Two Red Earthenware Objects Painted as Part of the Index of American Design at the Smithsonian Institute

While writing my books, I have always checked the Index of American Design at the National Gallery of Art at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., in order to see if there is any artwork that can be used with the subject that I am writing about. In fact, a number of paintings from the Index of American Design are illustrated in my new book, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod, as well as my forthcoming book, A City on the River: The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area. In most cases, I have been able to illustrate in the books the painting with the original object.

Nonetheless, these are two pieces that I had thought about including in my first book, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence and my third book, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts; however, I was not certain either object was made in Beverly or Charlestown, so I decided to leave both of them out.

The first piece is an eighteenth century red earthenware cup with slip decoration, which is very similar to styles produced in England and Charlestown before 1750. However, this style was also produced later on in the Mid-Atlantic region, including wares made in Pennsylvania in the 1700s and 1800s. Nonetheless, this artwork was painted in 1937 by John Matulis (1910-200), although I have not been able to relocate the whereabouts of this object. 

The second piece was painted by Alfred H. Smith in 1939, and it was manufactured as part of the Grecian Revival Movement in America, which the Beverly Pottery helped spearhead after 1870. The double handled painted vase appears to be glazed on the interior; it also has a strong Beverly look to it, but without more information, I was not certain if this was made by another potter in the northeast. The whereabouts of this piece is also unknown to me today.

Note: It takes some time to go through, seeing that there are thousands of paintings, but the Index of American Design is an excellent resource for objects made all over America, as well as foreign-made objects.

Two Red Earthenware Objects Painted as Part of the Index of American Design

Likely 18th Century Slip Decorated Cup 

The Style of the Slip is Similar to Wares made in England and Charlestown, Mass. Before 1750

But this Style of Slip was also Produced Later on in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Painted by John Matulis in 1937

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Index of American Design at the National Gallery of Art

Late 19th or Early 20th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase

Manufactured During the American Grecian Revival Movement

Made Somewhere in the Northeast

Possibly Made at the C.A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

Painted by Alfred H. Smith in 1939

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Index of American Design at the National Gallery of Art

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