Important Bristol County, Mass. Red Earthenware Jar Sells Yesterday on Cape Cod

This jar will be featured in my forthcoming book from Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod, although, it is certainly worth discussing on this website, as well. The late eighteenth or early nineteenth century jar is attributed to the industry in Bristol County, and it sold yesterday at Marion Antique Auctions Summer Sale on Cape Cod.

The fact that this jar retains its original lid is special in itself, seeing that lids often broke or disappeared through the years, but the fact that both the lid and the jar are inscribed with the letter "A" indicates that this is the original lid. The potters in Bristol County sometimes used letters, numbers or Roman numerals to match a lid to a jar.

Although from an historical standpoint, this jar is quite special since the finial on the lid is decorated with what is most likely a Quaker hat. This is significant because many of the potting families that worked in Bristol County were Quakers, much of which can also be connected to the Quaker family potters working in South Danvers (Peabody), Essex County, Massachusetts. The history of this jar is currently unknown to me, but the lid may indicate that it was manufactured for a specific purpose beyond just to be sold as a utilitarian ware. 

In fact, the potters in Bristol County were one of the few areas in New England who are known to have produced objects for marriage, such as a pair of slip decorated marriage jars displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. And they may have also produced presentation pieces.

The fact that this jar is manufactured with perhaps a unique finial on the lid shows that it is also similar in production to an important marriage jar that was previously owned by noted collector Charles D. Cook and illustrated on the cover of the October 1931 issue of The Magazine Antiques. The cover jar is also inscribed in slip "A.P.B." or "A.S.B." 

Note: See LiveAuctioneers for the auction result.

Important Red Earthenware Jar from Bristol County, Mass. with its Original Lid

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Bristol County, Mass.

The Lid was Manufactured with Perhaps a Unique Quaker Hat

Many of the Bristol County Potters were Quakers

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Marion Antique Auctions

The Lid is Original to the Jar

Both Are Inscribed with the Letter "A"

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Photo Courtesy: Marion Antique Auctions

The Cover of the October 1931 Issue of The Magazine Antiques

This Bristol County, Mass. Red Earthenware Jar is Also Decorated with a Unique Finial

It is Inscribed in Slip "A.P.B." or "A.S.B." 

See Article for More Information

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