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...