The first wares made under his direction at East Boston were of utilitarian nature. From the company's advertisements we learn that white granite and common crockery, table and toilet ware were the sole output.
In 1881 they were producing "stone porcelain" ware. Some Parian ware of Bennington type was also made at East Boston.
From 1886 to 1895, Thomas H. Copeland, of the famous English potting family, modeled most of the pieces. J.W. Philips originated many of the designs used in the printing process. Doulton and Royal Worcester wares were the sources of inspiration for their semi porcelain line of production.
In 1886 the company put out a cream colored earthenware which they called Rieti ware, which lasted for almost a decade. The New England Pottery Company continued to operate until production ceased in 1914."
While touring the Metropolitan Museum of Art last weekend in Manhattan, I viewed the museum's collection of wares made at the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, under the "Rieti" product line. Those objects include a pitcher, a saucer and two chocolate pots, which are displayed in the MET's Americana Wing. Although, I should note that I strongly believe that this is a line of production, which is largely underappreciated today. But I also feel it is not widely known, either.
Interestingly, I learned five or six years ago while studying at Historic New England's storage facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts that the "Rieti" line was sold by company agents who carried around large flat salesmen samples. To my knowledge, these objects owned by Historic New England are the only examples known to exist today; I recall there being about six or seven large pieces in the forms of flat pitchers, chocolate pots, and such.
Nonetheless, about two months ago, Boston City Archaeologist, Joe Bagley sent me a picture of a sherd that his team had recently recovered as part of an archaeology dig in Washington Garden at the Old North Church in Boston's North End neighborhood. According to the Old North Church, "Historical records indicate that Washington Garden was the previous location of two nineteenth century tenement buildings and their outhouses or privies"
This white granite sherd represents the remains of a dish, and based on the mark, it was manufactured at the New England Pottery Company about 1880, which would have been included in the first line of wares that Thomas Gray and Lyman W. Clark produced when they relocated to East Boston in 1876.
New England Pottery Company, "Rieti" Chocolate Pot
19th Century Cream Colored Earthenware Chocolate Pot
Made at the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, Mass.
The Base is Marked "Rieti"
Circa 1886-1895
Stands 7 1/2" Tall
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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Another View of the Chocolate Pot
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Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Sherd Recovered in Washington Garden at the Old North Church
19th Century White Granite Sherd from a Dish
Made at the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, Mass.
Recovered by Archaeologists from Washington Garden at the Old North Church
Circa 1880
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Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department
1884 Map Showing the Location of the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, Mass.
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Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department
Circa 1880 Photograph of the New England Pottery Company and Workers
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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England
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