Incised Red Earthenware of Danvers and Salem: Discoveries from the Narbonne House and Watkins Collections

For centuries, regional histories have claimed that a distinct style of red earthenware (i.e. jars, pitchers, etc.) featuring groups of straight and wavy incised lines was locally manufactured in the Danvers and Salem, Massachusetts area. However, a closer look at the physical record reveals a surprising truth: very little archaeological evidence actually exists to prove these pieces were made there. Despite this mystery, two surviving objects shed new light on this regional tradition and will be featured in my upcoming tenth book.

The first piece (left) is a red earthenware flowerpot decorated with these exact straight and wavy lines, recovered from a late eighteenth and early nineteenth century archaeological context at the historic Narbonne House site in Salem. It was excavated alongside many types of locally produced red earthenware, including an incredible selection of slip decorated pans, all of which will be fully illustrated in my forthcoming two-volume book.

Furthermore, it remains unclear if this type of incised decoration was more prominent in South Danvers (now Peabody) or Salem. To explore this further, my forthcoming book will highlight a small group of entirely glazed objects adorned with this style of lines. Sourced from both private and museum collections, these specific pieces retain exceptionally strong histories of ownership in Salem.

The second flowerpot (right) features a nearly identical manufacturing style and is currently kept at Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts as part of the Lura Woodside Watkins (1897–1982) collection. While museum records do not provide an exact history of this second pot, Watkins lived in neighboring Middleton, Massachusetts. Because of her close location, it is possible she found the pot locally in the Danvers area, adding another fascinating puzzle piece to the history of Essex County pottery.

However, my forthcoming book also illustrates that this type of incised decoration was not unique to a single location, as it was produced by red earthenware and stoneware manufacturers all over the world. Although, one potter who did train in the Danvers and Salem area before the American Revolution was Peter Clark (1743-1826), who likely then brought this technique to New Hampshire in 1775.

Note: For more information about Peter Clark and his family - see my eighth book, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/.

(Left) Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Flowerpot

Adorned with Groups of Straight and Wavy Incised Lines

Recovered from a Privy at the Narbonne House in Salem, Mass.

(Right) This is Likely a Related Red Earthenware Flowerpot with Similar Decoration

Acquired by Lura Woodside Watkins in the 20th Century

Photo Courtesy: National Park Service, Narbonne House and Old Sturbridge Village

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