Some Information About My Forthcoming WNY Book and In Search of More Information About the London, Ohio Potter William Burchnell

In preparation for my forthcoming 700-800 page New York book that will be published as the ninth installment in my pottery series published by Historic Beverly in Massachusetts in 2024, I saw and photographed some incredible lifelong collections this week throughout Western New York, some of which only a few people have ever seen because these collectors have remained very quiet through the years about what they own. But in many ways, these collections contain the majority of the best known objects from Western New York, in terms of both aesthetics and historical appeal. 

I was also able to answer some questions too about great objects that left Western New York decades ago, and somehow were given inaccurate attributions elsewhere in America, whereas I learned this week the true origin of these objects from the people who originally discovered them in very early (if not original) contexts of family ownership. I was also thrilled to be able to associate some great objects owned elsewhere in America thought to have been made in Western New York to related pieces in these collections with specific information about the area that they were made before 1840.

Nonetheless, it is really an exciting subject to be able to put this book together, where the red earthenware made in Western New York is really as good as anywhere else in America, although much of the best of this area’s production has quietly remained in longtime local collections. 

Interestingly, though, I saw this wooden potter's tool this week that is from the post-1850 Gleason Pottery in the Morganville neighborhood in the town of Stafford, Genesee County, New York. Some of the wares made at this business are often mistaken for red earthenware made in New England in the 1800s. This particular tool, called a rib or a chip, was used to shape clay into forms while it spun around, as the potter operated a foot-powered treadle wheel.

19th Century Wooden Potter's Tool Known as a Rib or Chip

Used at the Gleason Pottery in the Morganville Neighborhood in Stafford, New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Gene and Nancy Pratt

Another View of the Wooden Tool

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Gene and Nancy Pratt

I also posted this information to my Facebook page this morning, in search of more information about the London, Ohio potter William. Burchnell: "Curious with anyone who is familiar with William Burchnell's work in London, Ohio; he is credited with being a Morgantown, West Virginia trained potter. But I'm curious to learn if he had any connection to the potters in Western New York, seeing that his known forms and glazes are also very similar to wares made in this region. Does anyone have any ideas???"

This is the known information about Burchnell: "The potter, William Burchnell, was trained in Morgantown, Virginia (now West Virginia), and had joined fellow Morgantown potter, James M. Thompson, Jr., in London, Ohio by 1830, establishing a pottery on the site of the town's Presbyterian Church. There are only a few signed examples of Burchnell's work known to exist today."

Could this just be a coincidence that these wares made in London demonstrate similar forms and glazes to some wares made in Western New York or is this there more to this? Thoughts?

These Are All Examples of William Burchnell's Production From London, Ohio

Although These Objects Also Resemble Some WNY Production in Form and Glaze

All Stamped ""W. BURCHNELL / LONDON"

Circa 1835

See Article for More Information

Photos Courtesy: Crocker Farm

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