at least one example of northern New England lead glazed pottery with a comparable cream and manganese colored glaze, which sold a few summers ago at a William A. Smith, Inc. auction in Plainfield, New Hampshire. That object had resided in a private Vermont collection for decades, and was once owned by noted collector, Nina Fletcher Little (1903-1993) whose legacy lives on today thanks in part to Historic New England and Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Massachusetts.

Nevertheless, I truly enjoy the history and writing aspect of American pottery most, but it's also the hunt for treasures like this that make this adventure so much worth it today. I have no idea who owned this piece of pottery before we found it, but it does not appear to be something that has been through auctions and prominent private collections. We love shedding light on new discoveries and new information as much as anything else.

Note: This is also a type of glaze that I have seen in various northern New England archaeological contexts, especially in southern Maine. But I suspect it may have been produced elsewhere, as well.

Red Earthenware Pitcher Found in Camden, Maine

 My Niece Alexis with the Red Earthenware Pitcher

See Article for More Information

 19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

Likely Made in Northern New England

Found Yesterday in a Vintage Shop in Camden, ME

Stands 5 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Pitcher

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 View of the Handle

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View of the Base

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19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Mug with Comparable Glaze

Previously Owned by Nina Fletcher Little (1903-1993)

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Photo Courtesy: William A. Smith, Inc.

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

Wonderful Wiscasset, Maine Pitcher Found Yesterday on the Mid-Coast of Maine

According to Massachusetts author Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "The Porter pottery in Wiscasset, Maine, which is thought, was started about 1790. Ezra Porter (1769-1847), its founder, was a grandson of Joseph Osborn (1702-1780) of Danvers, Massachusetts, and son of Benjamin Porter (ca. 1720-1794), another Danvers potter. His own statement, published in The Lincoln Intelligencer, August 1826, declares: "I, Ezra Porter, potter by trade, have worked at the potter's business for about 30 years, in Danvers and Watertown, Mass., in Newcastle and Wiscasset, in the County of Lincoln, in the state of Maine."

According to this, he began career in 1786 at the age of 17. Ezra's pottery in Wiscasset has not been located, but that of his son Silas, who succeeded him, was built on the site of the old county poor house in the southern part of the town. This is described as being near Hilton's Cove at Birch Point, on the cross road connecting the state highway with the old road to Jewankee. In this district, near a bed of excellent clay, Silas Porter (1804-1882) made a great variety of earthenware, including pipkins, cake molds, money jugs, snuff jars, and the usual assortment of cooking dishes and containers. He also operated a brickyard that was later sold to the New England Brick Company."

Interestingly, many of the bricks manufactured by Silas were reportedly used to furnish a number of the brick structures that are found throughout Wiscasset today. He also supposedly continued to produce pottery right up until his death.

Yesterday, my niece Alexis and myself traveled to the Mid-Coast of Maine, and visited a number of shops between Brunswick, Maine and Camden, Maine. We were thrilled to purchase this nineteenth century lead glazed red earthenware pitcher from North Monmouth, Maine antiques dealer, David McLean. He told us that he had purchased it years ago from a dealer in Bath, Maine.

The reason we were excited to find this object is the fact that it was made at the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, having been decorated with that family's signature glaze, as well as other identifiable characteristics. However, I have never seen this form from the Porters before, and the handle is also different, which may indicate it was made by another potter working at the pottery or it could represent a different style of handle that I have not seen before.

Wiscasset, Maine Red Earthenware Pitcher

My Niece Alexis with the Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

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 19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

Attributed to the Porter Pottery in Wiscasset, ME

Stands 8" Tall

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 Another View of the Pitcher

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View of the Handle

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

The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts Feature Story Published in the May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

The May 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest has just been released, and a feature story I wrote about the eighteenth and nineteenth century Bradford family potteries in Kingston, Massachusetts and West Barnstable, Massachusetts on Cape Cod is published in it. The title of the five-page story is, The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts.

This is a subject that I have been studying for about seven or eight years now, and I explain in the story how my interest actually began with this family's production.

The story combines a lot of archaeology, including artifacts collected in 1945 at the site of the Kingston business by Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982), now owned by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., as well current academic research from a graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, along with museum pieces and privately owned objects.

For those of you who do not have access to Maine Antique Digest, but would still like to read the story, I will post a link here in this article once it becomes available online.

May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

 May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

The Feature Story The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts is Published in this Issue

See Article for More Information

 May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

The Feature Story The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts is Published in this Issue

See Article for More Information

 May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

The Feature Story The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts is Published in this Issue

See Article for More Information

May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

The Feature Story The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts is Published in this Issue

See Article for More Information

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

Hews Pottery Easter Egg Featured in the April 15, 2019 Issue of the Digital Antiques Journal

Earlier this year, I posted a story about a wonderful and highly unusual hand-painted nineteenth century Easter egg. I had never seen anything like it before. The egg had just been discovered for a couple dollars inside a thrift store in Fall River, Massachusetts; it was also marked on the base by its manufacturer: "Hews Pottery."

Interestingly, this egg is now featured in the April 15, 2019 issue of the Digital Antiques Journal, along with a train found last month in the booth of antiques dealer Sandy Jacobs at the 2019 Connecticut Spring Antiques Show in Hartford, Connecticut. 

See this link for the full story.

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

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Recovered in the Fells Point District of Baltimore, Maryland

This nineteenth century lead glazed red earthenware pitcher was recently recovered by Greg Reiter from a circa 1840s context inside a wood-lined privy in the Fells Point area of Baltimore, Maryland. The wonderful form and glaze of this object represent local production in the same period. But this is also an important subject, seeing that not a lot of information has been published about Baltimore's red earthenware production, including the wares that have been recovered in Fells Point in the last 25 years.

According to the National Park Service, "The Fells Point Historic District in southeastern Baltimore, Maryland is a harborside community along the north shore of Baltimore's waterfront that encompassed approximately 75 acres. 

Founded by William Fell (d. 1748), a Quaker, his son, Edward Fell (d. 1768) settled and built his first storefront sometime before 1763, an area that later became known as Fells Point. This bustling harbor settlement was incorporated into Baltimore Town in 1773 (and later became the City of Baltimore in 1797).

The Fells Point Ship Yard produced the first frigate of the Continental Navy, the Virginia in 1775, and the Constellation in 1797. Between 1784 and 1821, at least 800 ships were built at shipyards in Fells Point, with the most famous being the speedy Baltimore Clippers.

The district was home to seamen and sailmakers that lived in the small two-story houses, as well as prosperous merchants and sea captains who occupied the larger three-story homes. 

Predominantly eighteenth and nineteenth century residential, commercial and light industrial buildings, Fells Point also includes antebellum warehouses and some Victorian architecture, as well."

Similar formed pitchers have also been recovered within circa 1780-1820 contexts in Baltimore, some of which were manufactured with slip-decoration. Although, this particular example is one of the finer Baltimore pitchers that I have seen, as a result of the variety of colors found in the glaze, as well as the way the manganese was applied.

Baltimore, MD Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

Attributed to Baltimore, MD

Circa 1840

Stands 4 3/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Greg 

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