Two Important 19th Century Red Earthenware Objects Manufactured in the Hudson River Region in New York

This nineteenth century slip decorated red earthenware plate is inscribed “E. Selby / Conover.” This is thought to represent a brief partnership between the potters Edward Selby and Abraham Conover in Poughkeepsie, New York in the 1840s. 

Furthermore, this object is an important piece of history from the Hudson River region, seeing that it proves that slip decorated red earthenware was produced in this part of New York; this is a subject that I feel has been largely overlooked through the years because of the prolific stoneware industry that also existed in this region extending from New York City to Albany, New York. The slip on this plate also closely resembles types produced in Norwalk, Connecticut, whereas if it were not for the names then this object may get grouped in with production from Norwalk. There are also other slip decorated and slip script plates known today that seem to be related to this advertising plate or at the least the Hudson River region.

Interestingly, I was told that this plate was acquired privately in the 1990s by Manhattan ceramic specialists Garrison and Diana Stradling, where it was then sold during setup at the Philadelphia Antiques Show to Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer Greg Kramer. The plate then sold at Sotheby's in New York City as lot number 265 on January 22, 2006.

I also believe that this plate has only been illustrated once in print, which was a feature story I wrote earlier this year that was published on page 24 in the January 12, 2024 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Two Important New York Slip-Script Red Earthenware Plates. However, this partnership between Conover and Selby is referenced in text in some twentieth century publications, as well as noted in footnote 28 in Richard Miller's 2016 article in Ceramics in America, titled, Norwalk (Connecticut) Slip-script Pottery, the Potters, and Related Ware.

Note: Also shown below is an important nineteenth century red earthenware jar with a diamond and coggle decoration that appears to the same type used at Paul Cushman's (1767-1833) stoneware factory in Albany; this jar was owned by Cape Cod antiques dealer Brian Cullity. This type of coggle decoration is illustrated on page 134 in a book published by the Albany Institute of Art in 2007, titled, Paul Cushman: The Work and World of an Early 19th Century Albany Potter.

Red Earthenware Objects Manufactured in the Hudson River Region in New York

19th Century Slip Script Advertising Plate from Poughkeepsie, New York

Inscribed “E. Selby / Conover"

Circa 1840s

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar with Lid

The Diamond and Pinwheel Coggle Decoration is a Type Used at the Paul Cushman Factory in Albany, New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Brian Cullity

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