One of the Best Collections of New England Red Earthenware

Since the majority of this collection is now owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, I guess I can post this picture, showing one of the best all-time collections of New England red earthenware, assembled by Connecticut antiques dealers, Ron and Penny Dionne. They spent decades putting this collection together, eventually selling it some years ago to a private New England collector. The majority of it has since been purchased by the MFA, although this particular picture was sent to me about a decade ago by David Wheatcroft.

All areas of New England production are represented in this collection with many of the wares having been manufactured at the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Although, the majority of the production was manufactured during the circa 1780-1840 period.

I also forgot to mention recently when I wrote about a green glazed mug that I just acquired that the Dionne's also owned related examples.

One of the Best Collections of New England Red Earthenware

The Ron and Penny Dionne Collection of New England Red Earthenware

The Majority of this Collection is Now Owned by the MFA, Boston

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: David Wheatcroft

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

Nineteenth Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar that Sold Yesterday in Montreal

Labeled on the base as "Pennsylvania slipware, 1820-1830," this nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware jar sold yesterday at Kavanagh Auctions in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. However, the form of the jar is very similar to a jar that sold at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland in July 2015. That jar was described as having been possibly made at the Captain John Norton (1758-1828) Pottery in Bennington, Vermont in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century. Aside from the similar slip-decorations, both jars exhibit a very similar size, rim, shape and footed base.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "Captain John Norton, who had attained his rank in the Revolutionary War is said to have built the first kiln in Bennington in 1793. The beginnings of Norton's enterprise were relatively small and simple. Up to 1830 and perhaps somewhat later, bricks and red earthenware were made in the Norton Pottery from clay dug on the Tudor family farm.

Several well authenticated examples of early red earthenware manufactured at Bennington have survived. One, a small lead-glazed jug ornamented with a crudely swashed design in white slip was made for Mrs. Omindia Gerry (now owned by the Bennington Museum) in 1798, when she was not quite  ten years of age. It was the work of Abel Wadsworth, an employee at the Norton Pottery, and it was handed on by Mrs. Gerry to one of her descendants. Another specimen, a handled jar, was owned by Mrs. Peter Ostrander, who died in 1827. A milk pan and vases have also been identified as examples from the Norton red earthenware kiln."

Interestingly, the "crudely swashed design" found on the jug owned by the Bennington Museum is similar to the style of the slip found on the jar that sold yesterday in Montreal, as well as the example that sold at Crocker Farm. However, this style of slip is also found on a lidded jar from my personal collection, which retains a strong history of ownership in Vermont.

But while I cannot prove with archaeology that these jars were made in Bennington, the style of the slip surrounding each object is noteworthy. It also must be taken into consideration that there is most likely surviving red earthenware from the Norton Pottery that exists today, even though this type of production has not received anywhere near the amount of attention that has been given in the past 100 years to Bennington's stoneware industry.

Two Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jars

 Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Style of the Slip is Similar to a Style Manufactured at the Norton Pottery in Bennington, VT

Stands 10" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

 Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

 View of the Interior

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

  Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Style of the Slip is Similar to a Style Manufactured at the Norton Pottery in Bennington, VT

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

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

Pair of 19th Century Maine Red Earthenware Jars Once Owned by Gladys Hasty Carroll

According to the University of New England, "Born in 1904 in South Berwick, Maine, Gladys Hasty Carroll (1904-1999) grew up and lived most of her life in the farmhouse her grandfather built during the Civil War in Dunnybrook. She attended Bates College, earning a Bachelor's degree in English in 1925 and an honorary degree in 1945. Her husband, Herbert A. Carroll (1897-1983) was a psychologist, and  because of his work the two lived in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota, where she began to write magazine articles and books.

Her first novel was As the Earth Turns (1933), which was a Book-of-the-Month selection, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and made into a feature length movie in 1934. The University of New Hampshire awarded Carroll an honorary Master in Arts in 1934. She wrote 26 books over her lifetime, including fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and children's books. She is best known for her ability to capture a fading way of life among Maine's rural farm communities.

