A very good selection of utilitarian red earthenware and stoneware sold a few days ago at Horst Auctions in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. There were three particular stoneware objects from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that I thought were exceptional; the first being a circa 1870 stoneware batter pail decorated with two birds marked "Cowden & Wilcox / Harrisburg," which sold for $7,800 plus the buyer's premium; a four-gallon circa 1870 stoneware jug decorated with a cobalt flower, also marked "Cowden & Wilcox / Harrisburg," which sold for $4,300 plus the buyer's premium; as well as a three-gallon circa 1870 stoneware jug decorated with a bird in cobalt, also marked "Cowden & Wilcox / Harrisburg," which sold for $10,500 plus the buyer's premium.
For a brief history of this business: John Wallace Cowden (1817-1872) and Isaac Wilcox (1831-1906) initially established and ran this pottery in Harrisburg, although the company was also known as C.W. Pottery. The factory was a ceramic manufacturing company that was established in 1861, after Harrisburg was incorporated as a city on March 19, 1860, whereas the factory produced pottery until about 1923. This business mostly produced stoneware, but they also made some red earthenware, where production from this company was distributed locally, although it was also marketed in parts of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.
19th Century Stoneware Batter Pail from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Decorated with Two Birds in Cobalt
Marked "Cowden & Wilcox / Harrisburg"
Circa 1870
Stands 8" Tall
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
Four-Gallon 19th Century Stoneware Jug from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Decorated with a Flower in Cobalt
Marked "Cowden & Wilcox / Harrisburg"
Circa 1870
Stands 15 1/2" Tall
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
Three-Gallon 19th Century Stoneware Jug from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Decorated with a Bird in Cobalt
Marked "Cowden & Wilcox / Harrisburg"
Circa 1870
Stands 15 1/4" Tall
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
Additi
onally, there was also a good selection of twentieth century red earthenware made by the Stahl family in Powder Valley, Pennsylvania, such as a sgraffito decorated plate made by Isaac Stahl (1871-1970), dated "July 16, 1947," adorned with a portrait of Abraham Lincoln, and the quote ""A nation of the people. By the people and for the people under God shall not perish from this earth." This plate sold for $925 plus the buyer's premium.
20th Century Sgraffito Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made by Isaac Stahl in Powder Valley, Pennsylvania
Adorned with a Portrait of Abraham Lincoln
Dated July 16, 1947
Measures 10 1/4" in Diameter
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
20th Century Sgraffito Decorated Red Earthenware Plate
Made by Isaac Stahl in Powder Valley, Pennsylvania
Adorned with a Portrait of George Washington
Dated August 2, 1946
Measures 9 3/4" in Diameter
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
(Left) Isaac Stahl and (Right) Thomas Stahl
Circa 1930s
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Photo Courtesy: Stahl Preservation Society
This is a lesser-known business when compared to some of the other companies that operated in Berks County in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, although the Passmore Pottery was named after the Village of Passmore. The business was founded by Sebastian Glaes (1795-1866), a native of Pike Township, Berks County, in 1828. After Glaes' death in 1866, the pottery continued under the operation of his eldest son, John Glaes (1829-1911).
According to information published about the John Glaes Pottery in the January 1937 issue of The Historical Review of Berks County, "The pottery operated four potters' wheels. Among the potters employed here were David Huber, John Frey, Nathan Reigner and Edwin Fox."
It was published in The Clay Record in 1909 that this business was sold as part of the estate of Susan Glaes (1841-1908), who was the wife of John Glaes, and a son named John acquired the old business. The company was also described as "one of the oldest earthenware manufacturers in the state."
These objects also retain labels reading "Machmer," which are from Pennsylvania German folk art collectors Rosemarie and Dick Machmer; their collection sold through Conestoga Auctions in Manheim, Pennsylvania in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Nevertheless, this lot sold for $2,450 plus the buyer's premium.
Three 19th Century Miniature Red Earthenware Objects
All Reportedly Made at the John Glaes Pottery in Berks County, PA
Likely Circa 1866-1911
Each Measures 2-3 Inches in Size
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
An Old Note Adhered to the Base of One of the Miniatures
"Made at/ Locust Corner/ Bucks Co PA/ by John G. Glaes"
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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auctions
Published in the January 1937 issue of The Historical Review of Berks County
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Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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