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...