A Rare Red Earthenware Bottle that Recently Emerged Near Sunapee, New Hampshire

Today, I want to show a rare red earthenware object that recently emerged in the Sunepee, New Hampshire-area, which is located next to Lake Sunapee to the northwest of Concord, New Hampshire. The distance between Concord and Sunapee is approximately forty-five miles.

A Rare Bottle

This object is in the form of an eighteenth-century glass onion bottle, which was predominantly popular with European glass-makers throughout the 1700's. Remains from these types of bottles are found in just about every major colonial American city. For example: there are dozens of onion bottle shards that were recovered in Charlestown, Massachusetts in various contexts that date before the Battle of Bunker Hill took place on June 17, 1775. However, I actually believe this red earthenware onion bottle may date from a later period during the nineteenth-century. I believe it could be the product of a potter's business that appears to have taken a special interest in reproducing imported eighteenth-century objects after 1840.

I should note that red earthenware products made in New Hampshire during the 1700's are exceedingly rare today, and any such survivors are mostly limited to the businesses that were located in early-communities near the New Hampshire seacoast, such as Exeter, New Hampshire and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Most New Hampshire-made red earthenware today actually dates from the nineteenth-century. There are only a limited number of eighteenth-century examples known, which are divided between prominent private collections, historical societies and national museums.

The reason I suggest the later period for this product is the result of Historic New England, which owns a few inscribed objects that were donated as part of the Nina Fletcher Little Collection - these particular objects were made at the Clark Pottery in Concord, New Hampshire during the 1840-1860 period. They imitate eighteenth-century English salt-glazed plates. It appears that the Concord business used an actual eighteenth-century plate as a mold, which was then used to manufacture the objects that are owned by Historic New England at Cogswell's Grant in Essex, Massachusetts. This isn't a rare, instance, either - the Clark Pottery in Concord is known to have experimented and broadened its production value during the 1840's to the 1880's, which is different than most utilitarian potter's businesses in northern New England during the same period. For instance, they made products, which supported presidential campaigns, painted artware often formed in ancient-styles, whimsical objects, etc.

For a brief history: The Clark family is a family of potters, who  began in the 1760's in Brantree, Massachusetts under the control of the business' founding family member, Peter Clark. However, Peter Clark chose to move his family to Lyndeborough, New Hampshire before the American Revolution began in 1775. The family eventually expanded its business through three-generations of potters, and, ultimately, another potter's business was established in Concord, which lasted until the 1880's.

Possible Attribution

Now, taking the ideas that are mentioned above into consideration, and also the location where this bottle was discovered - Why couldn't this object have also been made at this pottery? The fluid glaze that is seen on the base of the bottle is also a glaze-style that is often found with known Clark Pottery products today. Glaze separation is also found in the glaze, which is also a characteristic of the Clark family. (Note: Personally, I don't believe this product is associated with the family's production in Lyndeborough. It doesn't fit with what is known about that area's production today; i.e. surviving examples, documented information and archaeological evidence.)

Unfortunately, I don't have definitive proof to support the idea that this bottle was definitely made in Concord; however, the idea behind its manufacture certainly fits with the unusual known output from this business.

 (Left) 18th Century European Glass Onion Bottle

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Object in the Form of an Onion Bottle

Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton - Milford, NH

 19th Century Manganese Glazed Red Earthenware Bottle

The Bottle is a Potter's Imitation of an 18th Century European Onion Bottle
Possibly Made in Central or Western New Hampshire

Circa 1790-1860

Stands Approximately 6" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton - Milford, NH

 View of the Interior

Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton - Milford, NH

 View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton - Milford, NH

Another View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Mark Newton - Milford, NH

Further Evidence

I should also include the idea that Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins shows what she describes as a "black glazed red earthenware bottle in imitation of an eighteenth century glass form" in figure 66B in her important book, 'Early New England Potter's and Their Wares.' She attributes the bottle to the Chesham region in New Hampshire in the nineteenth-century, which was an area that employed a potter's industry in the 1800's. Today, this area is located in southwestern New Hampshire near the Vermont and Massachusetts borders. There is also a possibility that this red earthenware onion bottle is related to that object.

The bottle that is shown in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' is owned by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. today. 

