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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Antiques Week in New Hampshire 2014 - Day 2 of My Adventures

Day 2 at Antiques Week in New Hampshire picked up where Day 1 left off for me - with an extremely surprising discovery. My day began when I arrived at the Collector's Fair (Show) in Manchester, New Hampshire just before 11:00am. I waited in line for more than an hour for the show to start - and by the time it did at noon - I was the sixty-eighth person to enter the showroom floor. This show is just a spectacular event with dealers from all over the country offering some of the best in American antiques. Naturally, I walked to the dealers who typically bring some of the better examples of American-made red earthenware - and who are also some of my friends and mentors; however after walking and talking for about an hour - I came across an extremely important piece of history for the city of Newburyport, Massachusetts in a Vermont antique dealer's booth.

The Line of People Waiting to Get Into the Collector's Fair Show in Manchester, NH

This Was Taken Around 11:00am - the Show Started at Noon

Of all the unexpected antique fields and forms that I could have encountered at this show - I never expected to have felt a need to buy a door (actually my father and I purchased the door for my mother for her birthday this month). What was so special about this door is it had been turned into a sign that had strong ties to the city - and the neighborhood I am from in Newburyport.

17th or 18th Century Door I Found Today at the Collector's Fair in Manchester, NH

A Vt Antiques Dealers Recently Acquired it From a Home in Upstate NY

The Door Had Been Turned Into a Sign

It Advertised the Various Costs It Took to Use Carr's Ferry

The Sign Is Likely From Carr's Island (Salisbury) to Newburyport

When I came across this sign - I knew it was something special immediately. It's a sign for a ferry that used to run from Newburyport (Newberry) to Carr's Island in Salisbury, Massachusetts. That's exactly one block from where my parents house is - and my house was built next to theirs - so its the same distance for me, too. That's an absolutely incredible find! It should also be noted that the sign refers to Newburyport as "Newberry" - and that's very significant because Newburyport was not incorporated as a city until 1764 - prior to 1764, Newburyport, Newbury and West Newbury were all formed as the town of Newbury or "Newberry."

However, if you continue to look at the sign you will see what it costs for a man, a horse, cattle, goats and such to cross the river (Merrimac River) aboard the ferry. All the prices are in pence (d), which is another word for penny - and both words have existed since the sixteenth-century as part of the English (England) language. Pence is only used in plural. The word "penny" is used for singular currency - the word "pence" does not get used for the number one.

When I got home - I opened up a few books about the history of Newburyport - and according to the book, A Sketch of the History of Newbury, Newburyport and West Newbury by Joshua Coffin; "In 1641, George Carr is appointed at a court holden in Ipswich, to keep the ferry of Salisbury at the island where he now dwelleth for the space of two years provided that he find a sufficient house boate and give diligent attendance. The ferriages are as follows, namely. For a man present pay two pence, for a horse six pence, goates one penny, hogs two pence. If present pay be not made that he must book any ferriage, then a penny apiece more. If any be forced to swim over their horses for want of a great boat, they shall pay nothing." (page 34) Car was also a shipbuilder. In the same book it says, "Carr made a floating bridge five feet wide with rails on each side. The float bridge is two hundred and seventy feet long." (page 60)

For a little bit more basic history about Carr - he was an immigrant from England. He was married three times with numerous children. He lived in Newburyport until his death on September 11, 1727.

If you notice, the prices on the sign I found in Manchester are a little higher than what is described in Coffin's book - so this sign must date later than 1641. I assume it dates from sometime in the late seventeenth-century to early eighteenth-century. All the hardware and the way the door appears suggests an appropriate look for the period.

The dealer I purchased it from told me he recently acquired it from a collection in upstate New York. I guess what I wrote yesterday - I can write once again; "I was in the right place at the right time!"

Here are some photos of how the area that kept Carr's Ferry appears today.

A Historic Marker for Carr's Ferry Seen on High Street in Newburyport, Ma

Carr's Ferry Was at the Bottom of the Road Seen

This is on the Corner of Merrimac Street, Jefferson Street and Jefferson Court in Newburyport, Ma

Straight Ahead is Where Carr's Ferry Was Located

If You Notice the Stone Wall Across the River - That's Where Carr's Ferry Used to Land in Salisbury

Across the River is Carr's Island

George Carr Used to Live On This Island

This is Where Carr's Ferry Used to Cross the Merrimac River in Newburyport, Ma

The Ground in Newburyport, Ma That Carr's Ferry Used to Load At

Tomorrow brings Day 3 of Antiques Week in New Hampshire for me - who knows what may happen!? I plan to attend the original show - the New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association Show in Manchester - I may make a second visit to see friends at the Collector's Fair - and I may even drive back to Concord for a show called the "Picker's Show."

