Two Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Saucers or Dishes Found in New England Whereas One is Suggested to Have Been Used as a "Cat's Dish"

On November 16, 2013, Massachusetts auctioneer Willis Henry sold much of the Earl Curry red earthenware and stoneware collection from southeastern Massachusetts, as part of a county Americana auction held in Plymouth, Massachusetts. That collection had been assembled decades prior, largely in the 1960s-1980s, some of which was purchased from antiques dealers of generations past, as well as objects retaining early histories of ownership in New England. It was a highly contested sale with very strong prices. 

Nonetheless, a friend recently suggested that I check out some of the local Savers thrift stores last month, seeing that my niece and I have been picking through other local thrift stores in the Boston area about once a week or so for the past six months. So a few weeks ago, we checked out the store in Plaistow, New Hampshire, where we found this slip decorated red earthenware saucer or dish of some sorts. I am not positive of what to make of it, whereas the glaze colors and clay color are matches for some of the pottery made at the C.A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts before 1904, but this was not a unique type of production for just this business. 

The saucer is hand-thrown with a rolled rim and an angular footed base; it also has what appears to be a ridge on the interior of the rim for a lid or something to rest on. Although, it does not seem that this object was ever exposed to a flame based on how the base appears so it may have been intended for a gardening purpose, but a second known related object may suggest otherwise. I also suspect that it was donated to the store from a local home in southern New Hampshire.

Interestingly, though, the Curry Collection contained a nearly identical saucer that was sold in a group lot at the end of the sale; however, it had to have been an object that he acquired in Massachusetts possibly before 1970. It was also described in the sale as a "cat's dish:" https://www.invaluable.com/auction-lot/five-pieces-of-redware-pottery-223-c-5e8d3e05a4?objectID=92755728&algIndex=archive_lotNumber_asc_prod&queryID=3b6a9eb3e75ead53a17ef324416c17e4.

It is also important to note that towards the end of the nineteenth century that more Americans began to keep cats as household pets. The first cat show was held at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1895, and by the end of World War I, cats were viewed as a commonly accepted household pet in the United States.

Thoughts?

Note: For the remainder of the Curry Collection that sold in this sale - here is a link to the auction catalog: https://www.invaluable.com/catalog/D45X8KSN2U?page=1&size=48.

Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Saucers or Dishes Found in New England 

Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Saucer or Dish

Recently Found in a Thrift Store in Southern New Hampshire

Measures 5 3/8" in Diameter

See Article for More Information

(Black Arrow) This Red Earthenware Saucer or Dish Sold in this Group Lot in 2013

It was Sold as Part of the Earl Curry Collection

It was Suggested to Have Been Used as a "Cat's Dish"

The Dish is the Same as the Example Shown Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Willis Henry Auctions

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