A Comparison of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars: One Owned by the Smithsonian Institution Attributed to Morgantown, West Virginia

The second picture posted below shows a nineteenth century red earthenware jar that I acquired years ago in the Mid-Atlantic region, while the third picture shows a matching jar kept as part of the important Dr. Walter Hough (1859-1935) Collection at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., which was made in Morgantown, West Virginia before 1850 (actually it was Virginia then since West Virginia's statehood wasn't established until June 20, 1863).

Interestingly, Dr. Hough worked at the Smithsonian for nearly fifty years, where he documented a variety of Morgantown red earthenware, stoneware and potter's tools in a report published in 1899, titled, Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, Part 2. 

Dr. Hough was born in Morgantown on April 23, 1859, and received his schooling at the Morgantown Academy and the Preparatory School of West Virginia Agricultural College; from West Virginia University he obtained his B.A. degree in 1883, his M.A. in 1884, and his Ph.D. in 1894. 

Dr. Walter Hough (1859-1935)

Assistant Curator for the Division of Ethnology at the Smithsonian

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Photo Courtesy: Smithsonian Institution

As part of this report, thirty-two different types of pottery were described, together with their provenance, including a whisky flask, ointment jars, pitchers, preserve jars, spice bottles, a sugar purifier, molasses jars, jugs, a churn, a jar or tea caddy, a fat-lamp, muffin rings, a cream pitcher and flowerpots, as well as dozens of potter’s tools and molds.

Furthermore, Morgantown, is where some of the most accomplished red earthenware and stoneware was produced in West Virginia, beginning as early as 1785. Some of the key figures included Francis Billingsley (1781-1861), the Thompson family, and Jacob Foulk Junior (ca. 1764-1821), who was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with the industry transitioning from red earthenware to stoneware production around the mid-nineteenth century.

Nonetheless, the aspect that I find interesting about these jars is how the use of glaze colors is similar to some colors applied in other locations in West Virginia, especially on some late nineteenth century stoneware figures made in Clarksburg.

Note: For more information - see Dan Horvath and Richard Duez’s article in the 2004 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Potters and Pottery of Morgan's Town, Virginia: The Earthenware Years, Circa 1796-1854: https://chipstone.org/article.php/153/Ceramics-in-America-2004/The-Potters-and-Pottery-of-Morgan's-Town,-Virginia:-The-Earthenware-Years,-Circa-1796-1854.

A Comparison of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in Morgantown, West Virginia

Closely Matches a Jar Owned by the Smithsonian Institution

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19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Reportedly Made in Morgantown, West Virginia

Made Before 1850

Stands 7 3/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institution

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