A 19th Century Mid Atlantic Red Earthenware Jar Found a Few Years Ago in North Carolina

As always - comments and opinions are welcomed when it comes to properly identifying an object's origin, such as this nineteenth century red earthenware pot that I recently acquired from New York City collector and dealer Michael McBride, although the pot was previously found in North Carolina. 

However, my most recent article published in the September 2, 2022 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Vickers Family Of Pennsylvania: Abolitionists, Farmers And Quaker Potters - A Short Examination Into A Unique American Ceramics Story, not only discusses this family's red earthenware production from the 1790s through the latter years of the 1800s, but it also presents the role of the Vickers family in the abolition of slavery. It is quite a history, and really unlike any other story that can be told about an American utilitarian pottery business.

As soon as I learned the story about the Vickers family and the history of their property being involved with the Underground Railroad in Chester County, Pennsylvania, among so much more that happened in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century, I really gained even more appreciation for the wares that they made. Every piece of pottery that I handle from this family, I now think about the history that was happening around the Vickers while these objects were produced.

Nevertheless, the main reason why I purchased this jar is because there are a number of characteristics about it that remind me of red earthenware made by the Vickers family. And if in fact this is an object made at one of the Vickers potteries, then the form seems rather rare to me, seeing that it may draw features from various known forms attributed to the Vickers family, which are then combined into a single object. Thoughts?

Note: I also want to add that there are traces of white slip (yellow) on this pot so the business that produced this object in the 1800s was also manufacturing slipware.

A 19th Century Mid Atlantic Red Earthenware Jar Found a Few Years Ago in N.C.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Made in Pennsylvania

Found a Few Years Ago in North Carolina

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 8" Tall

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Another View of the Jar

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A View of One of the Handles

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A View of the Other Handle

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A View of the Base

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Joseph Bell - A Potter Who Reportedly Produced Unglazed Reclining Stoneware Greyhounds in Muskingum County, Ohio

There seems to be very little information available about a potter named Joseph Bell, who reportedly produced unglazed stoneware figures of reclining whippets in Muskingum County, Ohio in the 1800s, one of which is owned by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan and another that was previously owned by antiques dealer David Good until it sold this past winter at New England Auctions (previously known as New Haven Auctions) in Brantford, Connecticut. Although, seeing that these objects are not signed, I'm interested in learning more about this reported potter's work, considering that his last name is Bell, a name that is also known amongst a prominent family of potters working throughout the Shenandoah Valley from the 1700s through the early 1900s. 

Crocker Farm also sold earlier this year in Sparks, Maryland a large figure in the form of a head on a pedestal that was made during the early stages of the American Grecian Revival Movement, inscribed "Bell / Facit 1875." The thought was that this may have also been made by Joseph Bell. 

Furthermore, I learned yesterday about a third whippet that is privately owned, which seems to add some credibility to the production of these figures in the Muskingum County area since it was purchased about fifteen years ago at a small country auction in Belpre, Ohio, which is located in Washington County, the next county over from Muskingum County. This whippet is cold painted, and probably done in an early context of ownership.

I have spent the past few days researching through genealogy records trying to learn more about Joseph Bell, partly because I think the reclining spaniel that I wrote about yesterday could somehow be related. These types of spaniels are known to have been both glazed and unglazed, whereas there are some similarities in the form of the molds and the color of the clay when compared to the unglazed whippets. But I'm not positive yet that there is any relationship.

In fact, there were a number of Joseph Bell's living in Ohio in the 1800s, although I found only one record of a man with that name residing in Muskingum County that would match up with when these objects were likely produced, circa 1850-1900.

1) Joseph W. Bell (1818-1903) was born in Springfield, Muskingum County, Ohio. He died in Zanesville, Muskingum County, Ohio. He was married once to Mary Ann Van Horn (1811-1882) who was born in Ohio. Joseph's father George R. Bell (1778-1864) was born in Scotland, moved to England and was living in Ohio by 1807 when he married Margaret J. McCowan (1790-1873), who was born in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Both Joseph and George are consistently listed as "Farmers" in the United States Federal Census in 1850, 1860 and 1870.

