Sign for the New Bedford, Mass. Museum
The museum focuses mainly on glass products made in the nineteenth and twentieth-centuries in New Bedford; although there is also a large collection of important glass made elsewhere that highlights the skill of early glass makers all-over New England in states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut. Ancient products right up through the modern twentieth-century are represented in the museum. The museum houses a large collection of Sandwich and Boston-made glass, Keene (New Hampshire) glass, Stoddard (New Hampshire) glass and Coventry (Connecticut) glass - and then all the usual suspects from New Bedford like Pairpoint Glass and Mount Washington Glass. There is also European glass that is directly associated with New England products, Waterford Crystal products and so much more.
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
New Bedford, Ma Glass Museum
What really shocked me was when I saw a small nineteenth-century American-made red earthenware molded bowl in the museum; the curator told me that it was molded from an actual American-made glass product. He said it was one of only three known today.
19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl Molded from an Actual American-Made Glass Product
19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl Molded from an Actual American-Made Glass Product
19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl Molded from an Actual American-Made Glass Product
Ca. 1840-1865
This is Only 1 of 3 Known in this Style
Potter is Not Known
Another View of the Interior
Another View of the Interior
Another View of the Interior
View of the Side
View of the Base
According to the museum: The dish is in the "Horn of Plenty" pattern - a pattern that was popular with many pressed glass manufacturers in the nineteenth-century.
Seeing this bowl reminded me of the cup plates I saw earlier this year; I asked the curator what he thought about the idea of American red earthenware potters using glass as inspiration for their products - and he told me that he didn't feel it had anything to do with location; instead he felt it was merely a potter getting their hands on a glass product that was then used as a mold for a red earthenware product. He said it could be as simple as a Maine potter who found a piece of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) glass nearby their business. He told me that there is no real direct correlation that could be used with a specific glass product, glass maker or a glass business - and a local potter. He continued to tell me that glass traveled a lot back then. As our discussion continued, he told me that he is a graduate of the Winterthur (Delaware) fellowship program and in that museum's collection is a piece of stoneware that was impressed with a piece of glass for decoration. He even told me that he has seen nineteenth-century American-made glass bear figurals copied by potters into red earthenware products. He said they are copied exactly. It was a very productive museum visit.
After wrapping up my museum visit, I figured since I was already in New Bedford, which has a few antique shops - I decided to pick my way through the city's stores. And luckily, I did find a few nice pieces of pottery.
I actually came across a great piece of Charles A. Lawrence Pottery made in Beverly, Massachusetts in a shop - unfortunately, the seller had the jar attributed to the William Grueby Pottery in South Boston, Massachusetts. It was also priced expensively like most Grueby products are today; however these two businesses couldn't be more worlds apart in the type of clays they used; Grueby's products were made of a white clay body and Lawrence's were made of a red clay body. And red clay could easily be seen through chipping and on the base of this jar in the shop. Grueby Pottery also never painted any of their products (like seen on this jar) - they were all glazed. Lawrence used both glaze (in a traditional utilitarian red earthenware manner glaze) and paint. I couldn't resist leaving a note telling the seller and prospective buyers what this jar actually was. I feel a product from Lawrence Pottery is much rarer than the dozens upon dozens and dozens more of forms of Grueby Pottery known today.
Aside from this, I did very-well in New Bedford - I found a tremendous unmarked green glazed red earthenware pitcher in a vintage shop that I believe was made at the Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts before 1904 (that's when an impressed stamp was incorporated on all products). It is similar to a jar I found in Salem, Massachusetts last week that I also believe is a Merrimac Pottery Company product.
I also found a wonderful painted red earthenware bird bath that I believe was made at Charles A. Lawrence's Pottery in Beverly in either the 1880s or the 1890s. It was found in the same store as the jar I previously described with the Grueby attribution. I have seen a similar paint scheme and incised line work on other pieces of Beverly pottery I already own. I am kind of puzzled on this piece; the base is flat, so I am unsure if the bowl was meant to be on top of a pedestal that is now lost or if it was only meant to rest on a flat surface. I am also not sure if this large bowl was strictly ornamental or if it was meant to be used in the yard. The seller had it simply described as a, "garden bowl."
