A Late 19th Century Red Earthenware Cuspidor Likely Manufactured on the Exterior to Appear Like Hammered Copper

I often shy away from late nineteenth century red earthenware and stoneware cuspidors solely because of how they were used, however, stylistically and aesthetically, there were some great examples made in Strasburg, Virginia, Pennsylvania, elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region, in New York and in Ontario, Canada, among other places. But this particular example really caught my attention yesterday at the May 2024 Brimfield North Market at the fairgrounds in Deerfield, New. Hampshire. It was mixed in with a pile full of stuff that looked like it all came from multiple estate clean-outs, whereas the dealer told me that this particular object was found in a house just to the north of Boston. 

Furthermore, this object has a good amount of weight to it, which I really thought was of interest, seeing that it was hand-thrown and completely embellished by-hand with various types of decoration on the exterior. Additionally, the more I looked at it - the more I realized that it had to be related to some of the decorative wares produced at the Charles A. Lawrence (1829-1904) Pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts, circa 1870s-1890s. 

Interestingly, the exterior is painted, while the interior is glazed with the same color spotted brown glaze as seen with many of the ancient style pottery produced in Beverly, including a jug displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. But it also struck me that the exterior of this object was painted and decorated to appear like hammered copper, a type of metal that became popular during the Arts & Crafts Movement, especially in London, England, Massachusetts and New York. 

Nonetheless, I view this object as more of a potter's work of art rather than just a simple utilitarian product, and Charles Lawrence was certainly aware of the trends in the decorative arts world during this period, based on what his business produced.

I also want to mention that the base of this cuspidor is signed and possibly dated, although I suspect this is related to the painted flowers on the rim, which were likely added by someone who owned this object in the twentieth century.

Note: For more information - see my first book, titled, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A Lawrence: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-beverly-pottery-the-wares-of-charles-a-lawrence/.

Cuspidor Likely Manufactured to Appear Like Hammered Copper

Late 19th Century Hand-Thrown and Hand-Decorated Painted Red Earthenware Cuspidor

Recently Found in a Home to the North of Boston

Probably Made at the C.A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

Exterior Decorated to Appear Like Hammered Copper

Probably Circa 1870s-1890s

Stands 5 1/4" Tall and Measures 7 1/4" Across

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Another View of the Exterior

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A View of the Glazed Interior

The Painted Flowers Are Not Original to Production

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A View of the Base

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