Ezekiel Dougherty, a 19th Century Potter Born in Baltimore, Later Working in Tennessee and Virginia

I recently wrote about this nineteenth century red earthenware pitcher, decorated with an English mochaware seaweed like design, and inscribed on the base, "E D." It sold last weekend at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates sale in Mount Crawford, Virginia. I also wrote that I have seen other pieces with variations of this mark found in American contexts, although, I have never been able to determine a true origin.

Interestingly, though, after I wrote that article, I learned from a private southern collector that a small group of these marked pieces have turned up throughout the years in the east Tennessee and southwest Virginia area. In fact, the majority of the marked pieces that I know about today have been found in this area. I was also told that there was a red earthenware potter who worked in this area by the name of Ezekiel Dougherty (1791-1868); he was born in Baltimore, but the majority of his life was spent in Tennessee in Virginia. There is very little known about his career as a potter today; however, I thought his name is worth mentioning in case someone reading this post knows more about him.

* Ezekiel Dougherty, born March 20, 1791, Baltimore; died January 1868

* Born in Baltimore, lived in both northeast Tennessee and and southwest Virginia

* Dougherty, Ezekiel, T. (b. Baltimore, Maryland, 1791). Living  in Claiborne County, Tennessee, 1831; Grainger County, Tennessee, 1844; Russell County, Virginia, 1850.

Russell County, Virginia listed in the 1850 Federal Census

191	Ezekiel T. Daugherty	59		Potter (1,000)	Baltimore
	(w) Mary	45			Wythe Co., VA
	(s) Andrew	19			Claiborne Co., Tenn.
	(d) Ruth	17			Tennessee
	(d) Mary	14			Tennessee
	(s) Ezekiel T.	10			Tennessee
	(s) James Daugherty	9			Tennessee
	(d) Martha	6			Grainger Co., Tenn.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Marked on the Base "E D"

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

View of the  Base with the "E D" Mark

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

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

Great Red Earthenware Birdhouse Discovered Yesterday in Western New Hampshire and Its Historical Significance

While making a quick trip yesterday morning to southern Vermont, I happened to drive by Flying Pig Antiques in Westmoreland, New Hampshire, a fairly new antique shop that I had not previously visited. A bunch of dealers were setup outside the shop, but inside the store is where I found this highly unusual large nineteenth century red earthenware birdhouse; I originally thought it was an aquarium castle, but South Carolina collector, Corbett Toussaint said it looked like a martin birdhouse and others agreed.

I have never seen anything like this before; I have seen simple birdhouses, but not on this scale. It is covered in a wonderful green and mottled glaze, and I suspect it was made in Pennsylvania, circa 1880-1900. There is also some traces of a black glaze, which may have been created by using manganese. The interior glaze especially looks like a style manufactured in Pennsylvania, sometimes found on wares made in the central part of the state.

This would have been placed on some type of stand or pedestal that was likely made out of wood. Although, I do not believe there was ever a red earthenware top seeing there is virtually little wear to that area. But there may have been a copper or wooden top or something else added that was not made out of red earthenware.

Interestingly, this style of birdhouse was probably designed for martins, and it was in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania that J. Warren Jacobs (1868-1947) became the first commercial manufacturer of wooden martin houses in America in 1883. Jacobs' customers included Henry Ford (1863-1947), William Rockefeller (1841-1922) and Thomas Edison (1847-1931). His birdhouses are also represented today in the Henry Ford Museum in Detroit. This red earthenware example is very similar to some of those made by Jacobs, and the business where it was manufactured may have been inspired by some Jacobs' designs.

Great Red Earthenware Birdhouse Discovered Yesterday in Western New Hampshire

 My Niece Alexis with the Birdhouse

Discovered Yesterday in Western New Hampshire

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 Large 19th Century Red Earthenware Birdhouse

Probably Manufactured in Pennsylvania

Probably Circa 1880-1900

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 Another View of the Birdhouse

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View of the Base and the Interior Glaze

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

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl that Sold Last Weekend in Central New York

Last Saturday night, I meant to try and buy this slip-decorated red earthenware bowl that sold at George Cole Auctions in Red Hook, New York, but I got preoccupied and completely forgot about it. Nonetheless, should anyone reading this post have been the winning bidder and want to sell this bowl, please contact me.

