With all of the talk over the last few days about the circa 1830 stoneware jugs with incised eagles made at the Barnabas Edmands (1778-1872) Pottery in Charlestown, Massachusetts, one of which just sold for $180,000 including the buyer's premium at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland, while the other is privately owned today - this object should also be included as part of the discussion. This nineteenth century stoneware water cooler was not produced in Charlestown, although it is part of a small group of red earthenware and stoneware objects from central and northern New England decorated with a hand-drawn eagle.
Nonetheless, this water cooler was made at the Martin Crafts (1807-1880) Pottery in Nashua, New Hampshire, a business that operated during the circa 1839-1852 period. The cooler is decorated with an exceptional incised eagle grasping an American flag, and based on the number of stars on the flag then this cooler may have been made sometime between 1848-1851. The words "Pure Cold Water" were also inscribed above the hunghole, and it is stamped "Martin Crafts / Nashua, N.H." Interestingly, the words around the bunghole also suggest that this was a temperance cooler.
However, there also appears to be some words written above the eagle's neck, perhaps Latin, but I have not been able to determine what the words read. Does anyone know what is written? It may read In hoc signo vinces, which is a Latin phrase conventionally translated into English as "In this sign thou shalt conquer," often also being translated as "By this sign, conquer."
According to an article written by Frederick H. Norton (1896-1986), titled, The Crafts Pottery in Nashua, New Hampshire, "The pottery of Martin Crafts was located on the eastern side of Main Street, north of the Acton Railroad, and Crafts lived in a cottage in that location. Crafts began his work in 1838 and he brought his clay from Boston by boat...We know very little about the technical details of the pottery. There is no reason, however, to believe that the ware was unlike that of other potteries. The clay may have been used raw or washed. Probably only one kiln was needed, and three or four wheels. Apparently all the ware was thrown on the wheel and salt glazed. The type of ware made is known to include various sizes of jugs and jars, of which the former are much more plentiful. A few have blue decorations, but generally they are plain. Although it is also believed inkwells were made, but no known marked inkwell examples are known today."
Furthermore, this cooler is in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, where it was acquired from Emily Crane Chadbourne (1871-1964) in 1952. Chadbourne was an internationally known art collector from Chicago and New York, and the last surviving daughter of Richard Teller Crane (1832-1912), a manufacturing entrepreneur in Chicago.
Additionally, my forthcoming 630+ page New Hampshire book will include a remarkable nineteenth century lidded red earthenware jar from New Hampshire that is decorated with an inscribed eagle, as well as other information.
Note: For more information about F.H. Norton - see a feature story I wrote for the August 16, 2019 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Career, Research And Collection Of Frederick H. Norton: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2019/08/feature-story-about-career-research-and.html.
19th Century Stoneware Water Cooler Made in Nashua, N.H.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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