Interestingly, there are a group late nineteenth century unglazed stoneware coffee pots with an applied tin spout, lid, handle and bail handle known that were made at the Muskingum Pottery Company in Zanesville. The clay color appears to be the same when compared to the whippets, although that is not necessarily a strong indicator of anything.

However, with all of this said - does anyone reading this know any additional information about these whippets and "Joseph Bell?"

Note: While it is not the exact same shape - a fourth unglazed reclining stoneware whippet sold in Crocker Farm's March 2014 sale.

*** Update: This is actually a greyhound, as are the other known American pottery dogs related to this form from the 1800s.

19th Century Molded Figure of a Reclining Greyhound

These Were Reportedly Made by a Joseph Bell in Muskingum County, Ohio

Found About 15 Years Ago at a Country Auction in Belpre, Ohio

Circa 1850-1900

Measures About 10 1/2" Across

The Paint was Probably Added in an Early Context of Ownership

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Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

Another View of the Greyhound

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Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

Another View of the Greyhound

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An Excellent 19th Century Stoneware Figure of a Reclining Spaniel

This is an excellent nineteenth century molded figure of a reclining spaniel that is made out of stoneware - it is decorated in a two-tone Bristol glaze, a glazing technique that was developed in Bristol, England in 1835, and soon afterwards was used by American potters. In fact, it is sometimes called "double glazed ware" because the two-tone effect required dipping the object into the glaze twice. The manufacture of spaniels in ceramics also began in England, as early as the 1720s, but the production and variations of this figure eventually spread to pottery manufacturers in America, Canada and elsewhere in the world.

The details in this object are very good, whereas some molded wares lack certain characteristics when compared to handmade pottery. But this is an excellent example of molded stoneware, which I suspect was made in Ohio, circa 1850-1900. Although, Bristol glazes were also manufactured in western Pennsylvania, West Virginia, in parts of the Midwest and perhaps elsewhere in America. But Ohio was probably the most prevalent location in America for the production of Bristol glazes based on the influx of potters that happened in the state in the 1800s.

Interestingly, the Bell family is among the most accomplished utilitarian potters to produce molded wares in the 1800s, based on the forms and glazes found in surviving objects, as well as a number of the actual molds that are displayed at the Renfrew Museum & Park in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. And there was a potter by the name of Joseph Bell who produced some reclining stoneware animals in Muskingum County, Ohio in the 1800s. However, I know very little about his reported production outside of a whippet that is attributed to him owned by the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, which was also published in the book American Folk Sculpture.

Nonetheless, this is a wonderful object that was previously owned for many years by David Good. It measures eight inches across.

An Excellent 19th Century Stoneware Figure of a Reclining Spaniel

19th Century Molded Figure of a Reclining Spaniel

I Suspect it was Made in Ohio

Probably Circa 1850-1900

Measures 8" Across

Formerly Owned by David Good

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Another View of the Spaniel

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Another View of the Spaniel

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Another View of the Spaniel

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A View of the Base

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A Rare Example of 19th Century Stoneware Discovered in Downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts

This was quite the surprise find over the weekend, while walking my dog in downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts! We spotted this large nineteenth century salt-glazed stoneware pitcher with its original lid, surviving in excellent condition, in a thrift/collectible type shop. I cannot recall having seen a pitcher like this before, which I attribute to the Whites Pottery in Utica, New York, circa 1870s to 1890s. It stands 9 1/2 inches tall and measures 12 inches across. Somewhat comparable wares were also made at the Robinson Clay Products Company in Akron, Ohio in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, although the manufacture of this object is different than how those types of wares were produced.

Interestingly, the most comprehensive collection of stoneware made in Utica is found in the Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute, which includes a variety of objects made at the Whites Pottery after 1876, however this form is not represented in their collection. 

Furthermore, the bellarmine style bearded man seen on the front of this pitcher is known on other pitchers and steins made at the Whites Pottery. And as I previously mentioned - the lid is original. There is an intentional cutout on the lid that lets it rest perfectly beneath two knobs on the pitcher. In my opinion, the only way to replicate this would be for an identical lid to have come from a matching shaped pitcher.

According to the website BlueWhitePottery.org: "Noah White began making pottery for several local firms in Utica about 1834. But in 1839, he bought out one of these companies, the Addington Pottery, and began making stoneware with the mark “N. WHITE” with the help of his son Nicholas A. White. Another son, William, joined the pottery in 1843; both were made partners in 1849 when the firm became known as “N. WHITE AND SONS”.

