It was almost 35 years ago that the book, The Birds of Bennington was published, which highlighted one of the incredible types of cobalt decorated animals that were hand-drawn on stoneware produced in Bennington, Vermont in the 1800s. The most desirable decoration today might be the single and double pheasant-on-a-stump decoration. This decoration was used on stoneware marked "J. & E. NORTON / BENNINGTON, VT.," and "J. NORTON & CO. / BENNINGTON, VT."
These marks represent the pottery company owned by Julius (1809-1861) and Edward Norton (1815-1885) in Bennington during the circa 1850-1860 period. Although the decorator is unknown to me, but this same pheasant-on-a-stump decoration shows up in New York by the mid-1860s.
According to William C. Ketchum Jr.'s book, Potters and Potteries of New York State, 1650-1900, "A stoneware manufactory opened in the fall of 1865 in Fort Edward, New York, in buildings formerly utilized as a sash and blind factory. This works was located on Mill Street and owned by J.A. and C.W. Underwood, who had several other interests in the community, including a contracting business and a broom handle plant. They advertised both stoneware and broom handles in the 1867 New York State Business Directory, but sold the former endeavor to Haxstun, Ottman and Company late the same year."
Interestingly, I made a similar comparison on this website last fall showing how a decorator named James Reiley worked at both Bennington in the 1850s, as well as in Lansingburgh, Troy and West Troy in New York. The basis of that article was a very rare rooster decorated crock from the J.&.E. Norton Pottery, which is now part of Adam Weitsman's Collection at the New York State Museum in Albany, New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/10/an-outstanding-folk-art-crock-depicting.html.
Nonetheless, the "J A & C W Underwood / Fort Edward NY" mark is somewhat rare to find today, whereas there is a three-gallon butter churn also adorned with the pheasant-on-a-stump decoration in the good stoneware collection that I have been writing about, which is currently available at Antiques Associates At West Townsend in Massachusetts. This is an exceptional object that also demonstrates the Bennington and New York State connection.
Here is a link to the butter churn: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-churn-stamped-j-a-c-w-underwood-fort-edward-n-y/
Interestingly, there are three other nineteenth century stoneware objects from this collection, which were made in Upstate New York and decorated with various types of birds, one of which is a two-gallon jug that features a perched bird-on-a-stump decoration, marked West Troy (New York) Pottery. The style of the decoration on this bird is reminiscent to types produced in Bennington, but also at other potteries located in the Hudson River region, as well in other parts of eastern upstate New York.
Here is a link to the jug: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-jug-bird-on-stump-marked-west-troy-n-y-pottery/
This is another one of the pieces of New York State stoneware decorated with birds, whereas this object was made in Ithaca, New York, which is a city that I noted in a post last week, titled, 19th Century Stoneware Production with Silhouetted Designs Manufactured in Different Locations in America, Including in North Bay, Oneida County, New York, Circa 1851-1876: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/02/19th-century-stoneware-production-with.html.
This three-gallon butter churn was made at the business of James Macumber (1830-1891), who ran the pottery with several partners from 1864-1890. According to Macumber's obituary that was published in the Ithaca Daily Journal on June 23, 1891: "James Macumber died last evening at his residence in this city, of Bright’s disease, aged 61 years. The deceased was for many years sole proprietor of the pottery at Fall Creek and carried on a considerable industry, his ware having a sale over a wide area. Mr. Macumber was his own traveling agent, and in that capacity came to have a very comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the country, its people and affairs. To the casual acquaintance he seemed of an unusually taciturn disposition, but those who gained his friendship found him an interesting companion, whose ability as a conversationalist was seldom excelled. He was prostrated by disease several months ago and his death has been expected for weeks. He is survived by his widow and one son, Frank. The latter arrived here last night. The funeral will be announced later."
Interestingly, this business was founded by Elijah Cornell (1771-1862) in 1842, a potter from DeRuyter, New York, who previously worked in New York City and trained at the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts. He was also the father of Ezra Cornell (1807-1874), who founded Cornell University in 1865.
For more information - see a feature story I wrote for the June 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, The Pottery Industry in Southeastern Massachusetts: https://www.scribd.com/document/380401772/Southeastern-Massachusetts-Pottery-Industry-June-2018-Issue-of-Maine-Antique-Digest
Also see the fifth installment in my pottery book series, titled A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/.
