Published in the August 11, 2023 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly is a story I wrote about a pair of circa 1920s-1930s earthenware vases thought to have possible been made at the Auman Pottery in Seagrove, North Carolina, which retained a lengthy history of ownership with a family in Cambridge, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/08/latest-story-published-in-antiques-and_6.html.
Nevertheless, while out and about in northern New England yesterday, I came across a cobalt decorated hand-thrown red earthenware teapot that was completely filthy, although certainly appeared to have been discovered in some type of estate in New England. Furthermore, the base of the teapot was somewhat burned from exposure to a hot flame or stove, which suggests that it was actually used to make tea.
Interestingly, the color of the spotted cobalt used on this teapot is an exact match to the color of the cobalt applied on the two vases from Cambridge. Additionally, the color of the cream interior glaze is also an exact match to the cream color applied on the vases.
According to an article written by A. Everette James for the August 2004 issue of The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles, tiled, North Carolina Seagrove Pottery: The Transition Period, "Auman Pottery was, as were most of the Seagrove operations at this time, a family business with the primary owner being C. R. Auman. They also began with the production of utilitarian ware but in the early 1920s converted to the turning of art pottery. Their combination of the buff color of the body of the vessel with cobalt (dark blue to black) and manganese runs or drips of decoration are clearly identifiable. Lorenzo “Wrenn” Cole was the principal potter. Their vases with a flat thin rim, two- and three-handled low wide bowls with shoulders and the candlesticks with multi-tiered bodies are signature examples of this important 1920s-1930s pottery.
The clear lead glaze over the clay produced a mellow overall tone that maximized the drama of the decoration. Often the decoration was applied in ill-defined circles and sometimes the color imparted by the cobalt and manganese was in sharp contrast to the yellow/buff body and in others gradually became lighter as the decoration became thinner at the edges. Auman Pottery produced small cups and saucers that can adequately be identified by the glaze appearance and forms. Probably no pottery demonstrated the advantage of the overall appearance of a pot turned with local Mitchfield clay and covered by a clear lead glaze, as did the Aumans. These wares were simply decorated by cobalt or manganese used sparingly to embellish the subtle appearance of the color and form of the piece.
Later C. B. Masten, who may have been an Alfred University trained potter, came from Indiana to work for the Aumans and produced glazes and glaze patterns with exquisite, almost abstract appearances, some of which were entirely decorated in cobalt."
Thoughts? Could this be an unusual North Carolina teapot? Or could this be from another location, and perhaps even earlier?
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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