EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Three Great Objects from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection Now on Display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

Saturday, October 26, 2019

Three Great Objects from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection Now on Display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

While visiting New York City yesterday, I made it a point to stop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan last night in order to see the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection of American art pottery and utilitarian red earthenware. I visit this collection three or four times a year to study the forms, the glazes and the different aesthetic styles. However, I was surprised when walking around the American Wing to see three objects that I knew were owned by Ellison finally displayed in the museum.

This first object is a late-eighteenth century patriotic water cooler attributed to Jonathan Fenton (1766-1835) in Boston, circa 1793-96. It is considered by many to be among the best examples of domestic stoneware manufactured anywhere in America. It has also been published in Ceramics in America.

The second pair of objects are lions made by John Bell (1800-80) in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. The cobalt decorated stoneware example is especially great since it is currently the only lion like this known from John Bell or the Bell family decorated in this style. These objects have also previously been published in Ceramics in America.

If you have never visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art or if you have not been since the Ellison Collection went on display, then I would highly recommend making the trip. The selection of wares, especially the art pottery is really unlike any other collection in America. There is not a lot of utilitarian pottery when compared to the art pottery collection, but the quality of the utilitarian wares are some of the best objects made in America in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, including two highly significant marriage jars from southeastern Massachusetts.

Jonathan Fenton Attributed Patriotic Water Cooler