EarlyAmericanCeramics.com: Early 20th Century Stoneware Vase Made by James H. Owen in North Carolina Found Yesterday in Newburyport, Mass., Likely also Originally Sold in Manhattan, Circa 1915-1920

Saturday, July 5, 2025

Early 20th Century Stoneware Vase Made by James H. Owen in North Carolina Found Yesterday in Newburyport, Mass., Likely also Originally Sold in Manhattan, Circa 1915-1920

This was an awesome find yesterday! I was on a bike ride with my niece Alexis, and we decided to stop at a shop in downtown Newburyport, Massachusetts. There was no history other than being found locally that accompanied it, although we found this early twentieth century stoneware vase with crossing incised lines and cobalt decoration, which was made by James H. Owen (1866-1923) in Seagrove, Moore County, North Carolina. The vase stands 9 3/4” tall. It may have also originally been sold through a store in Greenwich Village in New York City, perhaps explaining how it made its way up to New England. However, my feeling is that it did in fact sell through the Village store in New York City.

Here are some comparable pieces that have sold in recent years, which I am partially basing the attribution:

Vase at Brunk Auctions in 2024: https://live.brunkauctions.com/online-auctions/brunk/james-h-owen-attributed-decorated-stoneware-vase-6150256

Large Bowl at Crocker Farm in 2022: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2022-08-05/lot-311/Very-Fine-Stoneware-Bowl-attrib-James-H-Owen-Seagrove-NC-circa-1920/

Pitcher at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in 2022: https://live.jeffreysevans.com/online-auctions/jeffrey-evans/james-h-owen-seagrove-north-carolina-decorated-stoneware-pitcher-4236777

Vase at Crocker Farm in 2023: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2023-03-31/lot-90/Fine-Large-J-H-OWEN-Moore-County-NC-Stoneware-Vase-early-20th-century/

For a brief history: James H. Owen was one of the first potters that Jacques (1870-1947) and Juliana Busbee (1876-1962) hired to turn ware in Moore County, North Carolina. Owen threw vases and jars, while other potters continued with strictly functional wares. Owen's stoneware pieces - only some of which are stamped - were the early transitional pieces sold by Juliana Busbee at her tearoom in New York City.

James Owen also experimented with adding decorative features to familiar jugs and churns, and developed a "floor vase" form. He passed away in 1923 just as the Busbees opened Jugtown, the Seagrove pottery shop that became famous for its unique glazes and graceful, "oriental translation" pottery.

Note: For more information about some of the North Carolina pottery that my niece and I have found in New England and New York State through the years - see a feature story I wrote for the September 22, 2023 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, A Wide Selection Of 20th Century Pottery From North Carolina Found In New England: A Brief Examination Of Asian-Influenced Pottery From Jugtown Pottery: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/09/new-published-story-in-antiques-auction_19.html.

Early 20th C. Stoneware Vase Made by James H. Owen in North Carolina