An Important 19th Century Stoneware Churn from Muscatine County, Iowa

While reading my Facebook news feed earlier this week, I came across this outstanding six gallon nineteenth century stoneware churn that was posted in an Iowa Stoneware Group page. I did not know that this piece existed - the churn depicts the home, potter's wheel and kiln of the the potter Tilden R. Goddard in Muscatine County, Iowa. The churn is also inscribed "T.R. Goddard / Muscatine" and dated "April 5, 1881."

This churn was previously displayed in a major exhibit of more than 300 pieces of Iowa stoneware spanning the period of 1830 to 1930 at the Iowa State Historical Museum in Des Moines, titled, Made From Mud: Iowa's Potters and Potteries, 1830-1930. 

There was a thriving pottery industry in Iowa in the 1800s, and Muscatine County was a part of that industry, as well as Booone, Mahaska, Polk, Van Buren, Wapello, Warren and Webster counties. The state's pottery production largely transpired with hundreds of known potters as a result of the excellent clay deposits that were discovered in conjunction with the state's rich coal industry. 

According to the information that was posted on Facebook this week by Conninne Waterman Reed, "It is believed that this churn may have been created to commemorate the first firing of the kiln owned by Goddard." This piece is especially significant because when compared to a lot of the highly decorated stoneware manufactured in the eastern part of the United States, the wares produced in Iowa were often left undecorated and strictly utilitarian in appearance. 

The predominant stoneware forms manufactured in Iowa included pitchers, churns, preserve jars, butter pots, jugs, milk pans, cream pots, chamber pots and flowerpots. Although, there were other styles produced as well, such as a great squirrel figure that I wrote about three years ago made in What Cheer, Iowa.

Nonetheless though, pottery production in Iowa was just as significant as anywhere else in America during this period. And this churn really demonstrates the significance and skill of this industry when compared to elsewhere in America, even though some of these wares may not be recognized nationally as are objects of a similar manufacture from elsewhere in the country.

An Important 19th Century Stoneware Churn from Muscatine County, Iowa

This Six Gallon Churn Depicts the Home, Potter's Wheel and Kiln of Potter of Tilden R. Goddard

Goddard Worked in Muscatine, Iowa

It is Dated April 5, 1881

Collection of Mark and Kathie Cellotti

Photo Courtesy: Corrinne Waterman Reed

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