I will provide a little history about it and why it is of particular interest to me; I believe this bowl is related to artifacts recovered from both eighteenth and nineteenth century archaeological contexts all over the east coast in America, as well in Canada. But I also believe it may be more specifically related to the remains of similar glazed bowls found in a 1750s archaeological context at the Fortress of Louisbourg in Nova Scotia and at the Paul Revere (1735-1818) House in Boston's North End neighborhood. Interestingly, though, the context that the artifacts were recovered in Boston were during Revere's occupancy of the property.

Another bowl (see pictures below) was recovered by archaeologists in the 1980s as part of Boston's Big Dig Project from a Colonial eighteenth century privy at the site of the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown, Massachusetts. One of these bowls is also represented in the Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) Collection at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

But the glaze on the bowl that sold in New York is also of particular interest seeing that it is different than all of the previous bowls that I just described, which were manufactured with a similar yellow and brown glaze (see below); the glaze on this bowl resembles some eighteenth century styles manufactured before the American Revolution by Thomas Whieldon (1719-1795) and other potters in England.

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl that Sold Last Weekend in Central New York

 18th or 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

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Photo Courtesy: George Cole Auctions

Another View of the Bowl

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Photo Courtesy: George Cole Auctions

  18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl
Recovered from a Pre-1775 Privy at the Site of the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown, Mass.

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Photo Courtesy: City of Boston Archaeology Program

Another View of the Bowl
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Photo Courtesy: City of Boston Archaeology Program

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

Red Earthenware Objects Marked on the Base "E D" Including a Pitcher in Jeffrey Evans' Upcoming Sale in Virginia

For nearly a decade now, I have been trying to determine the identity of a potter who marked his red earthenware "E D" on the base, as well as the location that they worked. This mark is known to have been signed in both script and by a stamp.

I first learned about this potter's work after discovering a green glazed vase in a small shop in central New Hampshire, although, a few years later, a pitcher made by this potter was shown to me in a private collection in California.  And now, I have noticed that in Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates upcoming auction in Mount Crawford, Virginia that a pitcher made by this potter is included in the sale.

I would really like to learn more about the identity of this potter, but I currently have no evidence beyond these three pieces. I compare this production to pottery that is sometimes found today marked "FREY" on the base, which to my knowledge, the location and history of this business has not been identified, even through it is thought to have been an accomplished American pottery. The most prominent example of Frey Pottery known today is likely a blue glazed jar owned by the American Folk Art Museum in New York City.

Red Earthenware Objects Marked on the Base "E D"

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Inscribed "E D" on the Base

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

Another View of the Pitcher

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

View of the Handle

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

View of the Base Inscribed " E D"

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

 19th Century Red Earthenware Vase

Inscribed "E D" on the Base

Stands 9 1/4" Tall

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 View of the Interior

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View of the Base Inscribed " E D"

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19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Stamped Twice "E D" on the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Beverly Fuller Rosenquist

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

19th Century Red Earthenware Potter's Receipt Recently Discovered in Maine

This is a nineteenth century red earthenware potter's receipt that I just acquired from an antiques dealer in Portland, Maine, which was also recently discovered in Maine. The receipt is dated "June 1 1830," and it indicates that orders of earthen ware chamber mugs, milk pans, wash basins, pudding pans, stew pitchers, plates and other forms were ordered by the half dozen and dozen.

To my knowledge, this type of surviving documentation is extremely rare to find today outside of John Parker's 1747-1761 potter's daybook from Charlestown, Massachusetts and Abraham Hew's 1780-1794 potter's daybook from Weston, Massachusetts, both owned by the Baker Library at Harvard University, along with a few other surviving New England documents and account books. Those other account books include one kept by Hervey Brooks (1779-1873) in Goshen, Connecticut from 1802-1873 owned by Old Sturbridge Village and Daniel Clark's (1743-1826) 1789-1826 diary owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society.