Inspired by her life at the farmhouse, Carroll also wrote Dunnybrook (1934), a fictional history and genealogy of South Berwick. Other notable works include To Remember Forever 1922-1923 (1963), Only Fifty Years Ago (1962), and The Light Here Kindled (1967). She was on the Breadloaf staff; she took courses at Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Chicago. Westbrook College honored her with the Deborah Morton Award for Distinguished Maine Women in 1987. In her later years, Carroll founded the Dunnybrook Historical Foundation of South Berwick. She  died on April 1, 1999."

Carroll's work is represented today in the Maine Historical Society in Portland, Maine, among other institutions and museums. Interestingly, when the television show, As the World Turns debuted in 1956 it was originally supposed to be called As the Earth Turns, but Carroll would not give permission for use of the title.

Nevertheless, after writing about two great nineteenth century Maine red earthenware jars yesterday that I just acquired from a dealer in central Maine, I learned that the jars were originally owned by Carroll. The dealer told me that she regularly collected antiques from the 1940s to the 1960s, and because of antiques he knew her well. He said he purchased the jars directly from her collection in the early-1990s, and has owned them ever since.

Yesterday, I wrote, "This is a great pair of nineteenth century red earthenware jars that I just acquired with their original lids, which were most likely made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine. The jars have also been slip-decorated with household ingredients.  Very few of these jars are known to exist today; although, Boston antiques dealer, Stephen Score is said to have owned an entire set of about a dozen at one time. The jars and lids are also stamped with matching numbers.

These particular jars were sold out of Skowhegan, Maine, and the production was possibly inspired from somewhat similar made wares in places like Sussex, England in the early-nineteenth century.

I will eventually post better pictures, but in the meantime, I wrote about this type of production in a research story that was published in the February 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Dodges and Their Potteries."

Pair of Red Earthenware Jars Once Owned by Gladys Hasty Carroll

Gladys Hasty Carroll (1904-1999) in South Berwick, Maine in 1937
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maine Historical Society

19th Century Red Earthenware Jars Previously Owned by Gladys Hasty Carroll

Labeled with Ingredients in Slip-Decoration

Very Likely Made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

See Article for More Information

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

Wonderful Pair of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars from Maine

This is a great pair of nineteenth century red earthenware jars that I just acquired with their original lids, which were most likely made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine. The jars have also been slip-decorated with household ingredients.  Very few of these jars are known to exist today; although, Boston antiques dealer, Stephen Score is said to have owned an entire set of about a dozen at one time. The jars and lids are also stamped with matching numbers.

These particular jars were sold out of Skowhegan, Maine, and the production was possibly inspired from somewhat similar made wares in places like Sussex, England in the early-nineteenth century.

I will eventually post better pictures, but in the meantime, I wrote about this type of production in a research story that was published in the February 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Dodges and Their Potteries."

Wonderful Pair of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars from Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Jars with Slip-Decorated Ingredients

Very Likely Made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

See Article for More Information

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

Sharing Some of My Pottery Collection on Facebook and Instagram

Seeing that so many people are out of work under precautions caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, I have decided to share some pieces from my private pottery collection on my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. My Facebook account can be found under my name Justin Thomas, while my Instagram username is justin_wthomas. I am hoping this can be fun as some of these pieces I have never shown publicly before.

I began posting pictures last weekend, and along with each piece comes a story of past ownership, any related archaeology, and whatever information I can share about the origin. For example, I posted this large pitcher yesterday, writing, "Discovered on a house call a few years ago in Vermont by Michael Seward, this great pitcher was purchased by Lew Scranton and put aside for me to see at the opening of the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association Show in Manchester, New Hampshire. I jumped at the opportunity to acquire it. It was likely made in southeastern Massachusetts (Bristol County), circa 1770-1810 or so. 

To my knowledge: there are only two pitchers in this form, glaze and decoration known today; the other is in the William T. Brandon Memorial Collection at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Although, there are some related pieces that survive, including a pitcher from the Charles D. Collection that was featured in The Magazine Antiques in the 1930s, now owned by prominent collectors in New York City. Interestingly, the pitcher owned by Historic Deerfield retains an old tag saying it was made in Barnstable, Massachusetts, likely indicating the Bradford Pottery, a  subject I wrote a research story about for the May 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest,. Although, archaeology has also proven that Cape Cod was included as part of the exports of the industry in Bristol County."

