17th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Stove Tiles from Germany Found in a Church in Northern New England

Two days ago, I posted most of these pictures to my Facebook page in what I consider to be one of the most unusual discoveries that I have ever seen in New England. These green glazed red earthenware stove tiles from Germany, many of which are adorned with biblical figures, were salvaged by a company five-to-ten years ago from a late eighteenth or early nineteenth century church that was under demolition in northern New England, although I am still trying to learn more information about the church and its following.

Nevertheless, thanks to a number of generous people on Facebook, it has been determined that these eighteen tiles came from multiple stoves, most likely dating from the circa 1630-1650s period. I think that is remarkable; however, these tiles were removed from a wall in the church so a number of questions certainly revolve around their use prior to this period.

These type of stove tiles are found in museums all around the world today, including the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, the British Museum also in London, the Bavarian National Museum in Germany and the Chipstone Foundation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 

Interestingly, these type of stoves were made in America in at least two locations in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, where there were German settlements; the first being in Salem, North Carolina, such as one surviving example that is displayed at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts, as well as archaeological evidence recovered at the site of Carl Mehwaldt's (1808-1887) Pottery in the Village of Bergholz in Western New York.

17th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Stove Tiles from Germany

Eighteen 17th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Tiles from Germany

They Were Removed from a Northern New England Church 5-10 Years Ago

The Tiles Most Likely Date Circa 1630-1650s

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A View of the Tiles

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Another  View of the Tiles

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Another  View of the Tiles

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Another  View of the Tiles

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Another  View of the Tiles

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Another  View of the Tiles

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Another  View of the Tiles

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A View of the Only Tile that is Not Attached

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View of the Back

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The Top of One of the Tiles Has an Inscription Written in Pencil

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

New Published Story: Rare Red Earthenware Urn Discovered at Newburyport Estate Auction

Published on page four of the current July 8th issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly is a story I wrote about a great nineteenth century red earthenware urn that was recently found at an estate discovery auction in Newburyport, Massachusetts, as well as the production history of a twentieth century Chinese-blue glazed vase from North Carolina.

Here is a link to the issue - see page four: http://digital.olivesoftware.com/olive/odn/aaw/default.aspx#

Link to a PDF of the article: https://www.scribd.com/document/581543591/0708-D-004-ANA-McInnis

New Published Story: Rare Red Earthenware Urn Discovered at Newburyport Estate Auction

New Published Story: Rare Red Earthenware Urn Discovered at Newburyport Estate Auction

Published on Page 4 of the Current July 8th Issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly

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

Information On How To Purchase All Of My Books

I had a number of people in the last week ask how they can buy all of my books or the books they haven't purchased yet...so I thought I'd share. My entire book series to date can be purchased at a discounted rate of $100 plus shipping through Historic Beverly's online shop or by visiting the museum. 

Here is the link to purchase the entire set online: https://historicbeverly.net/product/pottery-book-collection/

And for those interested in only my most recent book, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod, it is available for $44 plus shipping through Historic Beverly's online shop or by visiting the museum. 

Here is a link to purchase my latest book online: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/

Information On How To Purchase All Of My Books

These Are My Five Published Books

Other Books Are in the Works

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

An Excellent Early Massachusetts Green Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher Found Yesterday in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Southern Maine Area

While out and about yesterday in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Southern Maine area, my niece Alexis and myself were very surprised to find this eighteenth or early nineteenth century Massachusetts red earthenware pitcher with a dark green variegated glaze. I believe it is related to a small group of larger pitchers that are known, all of which are illustrated in my new book, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod. In fact, one of those pitchers is currently displayed as part of the William T. Brandon Memorial Collection of American Redware and Ceramics at the Flynt Center of Early American Life at Historic Deerfield in Massachusetts. 

The shape of this pitcher is a little different than the larger pitchers that I reference, but there are other aspects of this piece that seem to be directly related, including the way the base was manufactured and everything about the handle.