19th Century Red Earthenware Potter's Receipt Recently Discovered in Maine

Earthen Ware Potter's Receipt Recently Discovered in Maine

Receipt Reveals a Variety of Forms were Ordered by the Half Dozen and Dozen

Receipt is Dated June 1, 1830

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View of the Back of the Receipt

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

Eighteenth Century Ceramic Remains Recovered from a Chimney of a Colonial House in Exeter, New Hampshire

This is a Colonial eighteenth century house in Exeter, New Hampshire that is being restored by Richard Kenney, an antiques dealer and investor from New Hampshire, although, the house was owned decades ago by Portsmouth, New Hampshire antiques dealer Hollis Brodrick. I visited this house this past Friday in order to see some pottery sherds that were just recovered from behind a fireplace surround on the first floor, which was old but most likely not original to the house. All of the paneling was removed revealing a wonderful brick fireplace.

The majority of the pottery dates from the eighteenth century and includes English creamware, tin glazed earthenware, the remains of an eighteenth century English earthenware teapot decorated in a Chinese pattern, as well as locally made red earthenware.

However, it was the locally made wares that really stood out to me seeing that red earthenware production dates back to the 1700s in Exeter and the location where this pottery was produced was only about a mile or two away from this house. The recovered sherds include the remains of a jug along with a black glazed inkwell. I suspect the inkwell dates from the late eighteenth century or perhaps earlier, while the jug could have been made in the eighteenth or early nineteenth century.

Interestingly, the practice of concealing objects within fireplaces, walls, under floorboards and other areas within a house is considered an Old World folk practice usually done to prevent some form of witching.

For a full history about early red earthenware production in Exeter, I recommend a research story I wrote for the August 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Dodges and Their Potteries.

Colonial Eighteenth Century House in Exeter, New Hampshire

Colonial Eighteenth Century House in Exeter, New Hampshire

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 Fireplace on the First Floor of the House

The Bricks Were Hidden by Later Added Wood Paneling

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 Another Look at the Fireplace

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 All of These Ceramic Artifacts Were Recovered from Behind the Paneling Covering the Fireplace

Most Date from the Eighteenth Century

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 Likely a Locally Made Red Earthenware Jug

Circa Eighteenth or Early Nineteenth Century

Possibly Made by the Dodges in Exeter, N.H.

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 Likely an Eighteenth Century Red Earthenware Inkwell

Possibly Made by the Dodges in Exeter, N.H.

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 Another View of the Inkwell

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View of the Base

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

My New Book - The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries

Just back from the printer is my new book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries, now available to purchase through Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts. This book is a sequel to another book I wrote that was published last year by Historic Beverly, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence.

This new Peabody book has some national reviews scheduled that will be published this summer; it runs 116 pages and includes upwards of 200 or more photos, including archival photos, most of which have never been published before. And for those of you anticipating my fourth book, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts, the proof copy will be back from the printer in a few weeks, there will be some late additions, and the book will be available to purchase this summer.

Here is a link that will provide the details on how to purchase my new Peabody book.

My New Book - The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries

 My New Book - The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries

Available to Purchase Through Historic Beverly in Massachusetts

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Three of My Four Books

The Fourth Book Will be Published this Summer

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

Nineteenth Century Red Earthenware Teapot Recovered in New York City

A lot of the domestic seventeenth, eighteenth and early-nineteenth century red earthenware that I have studied recovered from archaeological contexts in New York City has been published in stories I have written for Maine Antique Digest, Antiques & the Arts Weekly and Untapped New York. But while going through some old pictures tonight, I realized I never published this nineteenth century red earthenware teapot that was recovered in Manhattan, now kept at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York.

I suspect this could be an American-made example, seeing it is somewhat similar to some styles manufactured in places like Philadelphia in the early-1800s, although, I cannot recall specifically where this object is thought to have been made. Nonetheless, an interesting object to see.

Nineteenth Century Red Earthenware Teapot Recovered in New York City

 Nineteenth Century Red Earthenware Teapot Recovered in New York City

Recovered from a Nineteenth Century Context in Manhattan

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Photo Courtesy: New York State Museum

 View of the Handle

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Photo Courtesy: New York State Museum

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: New York State Museum

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

Preview of My Forthcoming Colonial Charlestown, Mass. Pottery Book

As I have already written, the sequel to my Beverly Pottery book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries will be available to purchase in the next few weeks to month or so. However, I wanted to share a preview of the front and back covers of my forthcoming book, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts, which will be available to purchase this summer or early fall. This book is the culmination of a number of years worth of research, and it is because of this research that I originally established this website.