These pictures will likely not be posted on this website; however, as I have already noted, they can be found on my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. My niece Alexis will also be showing each piece. I cannot guarantee I will post a picture everyday, but I will do so at least a few times a week.

Sharing Some of My Pottery Collection on Facebook and Instagram

My Niece Alexis Holding a Great Southeastern Mass. Red Earthenware Pitcher

Likely Circa 1770-1810 or so

Stands 10" Tall

See Article for More Information

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

The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

While spending the last decade or so researching the life of Charles Albert (Solares) Lawrence (1829-1904) and the history of his pottery business in Beverly, Massachusetts, I was very surprised to learn that Lawrence's origin has been misidentified in some previous publications. Some of those publications indicate that Lawrence was a Portuguese immigrant, but I learned that is not the case.

In fact, his father, Frances Solares (1794-1865) was actually the immigrant, arriving in the Beverly and South Danvers area sometime before 1818. I discovered this information partially thanks to Lawrence's parents record of marriage at City Hall in Beverly.

Frances was born in the city of Bilboa along the coast of northern Spain to Portuguese parents. He married Nancy Friend (1798-1873) of Beverly on December 3, 1818. Family history says he was a stowaway on a ship owned by the Putnam family in Danvers, Massachusetts, but I have not  been able to confirm what family member captained the ship. The Putnam family was heavily involved with the American Revolution, taking part in the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts on June 17, 1775, among other historical events in the transformation of this country.

Aside from the marriage record, I have also posted a great pitcher that I purchased a few years ago from Jeff & Holly Noordsy in Springfield, Massachusetts, which has since been illustrated along with two other objects on the cover of the Beverly book I wrote, titled, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence, which can be purchased through Historic Beverly's online shop.

The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

 My Niece Alexis with a Great Beverly Pitcher

This was Taken Moments After We Purchased it from Jeff & Holly Noordsy in Springfield, Mass.

This Pitcher Has Since Been Used as One of the Three  Objects Illustrated on the Cover of the Beverly Book I Wrote, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

See Article for More Information

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher

Made at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

Previously Found in a House in Lunenburg, Mass.

Made After 1865

Stands 5 1/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Marriage Record for Francis Solaris (1794-1865) and Nancy Friend (1798-1873), both of Beverly, December 3, 1818.

Courtesy: City of Beverly, Mass.

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

Forthcoming Peabody Pottery Book and Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston

Thanks to Connecticut potter, Guy Wolff I was able to include a great early photo of Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in my forthcoming book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries. Historic Beverly in Massachusetts is publishing the book and it coincides with another book I wrote that was published last year, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence.

This early photo shows how Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) purchased a number of flowerpots made at the Paige Pottery that were used when Fenway Court opened in 1903. While another photo from around the same time period, also included in the book, reveals another context of ownership within Gardner's family, although, I am not going to reveal the details of that image until after the book has been published. Both pictures are wonderful demonstrating original contexts of ownership.

This photo is not included in the book, but it was taken among a group of pictures of Fenway Court in 1902 and 1903 by photographer, Thomas E. Marr (1850-1910). The Paige Pottery flowerpots were used throughout the garden for plants and shrubs, and some may even be illustrated in this photo. I cannot tell for sure, but the unglazed pots shown to the left with planted shrubs may have also been made at the Paige Pottery.

Born in Nova Scotia, Marr's photography is considered quite collectible today; he is best known for photographing Boston in the nineteenth and early-twentieth century. In fact, five of his original signed negatives from Fenway Court were consigned to Skinner in Boston in 2016.

Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Flowerpots Made at the Paige Pottery were Used in Fenway Court When it Opened in 1903

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Photo Courtesy: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

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

Wonderful Green Glazed Red Earthenware Mug from Bristol County, Massachusetts

Just in time for Saint Patrick's Day is this wonderful late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century red earthenware mug that I just acquired, which is attributed to the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts, circa 1770-1830. The seller told me it was recently discovered in the South.

