EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: A Rare Surviving 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl from the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York

Sunday, March 23, 2025

A Rare Surviving 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl from the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York

A rare surviving nineteenth century slip decorated red earthenware bowl was recently acquired by Nancy and Gene Pratt of Victor, New York from the Audree & Bryce Chase Collection, who were once antiques dealers based out of East Bloomfield, New York. The bowl was also previously owned by New York archaeologist and museum specialist George R. Hamell, who's archaeology career and red earthenware collection are a major focus of my forthcoming nearly 1,400-page, two-volume, ninth book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/03/a-preview-of-front-and-back-covers-of.html.

Interestingly, the shape of this bowl is only a type that I have seen recovered by archeologists from the site of the Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York, circa 1818-1831, although this is the only surviving example that I have been able to document. The existing bowl closely matches two archaeological examples recovered in the 1970s, now owned as part of the archeology collections at the Rochester Museum & Science Center in Rochester, New York. The bowl is also inscribed on the base with Hamell's mark "GRH15B."

Furthermore, objects made at the Rochester Pottery have sold very strongly recently with a slip decorated red earthenware jar selling in a group lot at Sotheby's in New York City in January 2025 for $22,800 including the buyer's premium: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/01/nathaniel-rochesters-merchant-business.html.

A slip decorated pitcher also made at the Rochester Pottery sold as part of the Carol Wahler Collection last month at Crocker Farm in Maryland for $9,600 including the buyer's premium: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/02/for-slip-decorated-red-earthenware-made.html.

Note: For more information about Nathaniel Rochester - see a feature story I wrote for the June 7, 2024 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Nathaniel Rochester's Red Earthenware Pottery: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html.

19th C. Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl from Western New York

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl from Western New York

Possibly Made at the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York

Possibly Circa 1818-1831

Stands 5 1/2" Tall

Measures 9 1/2" in Diameter

Previously Owned by George R. Hamell