An Important 19th Century Stoneware Jug from Charlestown, Mass. that Sold Today at Crocker Farm in Maryland, Among Other Known Important Objects from Charlestown

Another successful sale ended today at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland, which featured a number of outstanding red earthenware and stoneware objects made all over America in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, whereas the most desired lot was a nineteenth century two-gallon stoneware jug decorated with an incised eagle and fish, stamped "Barnabas Edmands & Co. / Charlestown." This jug was made in Charlestown, Massachusetts about 1830, and it is certainly among the most important examples of pre-1850 pottery known to exist from anywhere in New England today.

The existence of this business is also significant to the history of Boston, seeing that it followed the historic pre-1775 red earthenware industry in Charlestown that also saw some stoneware production in the 1740s, along with the stoneware produced by Frederick Carpenter and Jonathan Fenton after 1790 in Charlestown, which Carpenter then continued with into the 1800s. 

Nonetheless, it was about 1812 that Barnabas Edmands (1778-1872) built a stoneware manufactory on Austin Street in Charlestown. The stoneware factory (more than one location) successfully manufactured utilitarian stoneware, as well as some decorative objects through the turn of the twentieth century. This jug is to my knowledge one of the finest objects known to exist from the Edmands Pottery today; it sold to Ceramics in America editor Rob Hunter for $150,000 plus the 20 percent buyer's premium, tying the record for an example of Massachusetts stoneware at $180,000. This jug is also illustrated on the cover of Georgeanna H. Greer's book, American Stonewares: The Art and Craft of Utilitarian Potters.

For more information - see Lorraine Germans' article in the 2019 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, Benjamin B. Edmands, transcription: "The Picture of the Old Pottery:" https://chipstone.org/article.php/833/Ceramics-in-America-2019/“The-Picture-of-the-Old-Pottery”.

Circa 1830 Barnabas Edmands Stoneware Jug form Charlestown, Mass.

19th Century Stoneware Jug Made in Charlestown, Mass.

Stamped "Barnabas Demands & Co. / Charlestown"

Incised with an Eagle and a Fish

Circa 1830

Stands 14 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

Furthermore, with the sale of this jug, it got me thinking about what can be considered the most significant example of Charlestown pottery known today - is it perhaps this jug? Or could it be the eighteenth century stoneware water cooler made by Jonathan Fenton during the circa 1793-1796 period in Charlestown from the collection of Robert A. Ellison Jr. that is displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. This cooler is among the most spectacular examples of stoneware that I have seen made anywhere in America.

For more information - see Garrison and Diana Stradling's article in the 2014 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, Dealer's Choice: https://chipstone.org/article.php/699/Ceramics-in-America-2014/Dealers'-Choice.

Jonathan Fenton's Stoneware Water Cooler

 Late-18th Century Patriotic Stoneware Water Cooler

Attributed to Jonathan Fenton in Charlestown, Mass.

Circa 1793-1796

Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Or how about the early nineteenth century open-handled stoneware presentation jar with an inscribed bird and floral decoration that was made for "Mrs. Elisebeth Tarbell in 1806" and stamped "Boston." This jar was made by Frederick Carpenter at the Little Pottery in Charlestown. It sold at Crocker Farm in 2021 which at the time set a new record for Massachusetts stoneware, selling for $180,000 including the buyer's premium, and it now resides in Adam Weitsman's collection at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York.

For more information - see Lorraine Germans' article in the 2021 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Little Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts: https://chipstone.org/article.php/869/Ceramics-in-America-2021/The-Little-Pottery-of-Charlestown,-Massachusetts.

Frederick Carpenter's Presentation Jar

Early 19th Century Stoneware Presentation Jar Made in Charlestown, Mass.

Stamped "Boston" and Dated "1806"

Likely Made at Frederick Carpenter's Business

Inscribed Made for "Mrs. Elisebeth Tarbell in 1806"

Stands 10" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

But there is also a colonial stoneware jar in the collection of Historic New England that is published in Figure 86 in Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares. This jar is regarded as possibly the only surviving object from the Parker Pottery's circa 1742-1745 stoneware production in Charlestown, and probably the oldest example of surviving New England-made stoneware. The jar was discovered in the early-1900s in a basement of a colonial eighteenth century home in Chelsea, Massachusetts, although the context of ownership with the family living in this house dates back to at least the early-1800s. It also closely matches some archaeology recovered in Charlestown within a pre-1750 archaeological context kept at the City of Boston Archaeology Program.

Note: This stoneware jar is also discussed in my third book, titled, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts, available here: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-dawn-of-independence-the-death-of-an-industry/.

The Parker Pottery's Stoneware Jar from the 1740s

Probably an 18th Century Stoneware Pot

Lura Woodside Watkins Suggested Charlestown, MA Origin

She Wrote it May Have Been Made at the Parker Pottery in Charlestown

Reportedly Circa 1742-1745

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

However, there is also the circa 1750 slip-decorated double-handled red earthenware pot with likely its original lid that is believed to have been made at the Parker Pottery in Charlestown, which is considered to be the finest example of pre-1775 red earthenware known to survive from this industry today. The attribution was accurately developed thanks to archaeology in the collection of the City of Boston Archaeology Program after the object appeared in a country auction in Maine about ten years ago. The jar also retains a lengthy history of ownership in the Boston area, although it is privately owned in a major collection today.

For more information - see a feature story I wrote for the February 2016 issue of the New England Antiques Journal, titled, A Charlestown Sugar Bowl: The rediscovery of a redware masterpiece: https://www.scribd.com/document/297091430/NEAJ-Charlestown-Pottery-Feb-2016.

Note: This double-handled pot is also discussed and illustrated on the cover of my third book, titled, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts, available here: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-dawn-of-independence-the-death-of-an-industry/.

Circa 1750 Charlestown, Mass. Red Earthenware Pot

 18th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Lidded Pot

Attributed tot the Industry in Charlestown, MA 

Possibly Made at the Parker Family Pottery

Likely Circa 1735-1755

The Pot was Reportedly Found in a Home in Winchester, MA in 1976

The Pot also Reportedly Has Ties to Nina Fletcher Little
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sam Herrup

Did I leave anything out? Are there more examples of Charlestown pottery out there of this quality still yet to be discovered?

Update: See this post for another great example of stoneware from Charlestown: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/a-second-19th-century-stoneware-jug.html.

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