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...

Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Antiques Week in New Hampshire 2014 - Day 1 of My Adventures

Antiques Week in New Hampshire kicked off this week in many parts of the state. It's arguably the most important antiques week celebration in the country; however New York would probably argue that when their antiques week celebration happens each January.

New Hamphire's celebration is typically jump-started by a two to three day auction that is assembled by Ron Bourgeault and Northeast Auctions based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The sale is always held at the Center of Manchester, New Hampshire. The sale is then followed by numerous shows that some of the country's most prominent dealers in Americana set up at. This is a week that I usually take off from my job in the Boston television market to see friends, visit the shows and possibly do some picking of my own.

Today, I attended two shows; the first was held outdoors at the Deerfield Fairgrounds in the morning - and the second was held indoors in the afternoon in Concord.

I arrived at the first show around 7:30am - which was precisely a half-hour before the show began. The show is called the, "Americana Celebration Antiques Show." This show had a lot to offer collectors and dealers from all over in a broad range of fields. Of course, my personal expertise is in American redware - so naturally that is what I sought after.

I even ran into the Amesbury, Massachusetts auctioneer, John McInnis at the show - who is a family friend - and I have learned a little bit about fine art from.

Americana Celebration Antiques Show - Deerfield, NH

This was the Front of the Line as the Show was About to Begin at 8:00am

The Line was Quite Deep Behind Me

There was a lot of potential at this show for collectors - and this handled red earthenware jar was among the finds to be had. I was told it came out of a Vermont collection; although it was likely made in Maine between 1820 and 1860. The jar was very dirty when I first saw it. I brought it home and cleaned it with water. The color just popped with water on top of it.

The jar is glazed in a wonderful cream color with a rounded foot. I have no real strong evidence for this attribution other than the rounded foot - but I feel there is a chance it was made by the potter, Ezra Porter in Wiscasset, Maine. Despite it being from a Vermont collection - I do not think it was made in that state. It really shows strong Maine characteristics to me.

Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar - Possibly Made in Wiscasset, Me

Ca. 1820-1860

Stands 8 3/4" Tall

Recently Acquired by an Antiques Dealer From a Vermont Collection

I Purchased it Today at the Americana Celebration Antiques Show in Deerfield, NH

Wonderful Applied Carrying Handles

Interior of the Jar

There Would Have Been a Lid at One Time

The Rounded Foot

Close-Up of the Neck on the Jar

A Closer Look at the Interior of the Jar

After I spent a few hours at the Deerfield Show, I drove in anticipation of the Midweek Show held in Concord, New Hampshire that began at 1:00pm. This is an indoor show where dealers setup in room settings. Dealers from all over the country were in attendance. The people shopping were also from all over the country. I saw many familiar faces. There's always great conversations held at these types of shows. People with common interests are brought together - and it creates a fun atmosphere. This show offered red earthenware made by potters from a variety of regions. There was also some terrific stoneware. There was an unmarked stoneware jar decorated in folky figures with cobalt blue decoration. I believe it was probably made in upstate New York in the mid-nineteenth-century. I could have easily seen it included in the Adam Weitsman collection of stoneware kept at the New York State Museum in Albany. I did not take a picture, but you can probably envision what it looked like. The asking price was $32,500.

Midweek Antiques Show - Concord, NH

This Was the View from Near the Front of the Line at 12:30pm

The Show Started at 1:00pm

I spotted this following red earthenware herb pot from a distance at the Midweek Show moments after it began - and I immediately knew it was the work of William Pecker in Merrimacport, Massachusetts. I clearly spotted it from fifteen to twenty feet away. The dealer sold it to me for an inexpensive price. It wasn't labeled as any specific potter. I was told it was from a private New Jersey collection - or it was at least found in New Jersey.

