A Wonderful 19th Century Pot Picked Today at the Antique Shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts

I want to quickly show a nineteenth-century red earthenware pot that I picked today at the opening day of the spring 2016 antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts. This pot was purchased from Lewes, Delaware antiques dealer, John Chaski. This is likely a rare object made in western New York during the circa 1850 period.

The variations in the glaze are wonderful - different glaze patterns can be seen throughout the pot, which includes the interior and exterior glazes. The applied handles are also very-well made. Overall, this is just a wonderful example of western New York red earthenware.

I promise to write a more detailed article about this object at a later time.

19th Century Red Earthenware Crock Likely Made in Western New York

Purchased Today from Delaware Antiques Dealer, John Chaski in Brimfield, Mass.

Circa 1850

Stands 11" Tall

 Another View of the Pot

 View of One Handle

 View of the Other Handle

 Close-Up of One Handle

 View of the Interior

View of the Base

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

A Comparison of Late-18th Century or Early-19th Century New England-Made Red Earthenware Jugs

The following extremely-rare slip-decorated red earthenware jug was handled by Sheffield, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Samuel Herrup in 2015. It appears to date from the circa 1770-1810 period.

This small jug was acquired from a private collector, and it was almost immediately sold to another private collector.

I have always assumed that this jug possibly dates from the fourth-quarter of the eighteenth-century. I have also felt that it was possibly a product made in New Hampshire, potentially at the Peter Clark Pottery in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire before 1800. The form of the jug, the handle and the flat rim are what suggest that attribution (to me).

History: Peter Clark was a Braintree, Massachusetts potter in the 1760's; however, according to a diary that he kept, he chose to move his family to Lyndeborough, New Hampshire in January of 1775. This move helped pave the foundation for red earthenware potters, who established businesses in central New Hampshire in the nineteenth-century.

The Clark family also operated multiple businesses under three generations of ownership in Lyndeborough and Concord, New Hampshire during the circa 1775-1880's period.

It is said that Peter Clark was a trained Essex County and Southeastern Massachusetts potter, who took the skills that he learned in Massachusetts, and applied that style with his red earthenware production in New Hampshire. It is also documented that Clark used slip-decoration in the eighteenth-century. It has been reported by Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares) that he obtained the material he used to make slip in Essex County, Massachusetts.

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jug

Probably Made in Coastal Massachusetts or Southern Central Hampshire

Circa 1770-1810

Stands Approximately 3 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Mass.

Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Mass.

A Size Comparison of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Mass.

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Samuel Herrup Antiques - Sheffield, Mass.

It dawned on me a few days ago that I believe I own a jug that could be related to the jug that I just described - the jug that I own is very-similar in its form, its handle, the flattened rim, the large-rounded foot and its small handheld size. 

This jug also sold in part one of southern Massachusetts collector, Earl Curry's lifelong collection that Willis Henry sold on November 16, 2013 in Plymouth, Massachusetts. Previously, the jug had been owned by Curry for decades. 

According to Willis Henry, "...This half-pint ovoid jug is decorated with a flared lip, a lead glaze with manganese decoration - and, an applied handle, and a shaped and tooled foot."

It is interesting to note that this jug was then consigned to Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland in 2014 where it was purchased by Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Greg Kramer. I purchased this jug from Greg in August of 2014 at Antiques Week in New Hampshire. 

I believe the price that I paid Greg for this jug was about the same price that it had originally sold for at Willis Henry's sale in 2013.

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Probably Made in Coastal Massachusetts or Southern-Central New Hampshire

Stands 4 1/8" Tall

Circa 1780-1810

Ex-Earl Curry Collection - Massachusetts

Sold by Willis Henry Auctions in Massachusetts in 2013

Sold by Crocker Farm in Maryland in 2014

Purchased from Pennsylvania Antiques Dealer, Greg Kramer in 2014

Another View of the Jug

The Form of this Jug is Very-Similar to the Slip-Decorated Jug Discussed Above

View of the Handle

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

A Rare 19th Century Southern Maine Red Earthenware Jug that Sold in Freeport, Illinois on Friday May 6, 2016

I posted a link to this red earthenware jug on my personal Facebook page over the weekend, so some people may have already seen it; however, I also wanted to write about it. I found this jug listed through Proxibid - it sold last Friday May 6, 2016 at 6:00 pm Central Time at Munda Auctions in Freeport, Illinois.

I completely forgot about this jug last week - ultimately, I chalk this object up to a jug that got away because I forgot to bid. Nevertheless, this is not the worst object that I forgot to bid on, either - the worst mistake I made happened in 2012 when I forgot to bid on a painted red earthenware ewer on eBay. The object sold for $170.00. It was listed by a seller located in Indiana. The ewer was a Grecian object made at the Chelsea Keramic Art Works in Chelsea, Massachusetts in the 1870's. The only other Grecian objects that I am aware of today that were made at the Chelsea Keramic Art Works are owned by Historic New England, Boston's Museum of Fine Arts and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.

Nonetheless, I knew this red earthenware jug was not going to sell for a lot of money due to the chipping in the glaze; although, I also knew that it was a rare object likely made in Hollis, Maine during the circa 1820-1860 period.

The auction house did not provide any type of attribution except calling the object an American-made redware jug - but, this is a form (and, glaze-style) that is known from the nineteenth-century potter's business in Hollis, Maine today.

I had assumed that this jug would not sell for a lot of money, and I was correct. It ended up selling for only $40.00. For reference: nineteenth-century red earthenware jugs properly attributed to Hollis, Maine today have reached as-high-as $7,500 in the current marketplace. In retrospect, $40.00 is a bargain price!

