I was the underbidder on the Massachusetts slip decorated red earthenware jar that sold last night in lot 36 at Crocker Farm's autumn 2023 sale in Sparks, Maryland. I was surprised, but I was also not surprised at the price, seeing that the jar had some legitimate condition issues, having been broken into many pieces years ago, as well as having been drilled for a lamp base at one point in the twentieth century. However, I want to pass along what this jar exactly is in case the winning bidder happens to be reading this post, as well as for anyone who may have an interest in learning about its history.
This large slip decorated red earthenware jar was made at the Purinton Pottery for a member of the Purinton family in Somerset, Bristol County, Massachusetts, probably in the early nineteenth century, whereas it is inscribed in slip twice "LP." The exact history behind the jar is not known, whether it was a presentation object, a marriage jar or having possessed some other significant meaning. But whoever applied the slip on this jar appears to be the exact same hand that applied the slip decoration on two important Bristol County jars that are displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection.
Those jars were made as marriage gifts for George (1784-1858) and Debby Purinton in 1809; one jar is inscribed with George's name, while the other is adorned with Debby's name. The jars are also dated "1809." And if you closely compare the slip on the jar that sold last night, especially the initialed script, to the hand that applied the slip on the jars at MET, then you can most likely see that this is the same decorator.
The jar that sold last night is also an important piece of Massachusetts history, and even though it was badly broken at one point, it is just as remarkable that someone chose to carefully piece it back together rather than discard of it. Personally speaking, I would not have it restored because I think it loses some of its history and appeal with a modern unrelated hand fixing it, and rather I would just leave it as is as an important survivor. But that is just my preference.
Interestingly, though, this jar was unknown until this sale to anyone that I know who deals in and collects early American pottery. There are only four or five of these types of Bristol County jars currently known to exist today that vary in decoration and shape. But who knows what is still left out there quietly tucked away in private collections and old homes because this is certainly an indicator that everything is not widely known.
Nonetheless, this jar sold for $2,400 plus the buyer's premium and any other fees. Furthermore, good luck to anyone involved with the callback bidding today at Crocker Farm!
For more information about the history of this type of production - see the fifth book in my pottery book series from Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/.
Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar from Bristol County, Masss.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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