This is among the most thinly potted examples of William Pecker red earthenware I have ever handled. Take a look at the actual handle and see how finely potted it was. The lid is likely original, which is quite a rarity to see from any red earthenware these days. The lids were easily broken - and today often all that survives is the jar itself. The glaze color is also great! It was a lucky find! I was in the "right place at the right time."

William Pecker Red Earthenware Stew Pot - Merrimacport, Ma

Ca. 1790-1820

Stands 5 3/4" Tall

Recently Acquired by an Antiques Dealer in New Jersey

I Purchased it Today at the Midweek Show in Concord, NH

Look at How Finely Potted that Handle Is!

The Glaze is a Wonderful Color

The Lid is Likely Original

Tomorrow, I will be attending the Collector's Fair (Show) in Manchester, New Hampshire. I anticipate this show because a lot of the people I consider friends will be exhibiting in room settings. Most have taught me a lot! And this show is always loaded with top quality Americana from all over America. Maybe I'll bring home a piece to write about!? We'll have to wait and see.

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...

Monday, August 4, 2014

A Very Interesting Green Piece of Red Earthenware Found in Southern Maine

Yesterday, I was driving through part of southern Maine on my way from one destination to the next - when I drove past an antique shop that looked rather interesting to me - so I chose to make a quick detour and investigate. The shop was well decorated with all sorts of vintage and modern primitives. It was probably five or six rooms deep.

In the first room just as you enter the building, I found a rather surprising example of red earthenware that appeared to me to date from the 1800s. The shop owner told me it had been in her house, but she previously found it in a shop near Portland, Maine. U

The glaze and form are really what stood out to me most about this pot. The weight also feels correct, and if you look at the base (pictured below) - you will see the exposed clay has been slightly over-fired due to its grayish color, but if you look at the small slab of what appears to be kiln furniture that stuck to the base - you will see the clay color is the common dark reddish color for many red earthenware products. There are also two sides of the pot that show clay from another pot because they were touching while inside the kiln.

Additionally, I don't have a specific attribution for this piece, although I do feel it is American made, whereas there were a number of potters in New England who produced green glazes from the eighteenth to the early twentieth century.

19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Object

Found in Southern Maine

Stands 2 3/4" Tall

Measures 5" at the Widest Point

Close-Up of the Incised Decoration

Another View of the Incised Decoration

View of the Base with Some Kiln Furniture Still Attached
The Clay Has Been Over-Fired

View of the Pot with the Honey Dipper

Dipper Measures 6 3/4" Long

Please Stay Tuned…Much More to Come...

Saturday, August 2, 2014

An Estate Sale at a Wonderful 19th Century House on the Water in Beverly, Massachusetts

Today marked, yet another estate sale in Beverly, Massachusetts; although, this sale happened on an incredible piece of waterfront property on Lothrop Street.The home had been owned by a World War II veteran, who was also a medical doctor.

I could clearly see when I entered the home from the back deck, which overlooked the ocean that the decorative furnishings on the first and second floors must have been a reflection of the homeowner's experiences in other countries.

According to the Boston Globe, "Dr. Aarte Bayle was born in Rotterdam, Holland in 1925, where he spent his teen years scavenging for food for his family in the Nazi-occupied region.

He married his wife, the late Ellen Bayle in Holland on his 31st birthday and the couple eventually migrated to the United States.

Dr. Bayle was a family doctor in Newburgh, New York, where he was well-appreciated for his willingness to treat everyone regardless of pay. He enjoyed rowing and sailing on the Hudson River in an old-fashioned wooden boat. He moved to Beverly, Massachusetts in 1972 to work at the Emergency Department at Beverly Hospital and live closer to the ocean. He could also be easily spotted riding to work and around town on his classic three-speed Raleigh bicycle. Dr. Bayle later worked as a physical for General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts."

Most of the pottery that I found at this estate sale was discovered in the basement; whereas, I was also told that it was likely purchased overseas. These objects include a stoneware pitcher, two jugs and another object, which I believe were made in various regions in France in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century.

Nevertheless, I also included pictures of what appears to be a red earthenware school project that was made by Dr. Bayle's daughter, Sarah Bayle presumably when the family lived in either New York or Holland. I felt it was worth saving since it was an object that was a part of this home's history in the twentieth century; otherwise, it would have probably been thrown away.

Note: This house has also recently sold for $980,000, where there are plans to completely restore the interior and repair any exterior problems that exist.

Estate Sale in Beverly, Massachusetts