William White sold out in 1856 and moved to Utica, Illinois, and the firm’s mark changed to “N. WHITE AND SON”. In spite of the rapid changes in company ownership – or perhaps because of it – the marks “WHITE UTICA” OR “WHITES UTICA” were used from the 1850s to the 1870s. 

In 1863, Noah’s grandson William N. White joined the pottery and the name changed to "NOAH WHITE, SON AND COMPANY." Two years later, Noah died and Nicholas assumed control of the works, changing the name to “N. A. WHITE AND COMPANY”. This name was modified slightly in 1867 to “N. A. WHITE AND SON,” when his son became a partner.

From 1876 to 1882, the firm’s mark became “WHITES, UTICA, N.Y.” In 1882 Nicholas’s younger son Charles N. White joined the pottery and the mark became “N.A. WHITE AND SON, UTICA, N.Y.” The company used the name “CENTRAL NEW YORK POTTERY” from 1890 to 1899, and then “WHITES POTTERY INC.” until the pottery stopped making stoneware in 1907."

A Rare Example of 19th Century Stoneware Discovered in Massachusetts

Rare Large 19th Century Stoneware Pitcher Retaining It's Original Lid

Just Discovered in Downtown Newburyport, Mass.

Attributed to the Whites Pottery in Utica, New York

Circa 1876-1890s

Stands 9 1/2" Tall and Measures 12" Across

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Another View of the Pitcher

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A Closer View of the Pitcher

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Another Closer View of the Pitcher

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A View of the Bellarmine Style Bearded Face on the Front

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A View of the Handle

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Another View of the Lid with the Original Lid

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Another View of the Pitcher

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A View of the Base

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A Close Up View of the Lid

The Cutout Fits Perfectly Beneath the Two Knobs on the Lid

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

A Pair of Red Earthenware Flowerpot Saucers Found Years Ago on Cape Cod

In my most recent book, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod, a type of green glazed red earthenware flowerpot and flowerpot saucer production is discussed, which is known to have been made by the Bradford family in Kingston, Massachusetts, probably Bristol County and potentially at the Bradford Pottery in West Barnstable on Cape Cod.

Nevertheless, I acquired these two circa early 1800s black glazed red earthenware flowerpot saucers a few weekends ago from Sandwich, Massachusetts antiques dealer Brian Cullity, who is also the former art director at the Heritage Museums & Gardens on Cape Cod. 

Interestingly, these flowerpot saucers were found years ago in the West Barnstable area so they may be related to production in the area - they are also similar in production to two nineteenth century black glazed red earthenware jars owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts, which I believe may also be locally made. These jars are discussed in detail in my book.

A Pair of Red Earthenware Flowerpot Saucers Found Years Ago on Cape Cod

Probably Early 19th century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Flowerpot Saucers

Found Years Ago in the West Barnstable Area on Cape Cod

(Left) Measures 5 3/4" in Diameter

(Right) Measures 5 1/4" in Diameter

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Another View of the Flowerpot Saucers

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Another View of the Flowerpot Saucers

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

A Preview of a Forthcoming Published Research Article About the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, Massachusetts

I wanted to quickly post today that I have some forthcoming research articles scheduled to be published this fall in Antiques & the Arts Weekly, Antiques & Auction News and Maine Antique Digest - although one of the stories is a subject that I have been studying for a number of years, which profiles the history of ceramic production at the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, Massachusetts. 

This company existed for many decades, producing a variety of household wares, however the story largely focuses on a line of ceramics called "Rieti" that was manufactured for only a few years in the 1880s. The semi-porcelain wares made under this brand had direct ties to English ceramic production and were often hand decorated in gold designs. In fact, it is not widely recognized today that this type of production is displayed by a number of major American art museums. Furthermore, Historic New England owns the most extensive collection of wares from the New England Pottery Company in existence. This is also a business that a number of authors acknowledged for its creativity and advancement of American ceramic production in the early to mid twentieth century.

I am looking forward to seeing this article in print - so be on the lookout for it next month! I will also post information about the story on this website once it has been published.

