A Comparison of Two 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jars

It is often seen today how eighteenth and nineteenth century stoneware decorations from American potters migrated from one area to the next, or in other cases, the decorations were imitated. I think the classic example of this is with some of the stoneware that was manufactured in New York City during this period, and how similar incised, stamped and/or cobalt decorations can be found with some wares made in upstate New York, parts of Connecticut, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Virginia and even other potters located elsewhere in America. 

However, outside of slip-decorated red earthenware, this notion does not seem to have been a type of shared production that was as widespread with American red earthenware potters in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century. In some ways, decorations and glaze techniques were sometimes regionally unique, although this was also not always the case. 

For example, while working on my forthcoming 800-900 page New York book, due out sometime next year, I happened to have learned about these two objects, both of which are privately owned today. To my knowledge, there is no connection between either potter who produced these jars, although they are both prominently decorated with similar designs. 

Both of these objects will be published together in the book just to show this interesting coincidence, however the jar shown on the top was made in Western New York after 1850, and it is stamped on the side "L. JOHNSON / NEWSTEAD," whereas the jar shown to the bottom is believed to have been made in the Hartford, Connecticut area, circa 1800-1830.

Note: For a related jar with a different style of decoration, see my sixth book published by Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, titled, A City on the River: The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area, available from bookstores and retailers in America, Canada and the U.K.: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-city-on-the-river-the-early-red-earthenware-of-the-hartford-connecticut-area/

A Comparison Two Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jars

(Top) 19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Made by Lorenzo Johnson in Western New York

Stamped on the side "L. JOHNSON / N EWSTEAD"

Made After 1850

(Bottom) 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to the Hartford, Connecticut Area

Circa 1800-1830

Photos Courtesy: Private Collections

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