Here is a link to the butter churn: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/antique-stoneware-churn-folky-birds-marked-ithaca-n-y/
This is the fourth stoneware object from upstate New York decorated with birds, which was made at Samuel Hart's stoneware business in Fulton, New York; the crock is decorated with a pair of crossed birds in cobalt slip, whereas the gallon capacity is also applied to the left of the birds, but it is tough to decipher, whether it reads "2" or 3"."
According to information obtained while Hart was still living and published in a book written by Crisfield Johnson in 1877, titled, History of Oswego County, New York: "Samuel Hart (1806-1891) was born in the village of Highhalden, county of Kent, England, October 30, 1806. He is the youngest son of Thomas and LiBtitia Hart, who had four children: Mary, James, Elizabeth C., and Samuel.
His father was a potter by trade, and not in circumstances to afford his children the opportunities of a common-school education, and Samuel's education from books has been only what he could gain in connection with his daily work. His father died about the year 1838, his mother dying about five years before. He lived at home until he was eighteen years of age, learning with his father the pottery business. He then spent some three years learning the mason trade with his brother-in-law, John Cleaver. In the year 1828 he embarked for America, and landed first at Albany, 28th of June, not being permitted to land at New York on account of a contagious disease among the passengers on shipboard. He soon left Albany and came to Oswego, and remained there four years, working at the mason trade. He then came to Fulton in the year 1832, and with his brother, who had emigrated two years before, built a pottery, and began the manufacture of stoneware. At the end of eight years he bought his brother's share of the property, and from that time until the present has continued the business on the same site, an engraving of which, with his beautiful residence and surroundings on the right bank of the Oswego river, will be seen on another page of this work under the portraits of himself and wife.Upon reaching Albany, he found he had only a few dollars, but by well-disciplined habits of economy and industry, and natural executive ability, he has accumulated a fine property, and, by increasing prosperity, ranks among the wealthiest of the village of Fulton.
At the age of twenty-eight, and in the year 1834, he married Miss Ann Hill, born in Kent county, England, December 7, 1816. Of this marriage were born two children, viz. : Lsetitia Ann and Samuel George. The first married John A. Scribner, who died. She afterwards married Richard Rolfe, and now resides in Iowa. Samuel George married Annette Monroe, and resides in the city of Syracuse.
His first wife died 1839, and he married, in 1840, Miss Cornelia Beard, of Volney. Of this marriage one child was born, named Lucelia Maria, who married Ira R. Carrier, and lives in the town of Volney.
He lost his second wife in 1842, and married for his third wife, 1843, Miss Miranda Taft, of New England birth and of English descent, and whose forefathers came from England and settled first in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, about two hundred years ago. She was born 29th of February, 1816. Of this marriage were born seven children, viz. : Angelina Vienna, Alcena Miranda, Thomas Stephen, Mary Susan, a twin sister, the boy dying in infancy, Charles Addison, and Elwin Erskine. The eldest son died in infancy.
The eldest daughter married Joseph W. Foster, and resides in Humboldt, Iowa.
Alcena Miranda married George I. Lazier, and resides in Pictou, Providence of Ontario. Mary Susan married James E. Barker, and resides in Humboldt, Iowa.
The last two sons are carrying on business with their father in Fulton, New York, and reside at home.
In the year 1852 he united with the Baptist church at Fulton, New York, but in a year severed his connection with that church and united with the old-school Baptist church at Palermo, and has since remainetJ a member of the same. His wife is a member of the same church, having been connected with religious interests since she was twenty-four years of age.
In politics, Samuel Hart is a Republican, never neglecting business to gain prominence in political matters.
Samuel Hart is classed among the self-made representative men of his village, is honored and respected by all who are connected with him in any business transactions, and ready to encourage all enterprises looking to the advancement of good society around him.
He has lived to see four generations in his own family, and is now in his seventy-first year."
Here is a link to the crock: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-jug-cobalt-double-bird-decoration-stamped-s-hart-fulton/
Here is also a link to a similar crock that sold as part of the collection of Marguerite and Arthur Riordan of Stonington, Connecticut at Christies in Manhattan in 2008: https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5030611
For more information about any of these object - contact A.A.A.W.T. - https://www.aaawt.com/about/
19th Century Crock Made in Fulton, New York
Decorated with a Pair of Crossed Birds
Impressed "S. HART / FULTON
Circa 1850
Stands 10" Tall
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: A.A.A.W.T.
Published in the 1877 Book, History of Oswego County, New York
See Article for More Information
Published in the 1877 Book, History of Oswego County, New York
See Article for More Information
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
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