19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Bottle

Attributed to the Chesham Region in NH - Southwest NH

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

Photo Courtesy: The National Museum of American History, The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

For reference: I also know of another black-glazed red earthenware bottle that resides in an important long-time Essex County, Massachusetts private collection, which is also attributed to New Hampshire in the nineteenth-century. This privately owned bottle is in a similar form to the bottle that is shown in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' 

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

The Origin of a Certain Formed 19th Century Jug that Occasionally Appears Today in the American Antique Marketplace

I have always wondered where the following type of jug was made - I have seen similar examples sell in prominent national auctions; however, I have also seen examples for sale in shops local to where I live in New England. I have even seen this form, along with this type of slip decoration attributed to Virginia before; although, I have never believed that attribution. None-the-less, it's been consistent each time I have seen this type of object that I have wanted to know where it was made.

This particular jug is scheduled to sell at Stanton Auctions in Hampden, Massachusetts on February 20, 2016. The auctioneer describes the jug as a "circa 1860 redware vinegar jug in a very unusual slip pattern standing 8 1/2 inches tall."

Recently, I decided to ask around to see what people's opinions were about this type of object - and, overall, the answers came back that this was likely a jug made in Spain in the nineteenth-century.

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Spain

May Have Been Used to Hold Olive Oil

Circa 1860

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Stanton Auctions - Hampden, Mass.

New York City collector and designer, Andrew Baseman shows a similar formed Spanish-made object discussed in an article on his blog, 'Past Imperfect: The Art of Inventive Repair.' That jug also came with a story. Andrew Baseman says, "I found this large tin glazed earthenware olive oil jug at a tiny gem of an antique shop in Seville, Spain. While looking for a restaurant open for dinner before 10:00 pm, we stumbled upon the shop, tucked away on a small side street. As the lovely shop owner spoke very little English and I barely speak any Spanish, we had a challenging, but fun time communicating and bargaining."

19th Century Spanish Tin Glazed Earthenware Olive Oil Jug

Purchased in Seville, Spain

Circa 1800

Stands Nearly 12" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Andrew Baseman - New York City

Unfortunately, I do not have definitive proof; although, I would not be surprised to learn if the jugs, which are shown above, were an object that may have been imported into America in the nineteenth-century, which was used to transport olive oil (or, maybe even wine).

I guess in some ways these nineteenth-century objects can relate to Spanish Iberian jars, which have repeatedly appeared in colonial archaeological contexts in America. According to the Plymouth Archaeology Project, "Iberian storage jars, also called Spanish olive jars, are one of the most widely occurring Spanish ceramic found in the New World having been used by the French and the English, as well as the Spanish. These vessels were used to transport wine, olive oil, olives and fish. Generally, Iberian storage jars were either globular with a round or pointed bottom. Iberian storage jars have been recovered as far north as Maine from Pemiquid, Maine in an eighteenth century context and from the circa 1628 to 1676 Plymouth Colony trading house at Cushnoc in Augusta, Maine."

Interestingly, a friend, who lives in Gorham, Maine has recovered a small group of Iberian jars in Maine in recent years.

However, similar objects have been found all over the east coast in seventeenth and eighteenth century archaeological contexts. They have also been found on numerous shipwrecks in the Caribbean. It certainly appears that it is fair to say today that olive oil and olives were a major export for Spain during the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries.

The following example was recovered in a seventeenth-century archaeological context in Charlestown, Massachusetts during the archaeology of Boston's infamous Big Dig Project in the 1980's.

 17th Century Spanish Iberian Jar Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

Recovered in a Circa 1638-1658 Archaeological Context

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, Mass.

Another View of the Spanish Iberian Jar

Photo Courtesy: Boston Archaeology Department - West Roxbury, Mass.

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

An Important Group of 18th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Sherds Discovered Near Portland, Maine

Recently, an important group of colonial era slip decorated red earthenware sherds from a dish or a pan, made around circa 1770, appeared in an archaeological context in Westbrook, Maine. The sherds are significant. They are undoubtedly from an American potter likely located in Massachusetts or New Hampshire. (Note: In 1770, Maine was still part of Massachusetts.)

When these sherds are pieced together, the date '1770' is revealed, which has been written in slip. Also in slip, there appears to be the partial remains of a person's name or some type of inscription. Unfortunately, attempts, thus far to decipher what is written have been unsuccessful.

