I truly believe that the assumption that not a lot of slip-decoration was applied in Essex County, Massachusetts in the eighteenth-century needs to be re-examined. This statement has been previously published; however, I feel it is a mistaken identity today.
For example, Falmouth, Massachusetts antique dealers, Hilary and Paulette Nolan owned a wonderful late-eighteenth-century red earthenware jug that was made by William Pecker in Merrimacport (formerly West Amesbury), Massachusetts. The jug was dated in slip '
1797.' But this is the only piece of pottery that is attributed to Pecker today that is decorated with slip. Why would that be the case? That does not make sense (to me). He must have been a potter, who used slip-decoration in the 1790's.
I have also recovered unusual slip-decorated sherds in Danversport, Massachusetts, which closely resemble an eighteenth-century slip-decorated pan that is owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts today. This pan was acquired in the twentieth-century from New Hampshire antiques dealer, Roger Bacon, who felt the pan was likely made in Essex County. The decoration on this pan closely resembles the decoration that is seen on a similar pan that is privately owned in Massachusetts today, as-well-as a wonderful jar that I discovered last year in Brimfield, Massachusetts. Here is a
link to an article that further discusses this subject.
Yesterday, I
wrote about the unbelievable discovery, which my niece, Alexis and myself made at the site of the eighteenth and nineteenth-century Osborn Pottery in Peabody (formerly South Danvers), Massachusetts. We were surprised to find evidence of slip-decoration, which I do not believe the Osborns have every been tied to before - but we also found evidence that the Osborns appeared to have glazed some red earthenware bases. It has also been previously published that eighteenth and nineteenth-century potters did not glaze bases in New England, which contradicts evidence that I have recently found in Maine and Massachusetts.
Slip-Decorated Jar and a Black-Glazed Jar
The following black-glazed red earthenware jar was found a few years ago inside an early house in Marblehead, Massachusetts. I have always attributed it to Peabody, as-a-result of similar formed black-glazed jars that are attributed to Peabody (and owned) by the the Peabody Historical Society.
Interestingly, this black-glazed jar exhibits the exact same traces of glaze on the base, which is also found on the important slip-decorated jar that I found last year in Brimfield. I was told the jar was just found during a clean out at an early house in Danbury, Connecticut. I strongly believe that both of these objects are directly related.
(Left) 18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar
Many Characteristics Attribute it to Essex County, Mass.
Circa 1760-1800
Stands 11 1/8" Tall
(Right) 19th Century Black-Glazed Jar Attributed to Peabody, Mass.
A Number of Characteristics Attribute this Object to Peabody
Found in an Early House in Marblehead, Mass.
Circa 1760-1820
Stands 8 1/8" Tall
View of the Bases with Traces of Glaze
A Slip-Decorated Jar
This lidded jar was donated by Roger Bacon to Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the 1970's. Bacon attributed it to Essex County in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century; however, the origin of this object has been under speculation for decades. Personally, I believe Bacon's attribution is correct, as-a-result of the slip-deocoration, the lid that rests inside the jar, and the partially glazed base, which is similar to the bases found on the slip-decorated jar and the black-glazed jar shown above.
This jar was also published in 1991 in Cape Cod, Massachusetts antique dealer, Brian Cullity's catalog, 'Slip and Glazed: Regional American Redware.' Cullity wrote, "This jar presents something of an enigma: some feel that it is of European origin and others feel that it is American. The slip trailing certainly resembles that found on some sherds from eighteenth century American potteries, but the form is somewhat different than those usually encountered from this country. The color of the clay body, glaze and decoration is consistent with an American origin."
18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar
Many Characteristics Suggest an Essex County, Mass. Origin
Circa 1760-1800
Stands 10" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Strawbery Banke - Portsmouth, NH
Another View of the Jar
Photo Courtesy: Strawbery Banke - Portsmouth, NH
View of the Lid
Photo Courtesy: Strawbery Banke - Portsmouth, NH
Another View of the Lid
Photo Courtesy: Strawbery Banke - Portsmouth, NH
View of the Partially Glazed Base
This is Similar to the Objects Discussed Above
Photo Courtesy: Strawbery Banke - Portsmouth, NH
A Pot Owned by the Peabody Essex Museum
This incredible pot is owned by the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts; although, it also retains a strong nineteenth-century history of ownership in Salem. The lid is somewhat similar to the lid found on the jar above; however, the base of the lid is entirely glazed, which similar to the glazed sherd that we discovered at the site of the Osborn Pottery in Peabody last week.
