An Important Example of Red Earthenware Manufactured in Bristol County, Massachusetts

I'm very happy to have recently acquired this highly important circa 1790-1830 red earthenware jar from Bristol County, Massachusetts. Historically speaking, this is one of the most significant pieces of New England red earthenware known to exist today. The lid is original to the jar as both are marked on the base with an inscribed "A." Although, the finial on the lid is what is so significant, seeing that it is adorned with a Quaker hat, representing the religion of many of the potters who worked in Bristol County in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. This is the only jar (or any form as a matter of fact) known to exist like this today.

The hat on the finial closely resembles those seen on a number of existing portraits of Moses Brown (1738-1836), an influential Quaker from Rhode Island. It is my thought that this jar may have been made special for a meeting house that was associated with the Quaker potters in Bristol County, otherwise there is another relationship found with it and the Quaker potting families in Bristol County. It's historical significance cannot be understated though. This is an outstanding piece of New England history.

This jar is a part of a small group of Bristol County red earthenware objects in existence today that were manufactured for either religious or marriage purposes. The most famous of those objects is the jar that graces the cover of the October 1931 issue of The Magazine Antiques which was formerly owned by Charles D. Cook, later featured at the Winter Antiques Show in Manhattan and now owned privately in a major collection. The jar that I am holding here is thought to be related to that object, which is incredible for me to think about since I have admired this magazine cover for close to twenty years! 

Other related pieces include a pair of Bristol County marriage jars displayed in the Americana Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

My new forthcoming 425-page book also discusses this jar, available soon from Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod.

An Important Example of Red Earthenware Manufactured in Bristol County, Mass.

(Left) My Niece Alexis Holding the Oct. 1931 Issue of The Magazine Antiques

The Cover Features a Now Famous Jar from Bristol County, Mass.

(Right) I am Holding the Bristol County, Mass. Jar Discussed in this Article

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18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from Bristol County, Mass.

The Lid's Finial Features a Quaker Hat

Many of the Potters Employed in Bristol County were Quakers

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Both the Base of the Jar and the Bottom of the Lid are Inscribed with the Letter "A"

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