Here is a link to the pitcher owned by Historic Deerfield: https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?museum=all&t=objects&type=all&f=&s=bradford+redware&record=2

An Excellent Early Massachusetts Green Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

18th or Early 19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

Just Found in the Portsmouth, N.H. and Southern Maine Area

Attributed to Southern Massachusetts

Stands 8 3/4" Tall

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View of the Handle

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

A Rare Example of 19th Century Stoneware From the Uhl Pottery in Evansville, Indiana Sells in Indiana

The Uhl Pottery Company was founded by German immigrant brothers August (1824-1895) and Louis Uhl (1831-1908) in 1849, who were born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany. They learned the pottery trade from their father George Uhl who was a tilemaker. The business was first located in Evansville, Indiana, although it later moved to Huntingburg, Indiana in 1908 because of a better clay source. Interesting, an early example of stoneware made at the Uhl Pottery Company recently sold through Cardinal Selling Services in Huntingburg. 

The two gallon jug is impressed "MANUFACTORY OF / A.&L. UHL / EVANSVILLE IND." Furthermore, the use of this mark was a partnership that was formed between August and Luis Uhl in 1854, whereas, this mark was continued in use until 1887 when the pottery went through a name change. Uhl Pottery then continued production until 1944 using a few related names.  

It should also be noted that the manufacture of this jug is similar to some wares made in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the 1800s. In fact, there is even somewhat of a resemblance found in the shape of this piece to some jugs manufactured at the John Bell (1800-1880) Pottery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, among other businesses, as well.

The jug sold for $4,200 plus the auction premium.

A Rare Example of 19th Century Stoneware From the Uhl Pottery in Evansville, Indiana

19th Century Two-Gallon Stoneware Jug Manufactured in Evansville, Indiana

Impressed "MANUFACTORY OF / A.&L. UHL / EVANSVILLE IND."

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Photo Courtesy: Cardinal Selling Services

Another View of the Jug

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Photo Courtesy: Cardinal Selling Services

Another View of the Jug

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Photo Courtesy: Cardinal Selling Services

View of Gallon Capacity and Manufacturer Marks

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Photo Courtesy: Cardinal Selling Services

View of the Handle Terminal

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Photo Courtesy: Cardinal Selling Services

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An Excerpt from My Forthcoming Hartford, Connecticut Area Book

My forthcoming sixth book in my New England pottery book series published through Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts, titled, A City on the River: The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area is complete - it runs just about 475 pages, and covers quite a bit of material, ranging from all local red earthenware production from 1770 through the early 1900s, as well as lots of archaeology from potter's sites, museum pieces, signed pottery and a lot of exciting pottery recovered from other archaeological contexts within the states' Connecticut River Region. In fact, the beginning of the book demonstrates how the domestic red earthenware found in various nineteenth century archaeological contexts in the Connecticut River Region are very similar to some wares found in New York City during the same period. Both areas saw a large amount of wares imported from all over Connecticut, as well as New York (although New York City also saw wares shipped from places elsewhere in the region).

Nevertheless, this is an excerpt from my book that I feel is significant, seeing I have always wondered why the early wares made by Nathaniel Seymour (1763-1849) and Seth Goodwin (1772-1828), who stablished the Goodwin family legacy in Hartford, shared an appearance to red earthenware produced in coastal Massachusetts during the same period. And I may have an answer for that!

"Ebenezer Faxon (1749-1811) was born in Braintree, Massachusetts on December 12, 1749, although he removed to West Hartford, Connecticut on January 6, 1772. His role in the pottery industry is largely unknown today, but he is regarded as having moved to Hartford in order to establish a red earthenware business, utilizing the rich clay in the city’s Elmwood/West Hartford section. Opportunities presented by the city’s proximity to the Connecticut River also probably contributed to his decision to relocate.

Interestingly, though, how he learned to manufacture pottery is a big question, seeing that he did not just establish a company without having previous experience in the pottery industry. The fact that he was born in Braintree and lived there in his early years may indicate that he also worked at a pottery in that community or nearby, and it just so happens that one of New England’s most prominent potters operated a business in Braintree in the 1760s and the 1770s, which was none other than Peter Clark (1743-1826). Clark and his family are also responsible for much of the red earthenware industry that existed in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire and the Concord, New Hampshire area, circa 1775-1880s. Although, John Henry Benner (1728-1796) is also another possibility, who owned and operated a business during this period in Abington, Massachusetts. 

