18th Century Upton Pottery Story Published by the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society

Published in the May 2019 issue of the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society newsletter is a story I wrote about the circa 1771-1783 Upton Pottery in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. I'm really eager to learn more about this business, which has been a source of attribution for various green-glazed red earthenware since the 1920/30s by some early New England red earthenware collectors. But as far as I can see, there is really no evidence to support most of these attributions; in fact, current scholarship reveals that some of the wares were produced in southeastern Massachusetts and southern Maine in the early-nineteenth century. Nonetheless, should you read this story, you will likely see my interest in this business, and why I feel it would be great to learn more about the Uptons and their production in East Greenwich.

Last night, a lead glazed red earthenware jar sold at Briarbrook Estate Auctions & Appraisals, Inc. in East Greenwich, which was said to have been made by the Uptons. But this jar was actually made in Bristol County, Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century - although, the jar was reportedly found in a local East Greenwich estate.

Unfortunately, this is an issue I have found with trying to decipher what the Uptons exactly made, seeing that the wares from Bristol County were regularly exported to Rhode Island in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Archaeology has also proven this fact considering that Bristol County red earthenware has been recovered by archaeologists throughout Rhode Island in eighteenth and nineteenth century contexts, some of which was probably shipped to East Greenwich before and after the American Revolution.

Note: Here is a link to the entire newsletter, which may be easier to read than what I have posted below.

Upton Pottery Story Published by the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society

Part of the May 2019 Newsletter from the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society

A Story I Wrote About the Upton Pottery in East Greenwich, RI is Included in the Newsletter

See Article for More Information 

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Lead Glazed Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to Bristol County, Mass.

Circa 1780-1830

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Briarbrook Estate Auctions & Appraisals, Inc.

Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Briarbrook Estate Auctions & Appraisals, Inc.

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