Following up on my recent post about John Frederick Lehman's (1824/25-1883) stoneware production in the communities of Bacon Level and Rock Mills, Alabama, circa1850s or 1860 to the early 1880s. I took a quick look at census records today to see if I could find any additional information about Lehman. He manufactured a variety of utilitarian stoneware, although he is best known today for his figural jugs and political themed stoneware jars, some of which were stamped with his initials "JL."
According to the 1870 United States Federal Census in Rock Mills, Lehman is listed as a 45 year old potter, who was born in Deutschland or Germany. His wife is listed as 26 year old Mary Lehman, who was born in Alabama, and her profession is listed as "Keeping House."
Nevertheless, I would really like to get to the bottom of this Southern nineteenth century alkaline glazed stoneware jar with its original lid; i.e. where was it made and by whom? I purchased this jar out of a family's estate auction in New Hampshire almost fifteen years ago, where it seems to retain a history of ownership with this family dating back to the 1940s or so. Both the jar and the lid are marked with the potter's initials, reading, "JH."
Soon after I bought this jar, I showed it to a group of Mid-Atlantic and Southern auction houses, and the consensus seemed to have been that it was either made in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia or Alabama. But there was no specific answer or indication of who "JH" may represent or proof of the state that it was made.
19th Century Alkaline Glazed Stoneware Jar Marked "JH"
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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