It is notable too that Clark’s mother came from the Faxon family of Braintree, born Anna Faxon about 1722.  Clark was also related to Faxon through marriage where they shared a few siblings. This may help explain why so much of the known early red earthenware produced in the Harford area during the circa 1790-1840 period very much looks like wares manufactured in coastal Massachusetts in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. In fact, before Clark established his business in Braintree, he was an Essex County, Massachusetts trained potter, where the wares he made in New Hampshire also largely appeared like wares from coastal Massachusetts. If Faxon did train under Clark, then this would have been the background  he brought with him to Hartford, and then possibly one way or another, he may have had some influence on potters like Nathaniel Seymour and Seth Goodwin. Of course, without more evidence, this idea about Faxon’s influence is in theory, although, it certainly should be taken into strong consideration" And then from here - a lot more information about Faxon is discussed in the book.

The book also shows a number of examples of wares made at the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery, as well as some incredible previously unpublished objects attributed to Seth Goodwin with strong histories of ownership in the Hartford area.

Note: The book also covers some of the area's stoneware production and also shows some of the archaeology from the site of the Pitkin Glassworks in East Hartford, Connecticut, as well as lots of other information.

Two 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars Made in West Hartford, Connecticut

My Niece Alexis Holding a 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to West Hartford, CT

It is Attributed to the Thomas O'Hara Goodwin (1796-1880) Pottery

Thomas O'Hara Trained Under His Father Seth Goodwin

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19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from West Hartford, CT

Impressed "T.O. GOODWIN"

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Photo Courtesy: Connecticut Historical Society

Another View of the "T.O. GOODWIN" Mark

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Photo Courtesy: Connecticut Historical Society

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

An Update on My Forthcoming Book About Red Earthenware Production in the Hartford, Connecticut Area

For those interested - I was finalizing my forthcoming 450 or so page book earlier this week at Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, titled, A City on the River: The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area, and I went through the entire archaeology collection recovered by archaeologists in the 1960s at the site of the Hervey Brooks (1779-1873) Pottery in Goshen, Connecticut, as well as the museum's research notes and archival photos on Brooks, and Brooks' 1822-1860 account books. 

Of everything I saw, I learned about some pieces that are still owned by the family that were last cited by the Walpole Historical Museum in 1937 - for instance, those pieces include a slip script red earthenware pitcher inscribed "Ann" that Brooks seems to have made for a grandchild born in 1827, and a slip decorated jar adorned with birds, somewhat similar to birds found on a few objects from Bristol County, Massachusetts in the early nineteenth century. 

The iron stamp that Brooks used to mark some of his pottery (H. BROOKS) was also last known to be with the family in 1969, whereas, most of the tools, pottery, Brooks' wheel, among other objects that were owned by the family are now owned by the Litchfield, Connecticut Historical Society. But the family apparently kept some of the best stuff! Although, I am very curious about its whereabouts today, as is Old Sturbridge Village.

From all of the archaeology I handled, this nineteenth century yellow on black slip decorated red earthenware pan was among the most fascinating, seeing that it reminded me of some slipware made in Charlestown, Massachusetts before 1760, along with some pottery made in England in the eighteenth and nineteenth century.

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Pan Recovered in Goshen, Connecticut

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Pan

Recovered in the 1960s at Site of Hervey Brooks' Pottery in Goshen, Connecticut

Circa 1818-1864

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Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village

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

New Published Story: Dow Family Pair of Benjamin Harrison Parade Lanterns

Over the last month or so - I have picked through a very exciting estate sale in Exeter, New Hampshire, where the contents of the Dow family farmstead were sold that dates back to the 1800s. This estate sale is also the subject of an article that I wrote that is published in this week's June 17th issue of Antiques & Arts Weekly. 