The thought is that these sherds could be from a local potter; however, I don't think the idea of an American import from elsewhere in the colonies should be ruled out, either. It is certainly possible that these remains could also be an export from the industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts (circa 1630's-1775), the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company (circa 1766-1799) in Newburyport, Massachusetts or possibly a potter in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

In theory, these areas could have shipped their products to Portland, Maine through a merchant or another individual - and, Westbrook is a neighboring community of Portland. Although, Portland is also an early maritime city, which may have sustained some type of potter's business before the American Revolution. However, I don't believe this type of production is well-documented today.

Nonetheless, I feel these sherds are more likely from coastal Massachusetts instead of another location since red earthenware from Charlestown and Newburyport has been recovered in similar archaeological contexts elsewhere in Maine and Canada.

Portland, Maine researcher, Matthew Anson is responsible for the discovery of these artifacts. He has also reported the site to Maine State Archaeologist, Leith Smith, who is involved with Maine's Historic Preservation Commission. Matt hopes that the site will be dug by professional archaeologists in the near future.

A few days ago, Matt sent me a well-written explanation of the site - and, rather than paraphrasing his information, I thought I would share some of what Matt had to say about the sherds and the history of the location before 1775.

Note: For the protection of this site - I have excluded some information that pertains to its location.

---------------

"My interest in Portland area history comes after discovering a collection of colonial era artifacts in Westbrook, Maine.  I began to inspect this area two years ago. I became interested in the area several years before when a new parking lot was constructed and I was able to collect some old bottles.  The lot, at one time, had been the site of the Frost-Brewer House, a public house and inn from the 1730's to the 1880's.

One of the first really interesting artifacts that I found was an eighteenth century silver knee buckle. The owner's monogram, 'W.S.' is found on the back. I believe this belt buckle belonged to William Slemons or his son, William Slemons, Jr. The buckle was found on the land that belonged to William Slemons during the second half of the eighteenth century - this is also the period when the buckle would have been worn and lost.  

William Slemons' family made their fortune in the mast trade cutting down mast pines and transporting them to the landing at the Stroudwater River in Westbrook, which led to Portland.

By the middle of the 1700's, William Slemons was the only man living in Westbrook with the initials "W. S." who would have been wealthy enough to wear silver buckles.  (Note: The idea that the buckle belonged to William Slemons or his son is not guaranteed, but I'd say more likely than not it did.)

This past spring, I continued to focus on this area in Westbrook, but at a different location. I found 15 English copper pennies and farthings; the latest date on the coins was 1749.  The oldest coins are two William III half pennies minted between 1694 and 1701. There was a lot of eighteenth century material; an iron horse tack, a very old brass saddle pommel, 3 or 4 pewter rat-tailed spoons, pewter buttons, etc. I quickly stopped digging in fear of ruining this historic resource and that's when I contacted the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.

I emailed photos of my finds to the Maine State Archaeologist, Leith Smith.  Leith is the head of historic archaeology for the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.  He came out with me for a day this past summer and I showed him the site along with the artifacts that I had recovered.  

According to Myrtle Lovejoy's book, 'This Was Stroudwater,' Nathaniel Knight and his brother, Westbrook Knight ran a Mill on the Stroudwater river. Nathaniel had horses, as there are records of him selling Colonel Thomas Westbrook a horse.  Horse ownership was not common at the time, and an eighteenth-century horse tack was found at the site. 

Nathaniel Knight's house was located at the site that I was investigating in Westbrook before it burned in 1746 or 1747 by Native Americans during King George's War; I think the violence was intensified by conflict over the disruption of spawning fisheries by the mills and their dams. Knight returned and rebuilt after the conflict.  

Nathaniel Knight's original hand written ledger survives at the Maine Historic Society's Library in Portland.  There are almost no entries between 1746 and 1750.  

Lovejoy writes that Nathaniel Knight died on the property in the 1780's. I found evidence of a post 1740's occupancy on this property with a broken piece of slip decorated red earthenware with the date "1770" written in slip."