I have seen examples of this form of mug on a few occasions, some of which are owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, and published in a research article I wrote for the June 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Pottery Industry in Southeastern Massachusetts."  While others are owned in the Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) Collection at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Although, I can only recall seeing two other green glazed red earthenware mugs from this industry, one of which was discovered in the twentieth century by Falmouth, Massachusetts antiques dealers, Hilary and Paulette Nolan (also illustrated in the Maine Antique Digest research story), and now owned by Sam Forsythe in Columbus, Ohio. The other is owned as part of the Mrs. William Whitman, Jr. Collection at the Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont. But the size of this mug is smaller than those, standing only three-and-one-half inches tall, although, the Bennington Museum's mug measures four inches tall.

Interestingly, according to the family history, the mug retains a nineteenth century shaving brush with a turned wooden handle and horsehair bristles. It is believed that this piece was used as a shaving cup for a period of time, but it is currently unknown how it traveled to the South.

Green Glazed Red Earthenware Mug from Bristol County, Massachusetts

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Mug

Attributed to the Industry in Bristol County, Mass.

Family History Says it was Used for a Period as a Shaving Mug

It Retains a 19th Century Shaving Brush with Turned Wooden Handle

Circa 1770-1830

Stands 3 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Mug

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 View of the Handle

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 View of the Interior

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View of the 19th Century Shaving Brush

Measures 4" Long

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Green Glazed Red Earthenware Mug Owned by the Bennington Museum

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Mug

Attributed to the Industry in Bristol County, Mass.

Mrs. William Whitman, Jr. Collection

Circa 1770-1830

Stands 4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Bennington Museum

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

Red Earthenware and Stoneware Displayed at San Francisco's International Airport

It may not be widely known today, other than people living on the west coast, and those who travel there that the SFO Museum in San Francisco offers free galleries with rotating exhibits on art, history, science & culture, and an aviation museum. The museum is a division of San Francisco's International Airport. Created in 1980, the SFO Museum was the first cultural institution of its kind in America located in an international airport. Similar displays are found in a number of airports in Europe, sometimes even displaying ancient archaeology recovered from when the airport was constructed.

For instance, a few years ago, the SFO Museum showed a display that ran from November 8, 2017 until July 15, 2018, where the museum presented the exhibit, "American Folk Art: An Enduring  Legacy," which featured a variety of objects that were made as early as the late-eighteenth century through the twentieth century. Among the pieces displayed in this exhibit was a selection of red earthenware and stoneware on loan from various east coast museums, such as the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Although, the exhibit also included some southern stoneware.

This photograph shows an example of one of the SFO Museum's display cases at San Francisco's International Airport. This case exhibits some excellent pieces of Pennsylvania pottery, including three outstanding examples of sgraffito decorated red earthenware from southeastern Pennsylvania, one of which was made by Jacob Medinger (1857-1932) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. It is estimated that as many as 58 million people saw this exhibit.

Interestingly, it is noteworthy to mention that excellent examples of early American red earthenware and stoneware can be found at other museums in California. These types of wares are not exclusively owned by museums on the east coast.

Red Earthenware and Stoneware Displayed at San Francisco's International Airport 

Red Earthenware and Stoneware Displayed at San Francisco's International Airport

The Sgraffito Decorated Red Earthenware is from Southeastern Pennsylvania

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: SFO Museum

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

Forthcoming Maine Antique Digest Published Research Story About the Concord, N.H. Area Red Earthenware Industry

Yesterday, I received my contract from Maine Antique Digest for an extensive research story I worked on for sometime about the eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware industry in the Concord, New Hampshire area. This story is slated to be published in the upcoming May 2020 issue.

In my opinion, the highlight of the story is a previously unpublished and nearly unknown red earthenware jug that is dated "1765," among other inscriptions, from the collection of the Hopkinton, New Hampshire Historical Society, which I learned about last fall from Portsmouth, New Hampshire antiques dealer, Hollis Brodrick. In fact, the story will include a number of locally made pieces retaining strong local histories of ownership from the historical society's collection, none of which have been previously published. However, the year 1765 has a lot more to do with local history than what may be recognized, but you will have to wait for the story to be published to learn that information.