It's really an incredible story, where some of the objects that were found in this multigenerational farmhouse and attached barn have remained with the family since the 1800s. In fact, the family has ties to Benjamin Harrison's (1833-1901) 1888 Presidential campaign, and possibly even when Harrison visited Exeter in the summer of 1889. Some of the rediscovered objects found in the house even have direct ties to Harrison.

Among the pottery found in the house is a nineteenth century red earthenware handled pot that was discovered in the cellar - it was probably made in Exeter by either the Dodge or Lamson families.

Link - see pages 28-29 for the full story: http://digital.olivesoftware.com/olive/odn/aaw/default.aspx#

Here is also a PDF of the story: https://www.scribd.com/document/577802310/0617-D-028-ANA-Exeter-NH-Estate

New Published Story: Dow Family Pair of Benjamin Harrison Parade Lanterns

Dow Family Pair of Benjamin Harrison Parade Lanterns

Article Published in the June 17th, 2022 Issue of Antiques & Arts Weekly

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Dow Family Pair of Benjamin Harrison Parade Lanterns

Article Published in the June 17th, 2022 Issue of Antiques & Arts Weekly

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Dow Family Pair of Benjamin Harrison Parade Lanterns

Article Published in the June 17th, 2022 Issue of Antiques & Arts Weekly

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My Niece Alexis Holding a 19th Century Red Earthenware Handled Pot

Found in the Dow Family Farmhouse in Exeter, N.H.

Possibly Made by Either the Dodge or Lamson Families in Exeter, N.H.

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Another View of the Pot

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View of the Handle

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View of the Interior Glaze

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View of the Base

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

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Found Yesterday in Concord, New Hampshire

It was sort of a Deja Vu situation yesterday based on a post I made to this website last October 12th, where I shared the details of a nineteenth century red earthenware handled pot that was made in the Millville section of Concord, New Hampshire. Nevertheless, while in Concord yesterday, we stopped into an antique shop, and we found this nineteenth century red earthenware jug for just $25 that I also believe was made in Concord, circa 1820-1840 or so. It is decorated in a variegated raspberry colored glaze that is hard to photograph in order to show the differences in the color. 

According to what I posted last fall: "These pictures were taken where much of the Millville community was located, which happens to be land now owned by St. Paul's School, a prominent college preparatory school associated with the Episcopal Church that was founded in 1856. John Farmer Clark (1832-1885), who was from the most successful family of potters in Concord actually manufactured commemorative red earthenware for St. Paul's in the late 1870s. For instance, Historic New England owns an unglazed pot inscribed "Clay from / the site of new / building at / St. Paul's School / July 1 / 1879." The New Hampshire Historical Society also owns two related pieces, one with the same inscription and date, and another dated "June 23, 1879."

There has been some archaeology conducted at the Millville pottery sites, including an excavation by Dr. David Starbuck (1949-2020) at the site of Joseph Hazeltine's business between 1982-1984. This archaeology is kept today at Plymouth State University in Plymouth, New Hampshire."

I suspect the jug we found yesterday was either made by the Clark family in Concord or another potter, such as Joseph Hazeltine (1799-1880), who trained under the Clarks and then established his own pottery about a mile from this site, closer to downtown Concord.

Note: For more information - see an article that I wrote for the June 2021 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire.

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Found Yesterday in Concord, New Hampshire

My Niece Alexis Holding the Jug at St. Paul's School in Concord, N.H.

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19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Concord, N.H.

Circa 1820-1840 or so

Stands 8 3/4" Tall

Found Yesterday in Concord, N.H.

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Another View of the Jug

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View of the Handle

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A Red Earthenware Jug that We Re-Acquired Yesterday in New Hampshire that was Found Some Years Ago Just North of Boston

I found this twentieth century red earthenware jug on my way home from work in a thrift shop located just north of Boston some years ago. I remember it was kept in a glass case surrounded by objects that the shop considered to be antique. I also recall asking them if they knew anything about its history - they said they did not other than most of the objects that were in the shop had come from homes throughout the area. 