If you can notice in the picture below, a small amount of clay has been exposed around the inner rim - this is the expected clay color I have come to know as a Beverly product. The weight of the bowl also feels correct.
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
After wrapping up my museum visit, I figured since I was already in New Bedford, which has a few antique shops - I decided to pick my way through the city's stores. And luckily, I did find a few nice pieces of pottery.
New Bedford Demolition & Salvage & Antique Co-Op Shop
New Bedford Antiques Shop
This is the Same Building the New Bedford Glass Museum is Kept
Acushnet Antiques Shop - New Bedford, Ma
New Bedford Antiques at the Cove
I actually came across a great piece of Charles A. Lawrence Pottery made in Beverly, Massachusetts in a shop - unfortunately, the seller had the jar attributed to the William Grueby Pottery in South Boston, Massachusetts. It was also priced expensively like most Grueby products are today; however these two businesses couldn't be more worlds apart in the type of clays they used; Grueby's products were made of a white clay body and Lawrence's were made of a red clay body. And red clay could easily be seen through chipping and on the base of this jar in the shop. Grueby Pottery also never painted any of their products (like seen on this jar) - they were all glazed. Lawrence used both glaze (in a traditional utilitarian red earthenware manner glaze) and paint. I couldn't resist leaving a note telling the seller and prospective buyers what this jar actually was. I feel a product from Lawrence Pottery is much rarer than the dozens upon dozens and dozens more of forms of Grueby Pottery known today.
Ca. Lawrence Pottery Red Earthenware Jar - Beverly, Ma
Ca. 1870s or 1880s
Described as a William Grueby Product - South Boston, Ma
So…I Left a Sign Telling the Dealer and Prospective Buyers What the Jar Actually Is
Aside from this, I did very-well in New Bedford - I found a tremendous unmarked green glazed red earthenware pitcher in a vintage shop that I believe was made at the Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts before 1904 (that's when an impressed stamp was incorporated on all products). It is similar to a jar I found in Salem, Massachusetts last week that I also believe is a Merrimac Pottery Company product.
Likely Merrimac Pottery Company Red Earthenware Green Glazed Pitcher - Newburyport, Ma
Probably Ca. 1897-1903
Found Yesterday in a Vintage Shop in New Bedford, Ma
Stands 6 1/2" Tall
View of the Handle
View of the Interior
View of the Base
(Left) The Jar that was Found in Salem Last Week
Stands 5" Tall
It is Likely a Merrimac Pottery Company Product - Newburyport, Ma
Both Products Share a Similar Interior Glaze and a Similar Clay Color on the Base
I also found a wonderful painted red earthenware bird bath that I believe was made at Charles A. Lawrence's Pottery in Beverly in either the 1880s or the 1890s. It was found in the same store as the jar I previously described with the Grueby attribution. I have seen a similar paint scheme and incised line work on other pieces of Beverly pottery I already own. I am kind of puzzled on this piece; the base is flat, so I am unsure if the bowl was meant to be on top of a pedestal that is now lost or if it was only meant to rest on a flat surface. I am also not sure if this large bowl was strictly ornamental or if it was meant to be used in the yard. The seller had it simply described as a, "garden bowl."
Likely 19th Century C.A. Lawrence Pottery Painted Red Earthenware Bowl - Beverly, Ma
Notice all the Incised Lines
Probably Ca. 1880s or 1890s
Found Yesterday in an Antique Shop in New Bedford, Ma for $17
Stands 4 5/8" Tall
Interior View of the Bowl
Measures 13" Across
View of the Base
If you can notice in the picture below, a small amount of clay has been exposed around the inner rim - this is the expected clay color I have come to know as a Beverly product. The weight of the bowl also feels correct.
Exposed Clay Around the Inner Rim
I think New Bedford is a pretty good city for picking antiques - like most places, it is completely hit or miss, but I have done pretty well there. I also highly suggest anyone who appreciates history, art and/or glass to check out the New Bedford Glass Museum. It's well worth the visit!
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
