A Good Selection of Canadian Pottery that Sold Today at Miller & Miller in New Hamburg, Ontario

Last month at New England Auctions in Branford, Connecticut, a pair of pottery picture frames sold for $2,200 plus the buyer's premium, one which was made out of earthenware and possibly made in Ontario, Canada (otherwise probably American), while the other was made out of stoneware and produced in Ohio. This is a type of production that may not be widely known today, although it was a style produced in both America and Canada in the 1800s, whereas the Ohio example was inscribed on the back with a date that read "March 1866," and perhaps the location of manufacture "Springfield, O."

Furthermore, this is a type of nineteenth century Ontario production that is rarely found in auctions, although two examples sold today at Miller & Miller Auctions in New Hamburg, Ontario. Interestingly, one of the picture frames was signed on the back "John Marx," which closely resembles another frame bearing a similar signature in the Harbinson Collection at the Canadian Museum of History in Quebec.

Although, what really spoke to me about these specific frames is how the reticulated cutouts resemble some of the red earthenware bowls (some with covers), jars, baskets and compotes that were prominently produced by some of the more accomplished nineteenth century potters in Pennsylvania. These types of American-made objects are found in such institutions as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and Winterthur Museum in Delaware. This was also a technique used with pottery made in Europe, although the skill of the cutouts on Marx's frames in Branford, Ontario are just as accomplished as any other potter that I have seen, whether they worked in America, Canada or Europe.

Additionally, I posted about a great red earthenware bowl and cover that sold as part of the Kindig Collection this week at Pook & Pook in Downington, Pennsylvania. That red earthenware bowl was attributed to the workshop of David Haring (1801-1871) in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The lid featured a dog finial with a cutout inscription that read "Ester Gilbertan 1854." And as I have previously written, I feel the best frames that were made by Marx are just as accomplished.

This frame sold for $18,000 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium.

19th Century Stoneware Picture Frame with Reticulated Cutouts

Made in Branford, Ontario

Signed on the Back in Script "John Marx"

Circa 1860s-1890s

Stands 13 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Miller & Miller

A View of the Inscription that Reads "John Marx"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Miller & Miller

The second picture frame is certainly another rare object, whereas it is larger than the frame that was made by Marx, although simpler in detail. This red earthenware frame is unsigned and it was possibly made in Paris, Ontario. According to Miller & Miller, "The glaze color and condition of this oval frame is great; it comes from the W. Schlombs Collection, who attributed it to Jacob Ahrens in Paris, Ontario. Ahrens was creating Rockingham glazed stoneware frames during the 1860s-1870s period and exhibited one in Paris, France at the Universal Exhibition in 1878."

This frame sold for $1,300 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium.

19th Century Red Earthenware Picture Frame with a Rockingham Type Glaze

Possibly Made in Paris, Ontario

Probably Circa 1860s-1870s

Stands 20" Tall

Here are also links to some of the other good Canadian objects in today's sale --

1) Nineteenth century miniature earthenware pitcher possibly made in Ontario;  it sold for $650 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium:https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/170104159_miniature-earthenware-pitcher-with-mottled-glaze.

2) Nineteenth century red earthenware jug that was found in Gormley, Ontario in 1976; it sold for $300 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/170104165_miniature-redware-jug-with-speckled-glaze.

3) Nineteenth century spotted green glazed red earthenware jug attributed to the Eby Pottery in Conestoga, Ontario; it sold for $1,700 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/170104322_miniature-eby-emerald-green-jug.

4) Nineteenth century red earthenware jug with applied decoration attributed to the John Brownscombe Junior Pottery in Kinloss Township, Bruce County, Ontario. This is actually an interesting type of production, whereas the original family potter, John Brownscombe Senior had emigrated from England to Canada in 1843, and started a pottery near Port Hope, Ontario. The variety of applied decoration on these types of objects made by the Brownscombe family is certainly reflective of their English origin with similar objects, especially pitchers made by some potters in the United Kingdom. The jug sold for $3,750 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/170104326_miniature-brownscombe-redware-jug.

5) Nineteenth century cobalt decorated stoneware crock with a bird made in Belleville, Ontario about 1880 by Hart Bros. & Lazier; it sold for $500 (Canadian) plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/170104327_hart-bros-and-lazier-belleville-ont-6-gallon-bird-crock.

Note: For the rest of the red earthenware, earthenware, stoneware and ceramics in today's sale (there's definitely other objects that I did not write about) - here is a link to the auction catalog: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/316841_canadiana/.

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