EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: An Outstanding Classically Decorated Red Earthenware Flowerpot Found Years Ago in the Buffalo, New York Area

Monday, April 11, 2022

An Outstanding Classically Decorated Red Earthenware Flowerpot Found Years Ago in the Buffalo, New York Area

Over the past few years, I have documented on this website two rare red earthenware jars (article about the first jar; article about the second jar) that are accurately attributed to one of Canada's earliest documented potters, Jacob Bock (1789-1867) who was living in Waterloo, Ontario in the early 1800s. Although, Bock was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which is most likely where he learned the potter's craft, as well. A third signed jar is owned by the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto; in fact, this signed jar is what these attributions are based on today, as well as a few other known signed examples that are privately owned.

These jars are all decorated with classical figures of Saint Aurelius Ambrosius (ca. 340-397 AD), who was born in one of Germany's oldest cities Trier, and his father was an important Roman soldier. He is considered to be one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century, and was the Roman governor of Liguria and Emilia, based in Milan, before being made Bishop of Milan by popular acclamation in 374 AD, even though he was not even a priest.

For many years, Ambrose defended the faith of the Church, writing hymns and influencing other Christian songwriters. After Ambrose's death on April 4, 397 AD and because of his love of Christianity, the Church declared Saint Ambrose a Doctor of the Church, and his life has been celebrated ever since. However, the jars that I have previously cited are to my knowledge the only examples of seventeenth, eighteenth or nineteenth century utilitarian pottery made in America or Canada which honor the life of Aurelius Ambrosius. In fact, they more than likely represent Bock's faith and his commitment to his church.

According to Ontario collector Paul Slater, To this point there are three documented pieces of signed and dated red earthenware made by Jacob Bock, one of which resides in the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto (the other two are in private collections). All three are red earthenware tobacco jars with four relief portraits of St. Ambrose or Aurelius Ambrosius, a highly influential 4th Century religious figure. One is marked "Waterloo the 4 Jan 1825"; another "Waterloo, Upper Canada, September 17 1825, Jacob Bock, Potter"; the third is the same as the first except "January" is spelled in full. Beyond these three pieces, other pottery has surfaced which some have attributed to Bock, including two storage jars with "1820" marked on the base, a small barrel marked "Waterloo 1827," and a small cup marked "September 1836." Although, it is probable that other examples exist, there is no question that marked pieces by Jacob Bock are extremely rare to see today."

This nineteenth century red earthenware flowerpot is also decorated with classical figures in relief, which appear religious, and might be related to the jars made by Bock in Waterloo. This flowerpot is currently privately owned in Western New York, although it was discovered about fifteen years ago in the Buffalo, New York area, which is located right next to the Ontario border and about 110 miles southeast of where Bock worked in the 1800s.

For some years, the thought was that this flowerpot may have been made by Carl Mehwaldt (1808-1887), a German immigrant who worked in the Village of Bergholz in Niagara County, New York (see Mehwaldt article I wrote for the October 15, 2021 issue of Antiques & Auction News), or perhaps at the Gleason family pottery in Morganville, New York. However, its production seems to be most similar to the jars that were made by Bock in Ontario. Nonetheless, this type of classical revival and religious production is quite rare to find with any surviving wares from Western New York or Ontario today.

An Outstanding Classically Decorated Red Earthenware Flowerpot