EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Butter Churn Lid Found in Central Pennsylvania with a Make-Do Repair

Friday, January 10, 2020

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Butter Churn Lid Found in Central Pennsylvania with a Make-Do Repair

It is rare when I find them, but I do buy unusual red earthenware butter churn lids; I have accumulated a few through the years, with my most unusual example being one that was possibly made at the Bickford family pottery in Buxton, Maine. I recently purchased this lid, which was found in central Pennsylvania, and I suspect that it was manufactured there, as well.

The lid measures six-inches in diameter, although, I cannot recall having seen a butter churn lid decorated with this style of slip-decoration. I imagine the churn was also decorated in slip, and it must have been quite an attractive object to see.

However, I was thrilled to accquire this lid because of how it had been cared for through the years - somehow, this lid was broken in half, and rather than throwing it away, the owner had the lid repaired by a mender, making it usable and whole again. In fact, some people may even think that this old repair is the true beauty of this object.

Two of the four metal staples used to repair the lid remain, both of which are seen on the base, keeping the lid tight. Two staples were also originally applied on each side of the lid, sealing the crack, but have since disappeared.

This lid now sits on top of a large late-eighteenth century red earthenware jar in my collection, which was manufactured in New England, sometime after 1780.

Slip-Decorated Butter Churn Lid Found in Central Pennsylvania