But I also discuss local archaeology kept at Plymouth State University, a local potter's daybook and a number of objects owned by other museums. Those museums include the New Hampshire Historical Society, Historic New England and the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. I feel a number of these objects will be exciting to see, some maybe even surprising, such as whimsical pieces like those commonly made in Pennsylvania in the nineteenth century.

In some ways, though, this story is also a sequel to a research story I wrote for the New England Antiques Journal's (now the Digital Antiques Journal) August 2016 issue, titled, "A Pottery Moves to New Hampshire: Peter Clark and His Family in Lyndeborough." This green glazed jug is not included in the Maine Antique Digest article, but it was published in the New England Antiques Journal story. The jug was found years ago in a house in central New Hampshire, and it matches a black glazed jug in form owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society that is attributed to Daniel Clark (1768-1828), who established the industry in Concord in the 1790s. Although, this article proves that production in nearby Hopkinton began before the American Revolution, something that has not previously been published.

Concord, New Hampshire Red Earthenware Jug

Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Likely Made at the Clark Pottery in Concord, New Hampshire

Likely Circa 1792-1828

Stands 7" Tall

See Article for More Information

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

A Look at My Forthcoming Book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries

In my forthcoming book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries, which will be available later this month or next through Historic Beverly, I discuss some of the great existing collections of red earthenware from this circa 1876-1945 company. In most cases, the pottery was purchased brand new from the business, such as collections owned by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Peabody, Massachusetts Historical Society, as well as the Topsfield, Massachusetts Historical Society.

Last summer, I posted on Facebook that I had just photographed the most remarkable collection of wares made at the Paige Pottery that are owned by the Topsfield Historical Society. But I also wrote that sharing those images would have to wait until my book was published. I learned about this collection thanks to Massachusetts potter, Rick Hamelin. And seeing this collection ultimately finalized my book.

The historical society's collection consists of more than sixty objects purchased brand-new from Moses Paige by George Francis Dow in 1915, who founded the Topsfield Historical Society in 1897.  In my opinion, there is not another collection of pottery like this in the country. These objects represent the work of John Donovan (1851-1932) and possibly Edwin A. Rich (1856-1938), both master potters employed at the Paige Pottery.  Although, both of these potters had storied careers working at various other businesses in New England in the nineteenth century. In fact, Rich previously worked for Charles A. Lawrence (1829-1904) in Beverly, Massachusetts, a business that I wrote a book about published last year by Historic Beverly, titled, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence. This new Peabody book is essentially a sequel or a continuation of the Beverly book.

Nonetheless, I am sharing these pictures today that represent some of the wares owned by the Topsfield Historical Society. This collection of thirty mugs was purchased brand-new from the Paige Pottery; the majority of the mugs were made by Donovan, but I believe some were also made by Rich because of differences in production. I explain my reasoning for this in my forthcoming book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries.

Collection of Mugs Made at the Moses B. Paige Company in Peabody, Mass.

Collection of Red Earthenware Mugs Made at the Paige Pottery in Peabody, Mass.

Purchased by George Francis Dow in 1915 for the Topsfield, Mass. Historical Society

Significance of this Collection is Explained in My Forthcoming Peabody Book

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Topsfield, Mass. Historical Society

More of the Red Earthenware Mugs

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Photo Courtesy: Topsfield, Mass. Historical Society

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

Forthcoming Published Book on the Colonial Pottery Industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts, Circa 1635-1775

When I established this website more than eight years ago, my original intent was to share some of my research about the Colonial pottery industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts, circa 1635-1775. My ultimate goal was to write a book about this industry, but back then the idea of writing such a book seemed like a huge amount of work because so much information about this industry was unknown, especially where the pottery was shipped, excluding the Boston area.