A related object (see below) is pictured in figure 15 of Lura Woodside Watkins book, '
Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' Watkins reportedly found the pot in Salem, which she calls, "
an early Essex County type." This jar would have also likely originally been produced with a similar lid.
18th/19th Century Jar Attributed to Essex County, Mass.
The Base of the Lid has Been Glazed
Circa 1780-1840
Stands Approximately 7" Tall
Measures Approximately 11" in Diameter
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Mass.
View of the Lid
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Mass.
View of the Glazed Base
Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum - Salem, Mass.
18th/19th Century Jar Attributed to Essex County, Mass.
The Base of the Lid has Been Glazed
Circa 1780-1840
Stands 8 3/4" Tall
Photo Courtesy: The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.
Creamer with a Glazed Base
About ten-years ago, my father bought all of these red earthenware objects together; they had been found, as a group, inside an old house in Essex County, Massachusetts. I had always believed they were related, but the creamer (right) seemed odd because the base was glazed. Although, the small pitcher (left) and the jug (middle) matched forms that Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins attributes to Peabody in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.'
Nevertheless, I now believe the creamer (right) was also made in Peabody, as-a-result of the evidence that we found two days ago at the site of the Osborn Pottery, which revealed a sherd with an intentionally glazed base.
Note: The '1755' date that is seen on the creamer (right) is not original. This was painted by someone possibly during the Victorian Era.
All of these Objects were Found Together in an Old House in Essex County, Mass.
(Left) Small 19th Century Pitcher or Creamer Attributed to Peabody, Mass.
Lura Woodside Watkins Attributes a Matching Form to the Osborn Family
Circa 1820-1860
Stands 3 1/8" Tall
(Middle) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Peabody, Mass.
Lura Woodside Watkins Attributes a Matching Form to Peabody, Mass.
Circa 1780-1840
Stands 7 1/8" Tall
(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Creamer Attributed to Peabody, Mass.
The Base is Glazed
Circa 1820-1860
Stands 3 1/2" Tall
View of the Glazed Base
Pitcher with a Glazed Base
I found this pitcher a few years ago at Todd's Farm Flea Market in Rowley, Massachusetts; the dealer told me that he found the pitcher inside an old house in Beverly, Massachusetts. I showed it to some people, who said it was likely made in Connecticut, but I was not certain of that attribution.
I had always felt that this pitcher was made in Peabody since the glaze perfectly matches glazes (see jug below) that are often attributed to the Osborn family today in Peabody. However, the base was glazed, which made me hesitant to make such an attribution. Thankfully, the sherd that I found with my niece gives much more insight into the type of production that happened at the Osborn Pottery.
But we also found a handle at the site of the Osborn Pottery, where the middle of the handle has been slightly recessed from the sides. This handle sherd perfectly matches the handle on this pitcher.
These Glazes are Identical Matches
(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Peabody, Mass.
The Base is Glazed
Circa 1800-1840
Stands 6 1/8" Tall
(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
Circa 1780-1840
Stands 6 7/8" Tall
Another View of the Pitcher and Jug
View of the Glazed Base
View of the Handle Sherd that Matches the Handle on the Pitcher
The Handle Sherd was Recovered at the Site of the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
Pitcher was Likely Made at the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
View of the Handle Sherd that Matches the Handle on the Pitcher
The Handle Sherd was Recovered at the Site of the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
Pitcher was Likely Made at the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
View of the Handle Sherd that Matches the Handle on the Pitcher
The Handle Sherd was Recovered at the Site of the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
Pitcher was Likely Made at the Osborn Pottery in Peabody, Mass.
A Rare Slip-Decorated Pitcher
I want to end today's article with this important pitcher that I acquired five-or-six years ago, which I believe was also made in Peabody or Essex County in the eighteenth-century. It was purchased at an auction in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the auctioneer said it retained a history of ownership in Massachusetts.
The unusual splattered slip-decoration matches the slip-decoration found on a chamber pot that was recovered from a privy at the Narbonne House in Salem, Massachusetts. It was recovered in a circa 1770 archaeological context.
The chamber pot was found surrounded with similar utilitarian objects that were made in Peabody and Newburyport, Massachusetts. It is because of these unusual decorations that I truly believe the idea of slip-decoration produced in Essex County needs to be re-examined today. I do not think it is a subject that has been studied in-depth.
18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Essex County, Mass.
Matching Splattered Slip-Decoration was Found on a Chamber Pot
The Chamber Pot was Recovered at the Narbonne House in a Circa 1770 Context
Pitcher, Circa 1760-1790
Stands 12 7/8" Tall
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