Sherds Found in Westbrook, ME

18th Century Slip Decorated Sherds Recovered in Westbrook, ME

The Sherds Are From the Remains of a Dish or a Pan

The Sherds are Dated in Slip '1770'

There Also Appears to be a Person's Name or an Inscription Written in Slip

Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME

Another View of the Sherds

Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME

Another View of the Sherds

Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME

View of the Back of One of the Sherds

Photo Courtesy: Matthew E. Anson - Portland, ME

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

A Newly Acquired Red Earthenware Jug that Appears to be Related to the Safford Family in Monmouth, Maine

Very quickly, I want to show a nineteenth-century red earthenware jug that I purchased from Thomaston, Maine antiques dealer, Ross Levett yesterday at a Nan Gurley Antiques Show in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The jug's glaze is very-similar to a pair of objects that I already own, which are associated with the Safford family in Monmouth, Maine.

The large jug shown to the right in the photograph below is stamped 'JOHN SAFFORD 2D.' I believe all of these jugs are related, which includes the small jug that was purchased yesterday.

 Collection of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jugs Likely Related to Safford Family, Monmouth, ME

Circa 1840

Back Left Stands 8 3/4" Tall

Back Right Stands 9" Tall

Stamped 'JOHN SAFFORD 2D'

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made at the Safford Family in Monmouth, ME

Circa 1840

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

Purchased Yesterday at an Antique Show in Portsmouth, NH

 Another View of the Jug

 Another View of the Jug

 View of the Handle

View of the Base

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

An Important Inscribed Pot Attributed to Buxton, Maine that is Owned by Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts

According to Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts, "This hand-thrown red earthenware bowl is decorated on the base with the inscription 'W. Bickforb.' Also written on the bottom, in pencil, 'Collected 1913 / Rochester / NH.' This object is formerly a part of the William T. Brandon Collection of American redware, stoneware and ceramics that is now owned by Historic Deerfield. The original Brandon notecard attributes this object to the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine."

I have written about the Bickford Pottery extensively on this website; however, for a brief overview: this business was a large rural Maine potter's business located a few miles to the west of Portland, Maine. The business operated circa 1825-1880 producing a wide-variety of skillfully made objects maintained by multiple Bickford family members.

Granted that this attribution is correct for this object, then, I must assume that the inscription may represent a Bickford family member - and, that doesn't mean they were a potter, either.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins ('Early New England Potters and Their Wares'), "A pottery in Buxton, a few miles from Gorham, Maine, was founded as early as 1825 by the Bickford family. The father, James, had come from Exeter, New Hampshire by way of Gorham. Whether he was a potter I have been unable to learn (recent research suggests he was a potter). His son, James, Jr., was born five years after the father's marriage to Betsy Wentworth of Buxton, and was twenty seven years of age when the pottery started. His much younger brother, Ebenezer Wentworth called 'Wentworth' or 'Wint' was then only eight years old. In later years these two ran the business together."

A genealogy search has revealed that James Bickford, Sr. and Betsy Wentworth had a son, William Bickford (born 1816), who then had a son William Henry Brickford (born 1842) with Betsey Tyler of Limington, Maine. It's possible that this pot could be related to either of these children; although, neither is regarded as a traditional red earthenware potter today.

Personally, I feel there is some interpretation that can be taken from this object; for example, since this pot is possibly related to a Bickford family member, then, I wonder how old they may have been when this object was made. Could the decoration have been completed by a child? The interpretation could surround the idea whether the letter 'D' was possibly mistaken for the letter 'B.' If this is the case, then this simple utilitarian object could evolve into a true example of Maine-made folk art.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pot Attributed to the Bickford Pottery - Buxton, ME

Base Inscribed 'W. Bickforb'

Circa 1830-1880

Stands 5 5/8" Tall
Burton N. Gates Collection

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

Another View of the Pot

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

View of the Inscribed Base 'W. Bickforb'

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

An Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Made in Southeastern Massachusetts that is Owned by Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts

According to Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts, "The following object was made in southeastern Massachusetts about 1820 (circa 1790-1830). This ovoid hand-thrown pitcher has an applied ribbed strap handle with a short neck and a ledge for the receipt of a lid  which does not survive. The pitcher is covered all over with a medium orange-brown glaze with small splotches and spots of dark brown manganese glaze. There are two incised lines on the shoulder, and two incised lines on the lip. This object is formerly a part of the Burton N. Gates Collection. The original Gates notecard reads, 'Covered Pitcher / Collected in Fitchburg (Massachusetts) 1908.'"

 Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Southeastern Massachusetts

Circa 1790-1830

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

Burton N. Gates Collection

Reportedly Found in Fitchburg, Mass. in 1908

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

Another View of the Pitcher

Photo Courtesy: Historic Deerfield - Deerfield, Mass.