I am really excited  to announce that I have finally finished a book about this industry that will be published later this year. The title of the book is, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of An Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts. This book will be published as part of my publication series with Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts. In the meantime, I have another book that will be published by Historic Beverly later this month or next, titled, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries. This book is a continuation of another book I wrote that was published last year, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence. 

Nevertheless, I am thrilled over this Charlestown book, and it would not have been possible without the advice of Portsmouth, New Hampshire antiques dealer, Hollis Brodrick, and the constant generosity of Boston City Archaeologist, Joe Bagley who was always willing to work with me and kindly gave me access to his collections and archaeology digs.

Here is an overview of the book: The seventeenth and eighteenth century red earthenware industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts supplied households throughout coastal New England with everyday utilitarian wares, circa 1635-1775. The industry was unsurpassed in Colonial New England with production recovered from archaeological contexts as far north as Canada and as far south as the Carolinas. Dozens of potters and a number of businesses made up this industry, where the most prominent years of production happened during the 1740-1775 period. There was even an attempt to produce stoneware in the 1740s in competition to what was already manufactured in New York City, Philadelphia and Virginia. However, the identity of this industry was completely destroyed on the morning of June 17, 1775, when the British burned the town to the ground at the Battle of Bunker Hill. More than 200 years later, the identity of this industry resurfaced when archaeologists excavated part of Charlestown on behalf of Boston's Big Dig Project. These important artifacts have helped provide a better understanding of how far Charlestown's pottery traveled before 1775. This book is the first of its kind, exploring the history of Charlestown's industry, the identity of the pottery, the exports and its historical significance.

The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts

Manuscript for Forthcoming Published Book

The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts

Will be Published Later this Year as Part of Book Series with Historic Beverly

See Article for More Information

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

Mason, Warren County, Ohio Research Story Published in Antiques & Auction News

As I recently wrote, published in the February 28, 2020 issue of Antiques & Auction News is a feature story I wrote about a specific type of red earthenware production from Mason, Warren County, Ohio. I truly believe this is an important style of production that should be recognized on a regional and national level today. I was able to write this story because of listening closely to a presentation given a few years back by Ohio potter, Greg Shooner at Historic Eastfield Village's ceramic conference in New York. But also thanks to Benny Kreiner, Michael Dupriest and the Mason, Ohio Historical Society.

For those who do not have access to the article, this is how it appears in print. I have uploaded PDFs of each page to my Scribd account, which is where all of my published material can be found (except my books) under my name.

1) Mason, Warren County, Ohio Pottery (page 1)

2) Mason, Warren County, Ohio Pottery (page 2)

3) Mason, Warren County, Ohio Pottery (page 3)

Mason, Warren County, Ohio Research Story Published in Antiques & Auction News

Mason, Warren County, Ohio Research Story Published in Antiques & Auction News

The Story is Found in the February 28, 2020 Issue

See Article for More Information

 Mason, Warren County, Ohio Research Story Published in Antiques & Auction News

The Story is Found in the February 28, 2020 Issue

See Article for More Information

 Mason, Warren County, Ohio Research Story Published in Antiques & Auction News

The Story is Found in the February 28, 2020 Issue

See Article for More Information

Mason, Warren County, Ohio Research Story Published in Antiques & Auction News

The Story is Found in the February 28, 2020 Issue

See Article for More Information

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

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Recently Discovered Just to the North of New York City

I was pleased to win this nineteenth century red earthenware jar on eBay this past Friday night, which was recently discovered just to the north of New York City. The jar is decorated in a beautiful striped green glaze that completely surrounds the object, complementing the mottled orange glaze.

My interest in this piece is a result of a similar glazed jar in the collection of Winterthur in Delaware; I have always admired the museum's jar, although, I am not sure where it was made. These objects could be related even though the forms are completely different.

I should also note that areas of it appear to be covered in dirt so the green glaze should display more prominently.

Two Red Earthenware Jars with Comparable Glazes

19th Century American Red Earthenware Jar

The Style of the Glaze is Similar to an Object Owned by Winterthur in Delaware

Recently Discovered Just North of New York City

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Jar

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View of the Base

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19th Century American Red Earthenware Jar

Stands 6 7/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

View of the Base

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur

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