A Good 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from New York that was Included in a Sale Today at Wooten & Wooten in South Carolina

A good large nineteenth century red earthenware jar was included in a group lot today at Wooten & Wooten in Camden, South Carolina. A similar jar although with slip-decoration was previously owned by noted New York archaeologist and museum specialist George Hamell, which he attributed to New York. 

However, archaeological evidence kept as part of the Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) Collection at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. suggests that these type of jars were produced after 1819 at the Elijiah Cornell (1771-1862) Pottery in DeRuyter, New York, whereas Cornell previously worked in New York City and trained at the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts. There are also only a small group of these jars that are known to exist today, whereas here is a link to the example that was owned by Hamell: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2011-03-05/lot-85/Outstanding-Rochester-Genesee-Valley-New-York-Redware-Jar/

According to Watkins' book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "The eighteenth century Chace Pottery in Somerset, Massachusetts (southeastern Massachusetts) was indirectly responsible for the first steps in the career of a famous man when, on January 28, 1791, Elijah Cornell was apprenticed to Asa Chace. This young man's mother, Sarah (Miller) Cornell had made a second marriage with Asa's cousin, Benjamin Chace, and Elijah was no doubt familiar with the pottery from earliest childhood. 

Born in Swansea, Massachusetts in 1771, he had got what schooling he could receive there and had done a little teaching, but he evidently had a bent for the potter's craft. After his apprenticeship was ended, he worked as a journeyman potter. But for an ambitious youth, this was not enough.

In 1805, he sold out his holdings in Swansea and went to Westchester Landing in New York City. Cornell's subsequent history is one of many moves and much hardship, but gains interest because he was the father of Ezra Cornell, founder of Cornell University. 

Little Ezra gained the fortitude that was his while working in his father's redware pottery. In 1819, the family settled in DeRuyter, New York, where, after a period of teaching, Elijah again established a pottery, which Ezra helped to build. 

In 1943, we visited this site and were rewarded by the discovery of a small collection of fragments. Elijah had evidently advanced somewhat beyond the rather restrained technique of the Massachusetts potters, for in DeRuyter he decorated a good deal of his ware with slip of two colors, black and white, either marbled or applied in bold wavy lines against backgrounds of contrasting hue.""

Furthermore, the history of this business is also a subject of a chapter in my fifth book, 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/.

Nevertheless, I was quite surprised that this lot was passed today at $100 because the jar had some bad cracks, although I thought it was a significant type of production that should be recognized. In fact, I would have bought it, but I already own a few examples of this kind of jar, including one that is glazed in a mottled green with black bands surrounding it. But in terms of rarity, I know of less than ten jars like this that survive today, and to be more specific, I can only think of six, including this object.

However, if someone is reading this post who might be interested in owning this jar and they did not know about the auction, then I would suggest contacting the auctioneer. These types of jars were also thrown in two parts and then joined together, similar to some of the larger stoneware jars manufactured in the South in the 1800s.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from New York

(Left) 19th C. Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to the Cornell Pottery in DeRuyter, N.Y.

Elijah Cornell Established the Pottery in DeRuyter in 1819

Stands 16" Tall

The Other Jar May Have Also Been Made in New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Wooten & Wooten

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