A Preview of a Forthcoming Published Research Article

19th Century Semi-Porcelain Teapot and Sugar Bowl

Made at the New England Pottery Company in East Boston, Mass.

Circa Late 1880s

Both Are Marked on the Base "Rieti"

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New England Pottery Company Factory and Workers in East Boston, Mass.

Photograph Circa 1880

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

19th Century Ad for the New England Pottery Company

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Photo Courtesy: East Boston Museum

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

A Green Glazed Earthenware Child's Cup Found in a Farmhouse in Southeastern Pennsylvania

This is an object that I acquired back in July of this year, which I suspect dates from the late 1800s or early 1900s, although it is the green glaze that I thought was really nice! I also suspect that this earthenware child's cup was manufactured perhaps in imitation of ceramic child's cups that were widely produced in Staffordshire England in the nineteenth century, some of which were manufactured for the American marketplace.

At the moment, I really have not done much research with this object; in fact, it has just been sitting on a shelf in my house with other pottery, but I do know that it was found three years ago during an estate auction at a farmhouse in southeastern Pennsylvania. 

Interestingly, this cup was found in the same farmhouse as a red earthenware urn that I wrote about in May of this year that I attribute to Henry Chapman Mercer's (1856-1930) Moravian Pottery & Tile Works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, circa 1900-1930.

Here is a link to a story about the urn: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/05/an-early-20th-century-green-glazed-red.html

A Green Glazed Earthenware Child's Cup Found in a Farmhouse in Southeastern PA

Late 19th or Early 20th Century Green Glazed Earthenware Child's Cup

Perhaps Made in Imitation of Child Cups Made in Staffordshire, England

Found in a Farmhouse in Southeastern Pennsylvania

Stands 2 3/4" Tall

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Another View of the Cup

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A View of the Interior

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A View of the Handle

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A View of the Base

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

An Outstanding Glazed Stoneware Vase Found at an Estate Sale Near Spokane, Washington

I recently acquired this hand-thrown likely turn of the twentieth century (or a little later) oxblood red glazed stoneware vase, where the glaze also includes some blue and a lighter shade of red beneath the darker red. The vase was discovered not too long ago in an antiques collector's estate sale near Spokane, Washington. And while I am not positive where this object was made in America, it closely resembles stoneware vases adorned with experimental glazes made by Hugh Robertson (1844-1908) in Chelsea and Dedham, Massachusetts in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. 

Such vibrant red glazes, often found on simple forms, were inspired by Asian porcelains, widely accessible to an American market for the first time in the late nineteenth century. As a result, American potters produced their own red glazes, often with other colors, such as seen on this vase, although Robertson was the first American potter to successfully produce an American version of an oxblood red glaze.

From Chelsea to Dedham, Robertson continued to pursue his passion for innovation, employing the grayish-white stoneware used for Dedham’s dinnerware to throw simple forms covered with bold combinations of colored and textured glazes. Dedham Pottery’s vases are larger, thicker, and heavier than their Chelsea predecessors, and simple, solid forms predominate. 

Many of the vases that Robertson made in Dedham have varying combinations of red, green, blue, and white glazes, often with heavy drips descending to the base.

In 1898 a writer for the magazine Arts for America probably had such a vase in mind when he wrote of the Dedham Pottery: "In high-fire work the temperature ranges between 3,000 and 4,000 degrees, and the glaze applied to the top of the vase bubbles like pitch and runs down the sides, coating the surface. In this class of work it is impossible to have the effects twice alike, for at the different firings the chemical conditions vary."

These types of vases that Robertson made can be found in major art museums around the country, including the Robert A. Ellison, Jr. (1931-2021) Collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, as well as the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, some of which were previously owned by Massachusetts author Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982). But Robertson was not the only American potter producing this type of glazed stoneware.

However, I do want to emphasize that this particular vase is wheel thrown, which suggests to me that it is from the period of the Arts and Crafts Movement. The color of the clay is also the same color as found with stoneware produced by Robertson in Dedham. Nonetheless, though, I think this is a just an outstanding heavy vibrant multicolored glaze on a simple shape, and very much a representative example of art pottery produced in America. 