When I first found it - I did not think it was a modern piece, although I did not think it was terribly old either, meaning it was not from the early 1800s. But I knew it was something, however, I just couldn't figure out what it was. It's not a twentieth century museum piece, and it's not made by a studio potter. The jug was manufactured with what appears to be a lead glaze, and the base is wire cut just like you see with traditional potters. And it is also unmarked, which is also typical of traditional potters.

But a friend of mine eventually ended up with it, and I was surprised to see it for sale in a shop yesterday just outside of Concord, New Hampshire.

However, up until yesterday, I had not seen or handled this jug in probably at least five years, and in that time, one of my books was published, titled, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries.

My instant reaction when picking this piece up yesterday was that it closely reminded me of wares made at the Paige Pottery, circa 1910-1930s. Even the green glaze is found on some wares made at the Paige Pottery owned by the Peabody, Massachusetts Historical Society. The orange glaze is also a typical glaze color found on a variety of twentieth century forms made at this pottery, including a pitcher and jug owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and a pitcher owned by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. The clay color is also a match for the type of clay found in Peabody; even the way the footed base is manufactured is a style found on some of Paige's Pottery.

Note: I have also included a circa 1920 photograph of John Donovan at City Hall in Peabody, who was one of the potters working at the Paige Pottery; he is surrounded by a wide selection of mostly glazed vases, urns and flowerpots that he made. This photo shows the variety of household decorative pieces that were made at this company about 1920 - they also made a variety of pitchers, jugs, mugs, plates, etc. There were also other potters employed at the pottery, although many of the wares made at the Paige Pottery are largely forgotten or misunderstood today.

A Red Earthenware Jug that We Re-Acquired Yesterday in New Hampshire

My Niece Alexis Moments After We Re-Acquired this 20th Century Red Earthenware Jug in N.H.

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20th Century Red Earthenware Jug that I Found Some Years Ago Just North of Boston

Possibly Manufactured at the Moses Paige Pottery in Peabody, Mass., Circa 1910-1930s

Stands 4 7/8" Tall

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Another View of the Jug

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Another View of the Jug

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View of the Handle

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View of the Base

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Another View of the Base

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John Donovan with a Display of Decorative Objects He Made at the Paige Pottery in Peabody, Mass.

Photo was Taken at City Hall in Peabody, Circa 1920.

Photo Courtesy: Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

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

A 19th Century Polychrome Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Flowerpot Attributed to Pennsylvania that was Found Years Ago in Southern New Hampshire

I purchased this nineteenth century Pennsylvania polychrome slip decorated red earthenware flowerpot about fifteen years ago in southern New Hampshire; I thought I would post it today in order to see if anyone reading this has ever seen a flowerpot just like this before. 

The colors used for the decoration as well as the color of the clay remind me of pottery made by George Wagner in Weissport, Carbon County, Pennsylvania in the late 1800s; although, it also seems to be similar to some wares made a lot earlier in the 1800s in places like Chester County, Pennsylvania. 

Note: And while it is entirely unrelated to the type of pottery that I write about on this website, I want to mention that a very exciting estate sale that I have been picking through the last few weeks in Exeter, New Hampshire will be the subject of a research article I wrote that will be published in the June 17th issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly. Some of the objects that were found in this multigenerational farmhouse and attached barn are incredible, and many of the objects have remained with the family since the 1800s. But at the least, everything sold in the estate descended through the family. In fact, the family has ties to Benjamin Harrison's (1833-1901) 1888 presidential campaign, and possibly even when Harrison visited Exeter in the summer of 1889. However, some utilitarian pottery was found in the estate that was most likely made in Exeter in the nineteenth century, although the article does not mention the pottery.

19th Century Polychrome Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Flowerpot

My Niece Alexis Holding the Flowerpot for Size Comparison

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19th Century Polychrome Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Flowerpot

Attributed to Pennsylvania

Possibly Made in Chester County, PA or Carbon County, PA

Found About 15 Years Ago in Southern New Hampshire

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View of the Flowerpot's Interior

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View of the Base

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