EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Early American Stoneware and Red Earthenware Found at an Estate Sale in Melbourne, Florida

Saturday, July 16, 2022

Early American Stoneware and Red Earthenware Found at an Estate Sale in Melbourne, Florida

An outstanding estate sale took place last weekend along the central Atlantic coast of Florida in Melbourne, which was held by the Southern Trading Company. In fact, the company described the sale "As one of the most amazing estate sales they have ever conducted!"

The sale featured dozens of pieces of American stoneware from the eighteenth, nineteenth and early twentieth century. The collection had been assembled more than forty years ago in the 1970s, where much of the stoneware was produced by northern manufacturers.

Among the highlights in the sale was an ovoid salt-glazed stoneware jug decorated with an incised perched bird on a branch and highlighted with cobalt, where the form of the jug certainly revealed its Germanic influence, and was probably produced in Manhattan during the circa 1775-1800 period. Simply put, the shape of this jug is just outstanding, as is the cobalt and incised decoration.

Also featured in the sale was one of the best stoneware crocks that I have seen from Utica, New York - the circa 1860s four gallon crock is stamped "WHITES UTICA" and adorned in cobalt with an excellent folky deer standing next to a tree. Similar types of decoration can also be found on stoneware produced elsewhere in New York State, as well as Bennington, Vermont.

Probably 18th Century Stoneware Jug Made in Manhattan

Decorated with an Incised Perched Bird on a Branch

Probably Circa 1775-1800

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Photo Courtesy: Steve Spangenberg

19th Century 4 Gallon Stoneware Crock Made in New York State Stamped "Whites Utica"

Circa 1860s

Decorated in Cobalt with a Deer Standing Next to a Tree

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Steve Spangenberg

Nevertheless, this excellent nineteenth century red earthenware chicken waterer was also included in the sale, which I acquired last weekend from Florida architectural salvage expert Steve Spangenberg, who was among the first few people to enter the estate sale. In my opinion, there are a few characteristics about this object that make it great: first - the condition is outstanding; second - it is unusually small in size, standing just over seven inches tall; and third - the lid covering the drinking area is the type of lid that would have been used on traditional utilitarian red earthenware jars and pots (this is really cool to see!).

This piece is also impressed with some marks on the top's front, and there also appears to be a maker's mark impressed along the right side of the top. The rectangular mark is partially covered with glaze, but it is similar to a variety of marks applied by nineteenth century potter's working in the Mid-Atlantic Region.

Note: I also want to mention that there appears to be traces of white (yellow) slip on this waterer so the manufacturer may have also produced slipware.