An Outstanding Glazed Stoneware Vase Found at an Estate Sale Near Spokane, WA

20th Century American Red and Blue Glazed Hand-Thrown Stoneware Vase

The Red Glaze is in the Style of the Asian Oxblood Glaze

Possibly 1900-1930

Recently Discovered in an Estate Near Spokane, Washington

Stands 4 1/2" Tall and 7" Wide

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Another View of the Vase

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Another View of the Vase

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Another View of the Vase

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Another View of the Vase

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A View of the Interior

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A View of the Base

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Another View of the Base

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Another View of the Base

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

A Commemorative 19th Century Red Earthenware Mug from Concord, New Hampshire

A variety of inscribed gold painted red earthenware commemorative mugs were made at the John Farmer Clark (1832-1885) Pottery in the Millville section of Concord, New Hampshire in the 1870s and 1880s, ranging from inscriptions in support of both sides of Presidential campaigns, in celebration of America's Centennial in 1876, as well as other types of events. From what I have seen in museum and private collections, it seems that these types of mugs were first produced in 1876 and continued until 1884. But very few are known to exist today.

However, this inscribed mug was just acquired by New Hampshire collector Mark Newton that simply reads, "MER / 1878." I have not seen this inscription before, although I suspect it may be related to religion or perhaps the third World's Fair that took place in Paris from May 1 to November 10, 1878.

These types of mugs are occasionally found in the antiques trade today without any inscription or gold paint, although with the exact exterior and interior glazes. However, the commemorative mugs are possibly a unique type of production in New Hampshire, seeing that I have not seen anything else like it produced by a potter working in this state.

For more information about John Farmer Clark - I suggest a research story I wrote that was published in the June 2021 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire.

Link to story: https://www.scribd.com/document/508718656/Feature-Concord-Redware-Maine-Antique-Digest-June-2021

A Commemorative 19th Century Red Earthenware Mug from Concord, N.H.

19th Century Commemorative Red Earthenware Mug

Attributed to the John Farmer Clark Pottery in Concord, N.H.

Inscribed "MER / 1878"

Circa 1878

Stands About 6" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton

Another View of the Mug

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton

Another View of the Mug

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton

Another View of the Mug

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton

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A Red Earthenware Jar Found About 25 Years Ago in a Farmhouse Near Buffalo, New York

I have known about this early-to-mid nineteenth century red earthenware jar with a mottled glaze for sometime now, although I just recently acquired it, seeing that I think it retains a good context of ownership along the Canadian border in western New York. In fact, it was about 25 years ago that this jar was discovered at an onsite estate sale, where the contents of a multigenerational nineteenth century farmhouse were sold in the Buffalo, New York area. 

For the past few days, I have been thinking about where this jar may have originated, while also asking some friends who know a lot about the subject; however, my current feeling is that this is a locally made piece from the western New York and Ontario region. I think the likeliest scenario is that it is American made; the glaze appears to me to be similar to some objects produced in the West Bloomfield and Mendon, New York area, circa 1820-1850. And these types of ovoid jars are known from western New York, although this shape is very unusual, whereas most of the known jars are lidded. 

This jar also has a New England look to it - which is why red earthenware can be confusing when comparing production from Ontario, western New York and New England. But at the moment, this colorfully glazed object is sort of an enigma, although a good looking early red earthenware jar, nonetheless!

I should also note that there was utilitarian pottery produced to the north of Buffalo at a business owned by a German immigrant potter named Carl Mehwaldt (1808-1887), where he produced red earthenware near Niagara Falls in the Village of Berkholz. But the wares that are known from Mehwaldt today do not resemble this jar. For more information about Mehwaldt's life and career, I suggest a research story I wrote that was published in the October 15, 2021 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Carl Mehwaldt: A Pioneer German-American Potter And 19th-Century Immigrant - Redware from Western New York State.

Link to article: https://www.scribd.com/document/532029861/Mehwaldt-Article-for-AAN-October-15-2021

A Red Earthenware Jar Found About 25 Years Ago in a Farmhouse Near Buffalo, N.Y.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar with a Colorful Mottled Glaze

Possibly Made in Western New York

Found About 25 Years Ago in a Farmhouse Near Buffalo, New York

Probably Circa 1820-1850

Stands 9" Tall

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Another View of the Jar

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View of the Footed Base

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View of the Base

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