A Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Handled Pot that the Clark Family Acquired from a Context of Ownership in Plymouth, New Hampshire

As I noted in two previous articles posted to this website about red earthenware production in Plymouth, New Hampshire during the circa 1816-1894 period, "The Plymouth Historical Society owns a collection of objects that were all found locally by the Clark family in the early to mid-twentieth century, retaining a history of ownership in Plymouth." 

Among those objects is a mottled green glazed red earthenware handled pot of particular interest, seeing that it matches a form that is published in Figure 12 in Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares. I have always questioned the published information that accompanied this object, seeing that I can probably reference off the top of my head about five to ten other pieces that are known to exist. The information states, "...this is an early form, perhaps made about 1700."

I am always hesitant to say anything was made in the 1700s in New England without factual or archaeological proof because how do you really know. And I think that is the case with this pitcher, whereas I feel that a related object found in a context of ownership in the Plymouth, New Hampshire area is notable, and also contributes to the story of these objects, which I feel more likely date from the late eighteenth and nineteenth century period. 

I also want to mention that I don't necessarily always agree with the idea of an early red earthenware form (meaning an eighteenth century form), however there are exceptions; but archaeology and studying dated pieces have taught me that forms made in New England in the 1700s were also often made during a period in the nineteenth century. For example, there is a dated two-handled red earthenware jug that will be published in my forthcoming New Hampshire book, titled, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses, which is inscribed with an eighteenth century date, although if you were to remove the date then it would look like a nineteenth century jug. 

The same idea with the handled pot discussed in this post; a variation of this form was made in South Amesbury (Merrimacport), Massachusetts and in South Danvers (Peabody), Massachusetts during both the eighteenth and nineteenth century. But I have not seen any archaeological evidence that would prove that this form was made before 1760, and especially before the American Revolution outside of Massachusetts. 

Note: Here are links to the previous articles that I posted this month about production in Plymouth, New Hampshire:

1) Three Red Earthenware Families and Their 19th Century Production in Plymouth, Grafton County, New Hampshire: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/07/three-red-earthenware-families-and.html

2) A Collection of Red Earthenware from the Clark Family of Plymouth, New Hampshire: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/07/a-collection-of-red-earthenware-from.html

Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Handled Pots

This Handled Pot is Published in Figure 12 in Early New England Potters and Their Wares

The Information Says it May Date as Early as 1700

However, It is More Likely from the Late 1700s or 1800s

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute

This is How the Pot Above is Published in Early New England Potters and Their Wares

See Article for More Information

This Related Handled Pot Retains a History of Ownership in Plymouth, New Hampshire

There were Three Families Producing Red Earthenware in Plymouth

Acquired by the Clark Family from a Local Plymouth Home in the 1900s

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Plymouth Historical Society

Another View of the Pot

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Plymouth Historical Society

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