A Late 19th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase Recently Found in a Thrift Store in Syracuse, New York

This is another recent thrift store find! This good late nineteenth century hand-thrown red earthenware vase was recently discovered in a thrift store in Syracuse, New York, although the form appears to match a style of vase that was produced at the Goodwin Brothers Pottery in West Hartford, Connecticut. This company also shipped its production to various places in the United States via the railroad. 

Although, the company also operated out of a salesroom in New York City during this period, which was likely used as a location to sell wares to destinations outside of New England (along with the New York City market). Furthermore, though, this vase is also painted, which I believe is original to factory production; the company is known to have employed some type of artist or artists to paint specific wares, such as a variety of painted objects owned by the Noah Webster House & the West Hartford Historical Society.

Interestingly, the flowers on this vase appear to be dogwood tree flowers, a style often found on Japanese ceramics during this same period. By the 1870s, collecting Japanese ceramics was a central element known as Japonisme that was underway in Europe and the United States. Some American collectors went to Japan to shop, while some Japanese dealers opened galleries in major cities on both the East and West coasts, including New York City. The inspiration on this vase may be a result of this movement, seeing that it dates from the 1870s-1880s period, whereas even the cupped base seems to be mimicking Asian ceramics.

The form of this vase, as well as the cupped and inverted base is also represented on an illustrated price list published by the Goodwin Bros. from the late 1800s, which is owned today by the Noah Webster House & the West Hartford Historical Society.

For more information about this type of painted production at the Goodwin Brothers Pottery in West Hartford, see my sixth book, titled, A City on the River: The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area, available here: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-city-on-the-river-the-early-red-earthenware-of-the-hartford-connecticut-area/.

A Late 19th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase

Late 19th Century Hand-Thrown Painted Red Earthenware Vase

Recently Found in a Thrift Store in Syracuse, New York

The Paint is Likely Original to Factory Production

Probably Made at the Goodwin Bros. Pottery in West Hartford, Connecticut

Likely 1870s-1880s

Stands 8 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Additional Views of the Vase

The Form is Inspired After Asian Design

See Article for More Information

Price List from the Goodwin Bros. Pottery in West Hartford, CT

(Arrow) This Appears to be the Same Form as Discussed

Some of these Objects Would Have Been Painted at the Factory

Courtesy: Noah Webster House & the West Hartford, Connecticut Historical Society

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