A very unusual nineteenth century stoneware pitcher sold in a group lot yesterday at Stair Galleries in Hudson, New York, which was impressed "LEWIS & GARDINER / HUNTINGTON L.I." The pitcher was also decorated with two clasped hands, the word "DRINK," the word "DRY," and the name "T.P. CARLL.": https://bid.stairgalleries.com/online-auctions/stair-galleries/two-new-york-stoneware-pitchers-6920627. This may also be the only object known today from the Lewis & Gardiner Pottery that bears any type of personalized inscription.
For a brief history: Henry Lewis (1793-1863) and Matthew Harriman Gardiner (1802-1849) bought the Huntington Pottery on Long Island in 1827, although the partnership was short-lived. About two years after the they purchased the pottery, Matthew Gardiner relinquished his share of the business. But for some time, the pottery marks continued to bear the mark, “Lewis & Gardiner.” It was only years later that stoneware would bear the mark “H. Lewis,” “Lewis,” or “Lewis & Lewis.”
Furthermore, the name "TP Carll" appears as a resident of Huntington in the 1830 United States Federal Census, therefore he may have been an employee of the pottery; otherwise somehow the pitcher was made for him at the stoneware factory.
Nonetheless, the lot also included an early nineteenth century brown glazed stoneware pitcher marked "C. CROLIUS / MANUFACTURER / MANHATTAN WELLS / NEW-YORK." The lot sold for $3,500 plus the buyer's premium.
Update: This is information that I learned from Long Island scholar Gary Hammond about this object: "The last time I saw the T.P. CARLL pitcher was back on May 19, 1983 at the “Earth, Fire + Salt: New York State Salt Glazed Pottery” exhibit held at the Emily Lowe Gallery at Hofstra University, Hempstead, L.I., N.Y. It was then loaned by antique collectors and dealers Sandford and Patricia Smith of N.Y.C. A truly great Huntington Pottery piece which reads "DRINK / T.P. CARLL / DRY" above a clasped handshake. Due to its mark of "LEWIS & GARDINER / HUNTINGTON. L I" it would date from around April 6, 1827 when they bought the Huntington Pottery to August 15, 1829 when their partnership was dissolved. Henry Lewis would continue his ownership of the pottery until he sold it in 1854. The Carll family is another old Long Island family, many of which settled in the Town of Huntington. Although I haven’t yet found a genealogical connection, Henry Lewis’ mother was Juliana Carll, his grandfather Timothy Carll, and his great-grandmother Hannah Platt. Why does this matter? Because T.P. CARLL was Timothy Platt Carll (1797-1851) tavern keeper who on May 3, 1824 was granted a "License to keep Inns and Taverns & to retail Spiritous Liquors under five gallons as Inn Keepers in their respective dwelling Houses” according to the Huntington Town Records. I believe this pitcher was used in Carll’s Tavern, which supposedly was located on Jericho Turnpike and Depot Road in Huntington. According to an April 22, 1983 article in the newspaper Newsday, “Smith said they had bought the pitcher out of a Long Island dealer’s private collection about six years ago [abt. 1977]…it had come from a Huntington house.” Where it’s been since I unfortunately do not know. However, I do know that Timothy P. Carll was active in local government serving variously as Assessor, Inspector of Common Schools and as the Town Supervisor all between the years of 1831 and 1842. The pitcher was illustrated in the catalog for the exhibit, and again in the Newsday article."
Also according to Hammond, "Timothy Platt, Carll's father, Phineas Carll, had a sister named Juliana Carll (Timothy's Aunt); she married Henry S. Lewis; their son Henry Lewis was the owner of the Huntington Pottery - so T.P. Carll and Henry Lewis were cousins! What a really special Long Island piece connecting the maker to the owner!"
A Circa 1830 Stoneware Pitcher Marked "T.P. Carll." from Long Island
(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Made at the Huntington Pottery on Long Island
Stamped "LEWIS & GARDINER / HUNTINGTON L.I."
Also Marked with the Name "T.P. CARLL."
Decorated with Two Clasped Hands
Likely Circa 1827-1829
But this Mark May Have Been Used for a Short Time After 1829
Stands 9 1/2" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Stair Galleries
A View of the Words "DRINK" and "DRY"
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Stair Galleries
A View of the Handle
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Photo Courtesy: Stair Galleries
T.P. Carll Listed as a Resident at Huntington on Long Island, New York
This is from the 1830 United States Federal Census
See Article for More Information
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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