Quickly, I want to show a related pitcher that I purchased from Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Jeff Graybill in 2015. Undoubtedly, this pitcher must be from the same potter's business in southeastern Massachusetts since it demonstrates a related form with a similar glaze. 

Initially, I had also felt that this product was made in southeastern Massachusetts during the circa 1790-1830 period. Interestingly, this is a glaze that is more-common to the potter's in Essex County, Massachusetts in the eighteenth and early-nineteenth-centuries; however, the pitchers shown in this article likely demonstrate the influence that Essex County had in southeastern Massachusetts in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. The influence was found through potter's who migrated to southeastern Massachusetts, and others, who married into southeastern Massachusetts families. Ultimately, a number of the potters in Essex County and southeastern Massachusetts were intertwined by their Quaker faith.

Note: The difference found in the brightness of the glazes with these two objects is the result of the type of lighting that was used in the photographs. In-hand, the glazes appear very-similar.

 Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Southeastern Massachusetts

Circa 1790-1830

Stands 6 1/2" Tall
Recently Found at an Antiques Show in the Midwest
Purchased from Pennsylvania Antiques Dealer, Jeff Graybill in 2015

Another View of the Pitcher

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...

A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Vase Recovered in Buxton, Maine

Briefly, I want to show this hand-thrown painted red earthenware vase that I acquired from a friend last weekend in Gorham, Maine. The paint is believed to be all original. I'm not sure that I have ever seen anything quite like this before. I have no-doubt that it was made in Maine in the late-nineteenth-century (circa 1870's); however, I feel there are a few possibilities of where it could have been made.

To begin: this vase was discovered in Buxton, Maine, which is a location that is known to have employed the Bickford family pottery (circa 1825-1880) in the nineteenth-century. This was a major potter's business in terms of what was happening in this part of southern Maine in the 1800's.

Earlier this week, when I was researching this object - I was surprised how closely the base resembled a sherd that was recovered at the Bickford Pottery kiln trash pile by Maine collector, Rick Poore in 2014. It's a very-close match!

Initially, I was fascinated when I originally saw this sherd - I remember thinking that I had never seen anything quite like it before from a rural Maine potter. I wondered if such an object had survived outside the kiln trash pile, but there was also a part of me that was doubtful.  I assumed that the sherd must have belonged to a rare line of production that was experimented with at the Bickford Pottery.

Another possible scenario is that this vase could have been made at the Kitson family pottery in North Bridgton, Maine in the 1870's. The Kitson's are known today to have reproduced some ancient-style forms of pottery decorated with paint. However, my feeling is that this vase is more-likely related to where it was found in Buxton.

If this vase was made at the Bickford Pottery - then this is a very-rare product to find today. It could possibly be the only survivor from this type of circa 1870's production - I don't know of another example that exists. There's also a possibility that it was made by either James Bickford, Jr. (1798-1884) or his brother, Wentworth Bickford (1817-1890) who operated the Bickford Pottery in the latter years of its existence

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins indicates that vases were included in the output at the Bickford Pottery in her important book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' "Several pieces of redware made by the Bickfords have come to light. These include a bulbous jug, a small brown tea bowl, a slant-sided pitcher with yellow-green glaze, and a jar splashed with brown. A variety of vases and other types of pitchers are also known."

What's also appealing about this vase is the fact that the base and the vase separated before they were fired in the potter's kiln. And, rather than throwing the object away - the potter decided to seal the base to the rest of the vase with a glaze that would have been used for traditional red earthenware. This is very-neat to see! This is likely proof that potter's didn't throw anything away that could potentially serve a purpose.

Vase Recovered in Buxton, Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Vase Likely Made in Maine
Very-Possibly Made at the Bickford Family Pottery in Buxton, ME

The Paint Appears to be Original

Circa 1870's

Stands 13 3/4" Tall

Recently Found in a Home in the Buxton, Maine-Area

View of the Glaze that Reattached the Base to the Rest of the Vase

Another View of the Glaze that Reattached the Base to the Rest of the Vase

View of the Interior

View of the Base

Sherd Base Recovered at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME

19th Century Red Earthenware Shard Found at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Me

Interior Possibly Painted Otherwise a Dull Brown Glaze

Ca. 1870s

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Standish, Me

Another View of the Sherd

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Standish, Me

Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...