I learned about this late nineteenth century painted red earthenware vase a few days ago from Ontario, Canada antiques dealer, Tim Saunders, and while I cannot speak to the business that it was manufactured at likely in the late 1800s - it does seem that there may be some truth to the label that was taped to the base. The note reads, "Painted Pottery by my Mother's Aunt Lizzie Armstrong (Sister of Grandpa Joe Armstrong) Laurel - Orangeville, Ont. (Sometime Before 1880) Pat Gilbart."
For reference, Orangeville is a town in Dufferin County, which is located in south-central Ontario. There was also some red earthenware production here in the late 1800s, such as some objects that are impressed "ORANGEVILLE."
Furthermore, I am typically an advocate of preserving some later painted decoration on red earthenware and stoneware, where it often helps tell the story of the object through past ownership. And this may be a perfect example of that, seeing that it is quite rare today when a piece of pottery is painted after it left the business or factory, and the artist (often an amateur artist) can be identified. There are also instances where the object was cold-painted after it had been fired in the kiln at the pottery company, but this is not an example of that type of factory production.
I think there is some truth in the information written on the note, although there are a few Elizabeth "Lizzie" Armstrong's born before 1880, who would have been an appropriate age to have painted this vase. But there are no public records that I could find of any of them having a brother named Joe or Joseph, although there was a woman with this name from Dufferin County, who was born about 1858 and died on August 24, 1928.
This is also a type of decorative production that happened at more businesses than what might be recognized during the circa 1870-1890 period, whereas it can be overlooked if it has not been previously documented. It should also be noted that there were some late nineteenth century businesses that did produce unglazed wares with the intent that it would be later painted by the person who purchased the object.
Note: For more information about painted red earthenware from Canada, see a story that I posted to this website earlier this year, titled, A Late 19th Century Painted Red Earthenware Vase Made at the John A. Kennedy Pottery in Brantford, Ontario: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/a-late-19th-century-painted-red_29.html.
A Painted Red Earthenware Vase Found on Ontario, Canada
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