Two Outstanding 19th Century Stoneware Objects Made in Havana, New York, One of Which Last Sold in 1975 and Another Owned by a Museum in Philadelphia

In a post from last week, I highlighted the Mr. and Mrs. Charles V. Hagler Collection of American Stoneware that sold at Kinzle Auction Center on August 16, 1975 in Duncansville, Pennsylvania. Charles Hagler was President of the Detroit Historical Commission and Vice President of the Michigan Historical Society. His wife, Katherine was curator of furniture at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan.

The basis of that post was a nineteenth century cobalt and figural decorated inkwell or inkstand that was likely made in Ohio or Western Pennsylvania during the second-half of the 1800s. The object sold for $1,200 with no buyer's premium, which was a strong price back then. 

The sale also included a nineteenth century heavily incised and cobalt decorated stoneware jug from Ohio, which sold more recently at Sotheby's in Manhattan on January 20, 2007: https://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2007/distinguished-american-furniture-and-folk-art-the-collection-of-susan-and-mark-laracy-n08280/lot.83.html.

However, the highlight of the auction was a nineteenth century two-gallon stoneware crock stamped "A.O. WHITTEMORE. / HAVANA. N.Y.," and decorated with two zebras. This is arguably one of the most significant nineteenth century stoneware objects that has remained in private ownership over nearly the last half-century; it sold in 1975 for $1,700 with no buyer's premium.

Furthermore, Albert O. Whittemore (d. 1891) purchased the pottery business in Havana in 1862 after the company had burned and its owner Henry M. Whitman was forced out of business. Whittemore was a businessman and not a potter, although he moved to Havana from Queens County, New York and rebuilt the pottery business, where he began manufacturing stoneware just after the Civil War during the circa 1868-1875 period.

Additionally, among the significant objects made at Whittemore's company owned by a museum today is a nineteenth century cobalt decorated stoneware crock, which is in the collection of the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia. The cobalt drawing on the crock depicts "President Lincoln facing Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee with his mouth open as if to shout—perhaps illustrating the final result of the war." This is also unquestionably one of the most significant Civil War themed pieces of stoneware known from an American potter today.

19th Century Stoneware Objects Made in Havana, New York

Some of the Objects that Sold in the Hagler Collection in 1975

This Sale was Held in Central Pennsylvania

Shown is the Inkstand and the Ohio Jug that is Referenced Above

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19th Century Stoneware Two-Gallon Crock Stamped "A.O. WHITTEMORE. / HAVANA. N.Y."

The Crock is Decorated with Two Zebras

Circa 1868-1875

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19th Century Stoneware Crock Stamped "A.O. WHITTEMORE. / HAVANA. N.Y."

Decorated with President Lincoln Facing Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee 

Circa 1868-1875

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Photo Courtesy: Barnes Foundation

The Crock is Currently Displayed in Room 8 at the Museum

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Photo Courtesy: Barnes Foundation

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