19th Century Tree Trunk Formed Red Earthenware Planters Found in New England

There was some discussion last week on Facebook about stoneware and red earthenware tree trunk formed planters that were made in America and Canada in the 1800s. I shared these two examples from my personal collection, neither of which were molded, unlike some of the stoneware forms made in America, such as the Portland Stoneware Company in Portland, Maine.

Both of these examples were found in northern New England; the planter with the brown exterior glaze was found some years back in an old barn in the Penobscot Bay Region in Maine. And the green glazed example was found a few years ago by Mark Newton at the Hollis Flea Market in New Hampshire. Although, other than the great green glaze, the aspect about this planter that really stands out is the fact that a snake is wrapped around the exterior.

But aside from the red earthenware and stoneware examples, sewer tile workers in the Midwest also manufactured this form. According to Selkirk Auctions in St. Louis, Missouri, "Workers at clay pipe manufacturers from the late-nineteenth century through the 1950s made them after a long day's shift. They're considered a form of folk art today. Workers would take a couple of feet of leftover, wet, clay pipe, carve it to make it look like tree bark, and maybe add smaller pipes to the side to look like tree branches. They'd fire them, take them home, stick them in their yards and plant a few flowers in them."

However, this type of production was not exclusive to America or Canada. I have also posted a photograph illustrating workers at the Cambrian Pottery in Neath, Wales in the late-nineteenth century. Factory workers are shown with various styles of production, such as banks, jugs, miniatures, roof tiles, sewer pipe, urns and vases. Illustrated front and center is a tree trunk formed planter, similar to some of the stoneware and sewer pipe examples made in America in the 1800s. This form was also manufactured in continental Europe.

19th Century Tree Trunk Formed Red Earthenware Planters Found in New England

19th Century Tree Trunk Formed Red Earthenware Planters

Both Found in New England

Example Pictured to the Left was Found in an Old Barn in the Penobscot Bay Region in Maine

Example Pictured to the Right was Found at the Hollis, N.H. Flea Market

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View of the Interiors

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View of the Bases

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Late-19th Century Photograph of Workers at the Cambrian Pottery in Neath, Wales

Late-19th Century Photo of Factory Workers and Wares at the Cambrian Pottery in Neath, Wales

Illustrated Front and Center is a Tree Trunk Formed Planter.

Circa 1890

Photo Courtesy: People's Collection Wales

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