Western New York collector, author and historian Vince Martonis recently published the book, The Caleb Matthews Pottery of Gerry, Chautauqua County, New York 1821-c.1860. The book takes a look at some of the red earthenware and stoneware made by Matthews, which is not very well today, as well as archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, after handling some of the objects published in this book last fall, I thought these two objects would be worth sharing, which I learned about while working on the forthcoming two-volume Western New York books last year near Buffalo, New York.
This nineteenth century stoneware crock and jug were found years ago in the West Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York area. The manufacturer is unknown to me, although both objects must be from the same potter's business; each is made from the same type of clay with the same exterior salt-glazed surface, and both are also adorned in a cobalt decoration that almost appears like a pretzel. There also does not appear to be any sort of slip applied on the interior.
The conversation I had about these objects was that in consideration of the amount of red earthenware potters located in West Bloomfield, especially in the 1840s and 1850s, whether there could have been any attempted stoneware produced there. I do not have an answer for that, seeing that there does not appear to be any supporting documentation, published information or archaeological evidence. But one aspect that I did notice about these objects is the color of the clay; it almost appears like it was underfired with a pinkish color in some areas or perhaps a mixture of clays. I had also noticed that this was the color of the clay with some of the objects produced by Caleb Matthews in Gerry, New York.
According to the research of Vince Martonis, “Caleb Mathews learned the potting trade at Paul Cushman’s factory in Albany, New York, 1815-1820. Although, he relocated to Gerry afterwards, where he started working with the local red earthenware clay, so his early pieces are made from that type of pottery. After the Erie Canal reached Buffalo in 1825, it was much easier to obtain stoneware clay. It seems though that Mathews may have experimented sometimes with an admixture of red earthenware and stoneware clays.”
Furthermore - Are there any other objects known like these pieces today? Are there any thoughts about the origin of this crock and jug?
Stoneware Crock and Jug Found Years Ago in the West Bloomfield, N.Y. Area
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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