A subject that will be the focus of a forthcoming feature story I wrote for Antiques & Auction is nineteenth century factory painted red earthenware, whereas this subject will also be touched upon in my new book that ships in a few weeks, titled, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/.
In fact, a good example of factory painted red earthenware sold over the weekend at Miller & Miller Auctions in New Hamburg, Ontario, which was impressed "J.A. Kennedy, Brantford. Ont.": https://live.millerandmillerauctions.com/lots/view/4-FOBWW0/ja-kennedy-brantford-decorated-redware-vase.
John A. Kennedy operated a pottery business during the circa 1889-1895 period in Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Kennedy was a previous employee and then businesses owner in Brantford, as early as 1871. But in 1889, he opened the J.A. Kennedy Pottery at 159 Darling Street, located near the Brantford Stoneware Works. Kennedy owned the business until about 1895; it was then taken over by a different owner, although the name of the company remained the same until about 1897.
According to information written by Robert L. Deboer and published in the autumn 2002 issue of the Brant, Ontario Historical Society's Newsletter, "Known wares produced at the Kennedy Pottery were red earthenware, usually unglazed with floral designs painted thereon. The production included miniature banks and jugs, signed and unsigned; miniature pieces with floral designs and bearing "Souvenir of Brantford" or other southwestern Ontario communities; larger pieces, hand painted with floral designs or scenes applied thereto and imprinted with Kennedy's signature on the bottom; and brown Staffordshire dogs bearing Kennedy's signature."
Furthermore, according to the research of Ontario collector Paul Slater, "Kennedy also produced painted red earthenware chargers; overall, though, there are about ten marked pieces known from the Kennedy Pottery, and the bulk of the production was unmarked. The stamped mark reads, "J.A. KENNEDY / Brantford, Ont."
These objects were bisque fired (the first step of the kiln drying process, rather than the traditional two) and never glazed, however we know that Kennedy hired women to paint various decorations on a variety of the pottery's work ranging from simple flowers to very elaborate scenes.
But we only know a portion of John Kennedy's life story. He first appeared in the 1871 census living in Brantford with his widowed mother and two older siblings. John, only sixteen at the time, was working as a potter in the Brantford stoneware factory (under Welding & Belding's ownership). He was overlooked in the 1881 census, but appeared again in 1891 - aged 36, single, and working at his own pottery just a short distance from the stoneware factory."
Nevertheless, the vase sold for $500 plus the buyer's premium, although there was some very strong results in this auction, including an advertising mug from the Huron Pottery in Ontario that sold for $11,000 plus the buyer's premium: https://live.millerandmillerauctions.com/lots/view/4-FOBX3R/huron-pottery-earthenware-advertising-stein.
Note: For the rest of the pottery in the sale (there were a number of good pieces) - see the auction catalog: https://live.millerandmillerauctions.com/auctions/4-FNB4TX/select-canadiana-furniture-folk-art-textiles-and-pottery?limit=36.
Painted Red Earthenware from the J.A. Kennedy Pottery in Branford, Ontario
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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