A Brief Overview of 19th Century Red Earthenware Production in Erie County, New York

Ontario County in Western New York is probably the county that gets the most credit today for red earthenware production in the nineteenth century because of name likes Colonel Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) and Alvin Wilcox (1801-1862), etc. Although, I have recently gotten a better understanding of the wares manufactured in Erie County, New York, as a result of the two-volume books that I am currently working on, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York.

This is an important county today in terms of red earthenware production with Buffalo as the centerpiece of the area, however it was the surrounding communities to the north, east and south that really defined this county's production. In fact, the potter's in this area came from all over, including relocating from Ontario County, as well as other places, such as Germany and New England.

The communities from this region that were producing colorfully glazed red earthenware, include Newstead, Mill Grove, West Seneca, Aurora (East Aurora), Collins and Colden, among certainly others. There are even some wares that will be illustrated in my forthcoming books that were found in Buffalo, although the potter or potters have not been identified. Niagara County was also a significant area, as Carl Mehwaldt (1808-1887) is believed to have shipped some red earthenware from the village of Bergholz to Buffalo after 1850, by way of the Niagara River. 

Additionally, I posted an article last week that previewed two forthcoming feature stories that I have coming out in Antiques And The Arts Weekly, which will highlight two specific potters, who spent at least part of their careers in Erie County. I also noted a major undocumented pottery business in that article that is cited in the 1850 United States Federal Census in Colden, Erie County, New York. According to the census, "Sherman + Graham” were manufactures of utilitarian pottery, producing 50,000 pieces of earthenware annually from 25 tons of clay and 1,200 pounds of lead. The name Graham on this record is significant because this may be the same Graham that I have written a feature story about that will be published in the next few weeks in Antiques And The Arts Weekly.

19th Century Red Earthenware Production in Erie County, N.Y.

This is Where Erie County is Located in Western New York

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Examples of 19th C. Red Earthenware Most Likely Made in Erie County, New York

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Photos: Courtesy: Various Private Collections and the Rochester Museum

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