A Collection of Red Earthenware from the Vermont Historical Society that Sold at Merrill's Auctions in Williston, Vermont

An interesting selection of nineteenth century red earthenware sold this past Friday at Merrill's Auctioneers & Appraisers in Williston, Vermont. The objects had been deaccessioned from the collection of the Vermont Historical Society in Montpelier in order to benefit the museum. Some of the pieces had even previously been published, although, I felt this pitcher was the highlight of the group. The glaze was so much more impressive in hand! I actually posted about this piece on my Instagram page, describing it as an object that had it all: form, glaze, size and condition.

Described as possibly being from East Middlebury, Vermont, it also closely resembles archaeology I have seen from southern Maine. According to Massachusetts author Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "The Farrars in Vermont were principally stoneware potters in the nineteenth-century, except for Caleb Farrar, (1780-1849) who settled in Middlebury, Vermont in 1812. He was born in New Ipswich, New Hampshire, and was one of the numerous sons of Reverend Stephen Farrar who sought their fortunes in Vermont. He was thirty-two years old when he started in Middlebury the pottery that he ran for so many years (along with other family members) until 1849 (the pottery later passed through non-related ownership after 1850).

I have read various statements about the types of wares made in Middlebury. At first, and probably throughout Farrar's tenure, it was merely a redware pottery. Such of the redware examples that I have seen were glazed with a varying tone from rosy to yellow shades. A greenish-yellow glaze is also said to have been a representative color (undoubtedly, there were other glaze colors, too).

A smaller potshop in East Middlebury has not hitherto been noted. It was run by a man named Carpenter, and stood on the north side of the road through East Middlebury opposite a white schoolhouse. A pitcher that was undoubtedly made at this pottery has a yellow-green glaze."

This pitcher sold for $1,400 plus the auction premiums. The rest of pottery can be viewed in the auction catalog posted to LiveAuctioneers.

Red Earthenware Pitcher from the Vermont Historical Society

Northern New England 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Circa 1820-1840

Stands 8" Tall

Sold to Benefit the Vermont Historical Society

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Photo Courtesy: Merrill's Auctioneers &  Appraisers

View of the Base and the Vermont Historical Society Collection Number

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Photo Courtesy: Merrill's Auctioneers &  Appraisers

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