These are two early nineteenth century stoneware jars that are also a part of the good stoneware collection that I have been writing about, which is currently available at Antiques Associates At West Townsend in Massachusetts. These jars were likely manufactured in the Albany and Troy, New York area before 1820, perhaps as early as 1800-1805; Albany and Troy are located about seven miles apart on the opposite banks of the Hudson River.
Each jar is decorated with an inscribed bird on one side, while the reverse side is decorated with an inscribed flower, whereas the decorations have been highlighted with cobalt. The interior of each pot is also decorated with some type of slip, possibly an Albany slip.
These types of jars were previously cited in an article written by Warren Hartmann for the 2012 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Stoneware of Early Albany: A Mystery Solved, where Hartmann wrote, "More than twenty years of study and analysis have led me to believe that a particular group of unmarked stoneware can be attributed to the pottery of William Capron (1763–1823) of Albany, New York...The decorations on these pieces vary. Many are incised birds, among them a likeness of the Hudson Valley dove, and other unusual bird motifs; others show flowers with large petals or other abstract florals, all filled with cobalt...Based on this analysis and the comparison of form, potting techniques, decorations, and color of clay used in the production of the unknown group of stoneware and the group of marked “ALBANY / WARE,” along with the information available on the mark and dates of the William Capron pottery, I have concluded that this large group of early, unmarked stoneware can be attributed to Capron’s pottery. Further, given the large number of marked Cushman pieces that resemble these early unmarked pieces in overall form, it is my opinion that William Capron or one of his potters worked at the Cushman factory."
However, recent research has strongly challenged this information with evidence identifying this as a type of production manufactured in the Albany and Troy area possibly by George Lent (1774-1850) sometime before he went to work on this own in Lansingburgh, New York during the circa 1825-1843 period. Lansingburgh is a section of Troy today, but from 1791 until 1901, it was a separate community. Additionally, Lent was an early and influential stoneware potter in New York, spending time working in Cornwall, Albany, Troy, Poughkeepsie and Lansingburgh, among other locations.
Interestingly, perhaps Lent's most important example of work from the Lansingburg period was also included in this stoneware collection, which sold last fall to Rob Hunter of Virginia, now owned as part of the William and Susan Mariner Collection: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/10/an-important-example-of-19th-century.html.
Nonetheless, prior to Lent's business ownership in Lansingburg/Troy, he is regarded as a potter who was involved with a number of the early stoneware businesses in the Albany and Troy area; these jars are believed to be related to one of those businesses today, which included Paul Cushman's (1767-1833) Stoneware Factory in Albany, circa 1809-1833, among other companies.
Nonetheless, I have posted below the earliest records that I could find of some of best known stoneware potters who worked in the Albany and Troy area in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. Furthermore, for more information about these jars - contact A.A.A.W.T.: https://www.aaawt.com/about/. Red earthenware production from this area will also be included in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York.
Link to Jar No. 1: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-crock-incised-bird-and-flower-made-in-the-albany-new-york-area/
Link to Jar No. 2: https://www.aaawt.com/antique/stoneware-crock-with-incised-bird-flower-made-in-the-albany-new-york-area/
Note: For another type of stoneware production from the Albany and Hudson River Region area - see a story I recently posted to this website, titled, Three Related Stoneware Jars Probably Made Near or Along the Hudson River in New York State in the 1700s (or Early 1800s): http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/01/three-related-stoneware-jars-probably.html.
Stoneware Jars from the Albany and Troy, New York Area
No comments:
Post a Comment