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