A Good 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely from the Mid-Atlantic Region Found at a Yard Sale in Winchester, Virginia

According to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia, "A member of the Bell family—one of the most well-known groups of early Valley potters—Samuel Bell (1811-1891) was thirteen years old when he moved to Winchester with his family. His father, potter Peter Bell Jr. (1775-1847), began producing pottery in Hagerstown, Maryland, and then moved to Winchester in 1824 with his sons John (1800-1880), Samuel, and Solomon Bell (1817-1882.) John Bell was already working as a potter then, and his brothers soon followed suit. Though few examples have survived, the Bell whippet was a popular decorative form made by several members of the Bell family during the nineteenth century, and was a type produced by Samuel Bell while he was working at his father’s Winchester shop. In 1843 Samuel Bell moved to Strasburg, Virginia, and established a prolific shop that would operate for the next 70 years."

Nevertheless, a few weeks ago, I posted a story to this website about a rare marked red earthenware flowerpot that was made by Solomon Bell in Strasburg, which is owned privately today in New York City: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/06/a-good-19th-century-red-earthenware.html.

Furthermore, this wonderfully glazed large nineteenth century red earthenware jar with two handles was found about ten years ago at a yard sale in Winchester, whereas I suspect it could be from Virginia. Could this be a product of the Bell family? I do not recognize the form, although this glaze is a certainly a type produced by at least John Bell in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

Note: For more information about the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro - see a cover story that I wrote for the December 7, 2018 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Bell Pottery Collection At The Renfrew Museum in Waynesboro, Pa: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2018/12/feature-story-published-in-antiques-and.html.

19th C. Red Earthenware Jar Likely from the Mid-Atlantic Region

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Mid-Atlantic in Origin

Found About 10 Years Ago at a Yard Sale in Winchester, Virginia

Stans 12" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

Additional Views of the Jar

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

The Jar is Also Decorated with Some Inscribed Lines

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

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