About 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 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 book is being published as part of my book series through Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts. It runs about 175 pages and there are more than 200 pictures.

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

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

Available Later this Year Through Historic Beverly in Massachusetts

See Article for More Information

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

Slipware Plate Formerly Owned by Barry Cohen Compared to Artifacts Recovered in Philadelphia

This is an eighteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware plate from Pennsylvania that is currently in the inventory of Olde Hope Antiques of New Hope, Pennsylvania and New York City. The plate was formerly owned by Barry Cohen, a prolific Manhattan collector of American folk art, including toys, painted furniture, ceramics, weather vanes, trade signs, game boards, decorated furniture, silhouettes, water colors and paintings. Although, his most important object was very likely a "Peaceable Kingdom" painting created by Edward Hicks (1780-1849) about 1838.

However,  I thought this plate was significant for a number of reasons, but it really struck my interest because it closely resembles the remains of other eighteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware plates and dishes recovered by Chris Rowell from various contexts in Philadelphia.

Slipware Plate Compared to Artifacts Recovered in Philadelphia

 18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate

Likely Made in Southeastern Pennsylvania, Possibly in Philadelphia

Measures 13 1/4" in Diameter

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Hope Antiques

18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate Attributed to Philadelphia

Recovered from a Circa 1740s-1780s Privy

The Privy was Located at 232 Race Street in Philadelphia

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Photo Courtesy: Chris Rowell

 18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate Attributed to Philadelphia

Recovered from a Circa 1750s Brick-Lined Privy

The Privy was Located at 118 Cuthbert Street in Philadelphia

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Chris Rowell

18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish Attributed to Philadelphia

Recovered from a Circa 1750s Brick-Lined Privy

The Privy was Located at 118 Cuthbert Street in Philadelphia

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Chris Rowell

18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate Attributed to Philadelphia

Recovered from a Circa 1750s-1760s Brick-Lined Privy 

The Privy was Located at 5 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia

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Photo Courtesy: Chris Rowell

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

A Recently Acquired 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Very Possibly Manufactured on Cape Cod

Over the weekend, I acquired this nineteenth century red earthenware jar, which I had been meaning to pickup for months now from Massachusetts antiques dealer and show promoter Kris Casucci, who his behind Walker Homestead's Antiques & Primitive Goods Show, the Walker Homestead Tailgate and Flying Pig Antiques in Westmoreland, New Hampshire.

I believe this jar is related to two nineteenth century red earthenware jars each manufactured with two distinct handles owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts that descended in the Wing family, and were once originally owned by Samuel Wing (1774-1854), a cabinetmaker employed on Cape Cod in Sandwich, Massachusetts. The nearest pottery was one that was operated a few miles away by Noah Bradford (1761-1841) in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Other related jars have also since been found in the Sandwich area. Because of this context, I have always believed that this type of highly unusual handle was produced at the Bradford Pottery on Cape Cod after 1819.

Although, Noah Bradford's business was an outgrowth of the multi-generational Bradford family pottery in Kingston, Massachusetts that operated in the eighteenth and nineteenth century in southeastern Massachusetts. I wrote a five page research story about the Bradfords for the May 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts." This exact type of handle is discussed in the story, as well as plenty of archaeology recovered at the site of both businesses.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Very Possibly Manufactured on Cape Cod

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Retaining Its Original Lid

Very Possibly Manufactured at the Noah Bradford Pottery on Cape Cod in Barnstable, Mass.

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 Another View of the Jar

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 View of One Handle

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View of the  Other Handle

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View of the Lid

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"The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts"

Five  Page Feature Story Published in the May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

 See Article for More Information

 "The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts"

Five  Page Feature Story Published in the May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

 See Article for More Information

 "The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts"

Five  Page Feature Story Published in the May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

 See Article for More Information

 "The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts"

Five  Page Feature Story Published in the May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

 See Article for More Information

"The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts"

Five  Page Feature Story Published in the May 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

 See Article for More Information

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