Here is a (link) to the auction listing through Proxibid, which is a relatively small online bidding platform for antiques when compared to the larger platforms such as LiveAuctioneers, Invaluable, eBay and Bidsquare.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Southern Maine

Likely Made in Hollis, ME

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

Sold for $40.00 on Friday May 6, 2015

Photo Courtesy: Munda Auctions - Freeport, IL

Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Munda Auctions - Freeport, IL

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

A Very-Rare and Important 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Southern Maine

Last week, I visited Historic New England's storage facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts to study a piece of stoneware that Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares) discovered in the 1930's. She made the discovery in the basement of an eighteenth-century house in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Hopefully, a group of us will be able to present more information about this object on a later date.

Nonetheless, while I was there, I could not resist the opportunity to study the rest of Historic New England's collection. I was surprised when I saw the following object - I honestly had no idea that they owned this object. I did not even know it existed.

I have previously visited Historic New England's collection facility, but I obviously did not see this pitcher.

It is my opinion that this is a rare nineteenth-century red earthenware pitcher made in southern Maine during the circa 1820-1860 period. I have never seen another object like this before. The attribution is based on the overall form, the handle and the glaze. It is also very-possible that this pitcher was made at the John Alld Pottery in Hollis, Maine.

Alld can be considered an elusive, but desired potter today. There is not a lot of his production that is known to have survived; although, his work is desired by prominent collectors and museums today.

Personally, I believe that more of Alld's work has survived; however, it is difficult to tie such objects to Alld because his identity lacks any archaeological evidence. Although, this pitcher does share similarities to known Alld jugs that exist in private collections and various prestigious national museums today.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Southern Maine

Possibly Made at the John Alld Pottery in Hollis, ME

Circa 1820-1860

Stands Approximately 8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Haverhill, Mass.

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Haverhill, Mass.

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

One of My All-Time Favorite 19th Century Red Earthenware Objects

This nineteenth-century red earthenware bank in the form of a standing Santa Claus, pictured along with a sack full of Christmas presents is undoubtedly one of my all-time favorite red earthenware objects that are known to exist today. This bank sold in 2005 at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland for $33,000, including the buyer's premium.

I really have no-doubt that this object was made by a German potter, who was employed in Pennsylvania probably during the circa 1870-1900 period. Although, it is worth noting that much of Ontario's red earthenware industry was established by Pennsylvania-German potters, who migrated north after 1840.

To my knowledge, this is the only known example of antique American-made red earthenware that depicts Santa Claus in existence today. However, there are collectible twentieth-century decorative red earthenware Santas that were made by modern Pennsylvania-German potters, such as Lester Breininger and Ned Foltz after 1970. These type of objects were made in the same tradition as were the products that would have been made in the nineteenth-century.

Curiously, I wonder if this was an 'end-of-the-day' piece that was made on behalf of a special request from a client, but I also wonder whether this bank could have been made by a potter, which was then given to a special person on Christmas morning. The rarity of this object seems to indicate (to me) that there is more to its history (and, story) other than just being an extremely rare bank or figure to see today.

According to Crocker Farm, "...This Santa Claus bank was probably made in Pennsylvania in the late-nineteenth-century. A doll's head can be seen peaking from Santa Claus' bag of presents. This bank is ex-Bill Bertoia Collection, and it was also sold at Christie's in New York City on March 13, 1991."

Late-19th Century Red Earthenware Bank in the Form of Santa Claus

Probably Made in Pennsylvania

Circa 1870-1900

Stands 9 3/4" Tall

Sold for $33,000 (Including Buyer's Premium) in 2005

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

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

An Important 19th Century Stoneware Jug that is Scheduled to Sell this Summer

Earlier this week, I took a look at the featured lots that are already listed for Crocker Farm's upcoming July sale in Sparks, Maryland - and, I noticed an early-nineteenth-century stoneware jug that is attributed to the northeastern states during the early-nineteenth-century. The crock is decorated with what Crocker Farm describes as "...One of the largest and most detailed incised eagles that we have ever offered. Including light cobalt and iron slip highlights to the wings and body, the eagle presents a most unusual Federal shield emblazoned with stars throughout. The imposing image measures eight-and-one-half-inches tall, and seventeen-inches long in curved distance between the wings, which nearly meet on the reverse side of the jug."

The detail of this bird is worth comparing to another nineteenth-century stoneware jug, which was also decorated with an incised eagle. That jug sold at Pook and Pook in Downington, Pennsylvania in 2012 for $402,900. Ideally, it is one of the most iconic examples of nineteenth-century American-made stoneware that survives today. The jug is inscribed by its maker, 'MADE / BY / A. STEDMAN,' which stands for Absalom Stedman, who was a potter in New Haven, Connecticut in the 1800's.

The jug that sold through Pook and Pook is also accompanied with a strong history having been displayed at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia in 1975 - and, it is also formerly apart of the Preston Bassett Collection. The jug is also tied to antique dealers, Barry Cohen, David Schorsch and Fred Giampietro.

Personally, I feel it is difficult to definitively say where the jug was exactly made that Crocker Farm has been consigned for this summer's upcoming sale; although, comparable incised eagle designs have been tied to New York City, Albany, New York and Connecticut in the 1800's.

Nevertheless, I thought the comparison seen in the decoration on the following two jugs could be an interesting study, between two potters, who chose to prominently decorate a jug with the same bird before 1830.

Crocker Farm Jug

19th Century Stoneware Jug Decorated with an Incised Eagle - Likely Made in the Northeast

Circa 1800-1820

Stands 16 1/2" Tall

Will Sell at Crocker Farm in Maryland in July 2016

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Incised Eagle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Incised Eagle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Incised Eagle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Incised Eagle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Another View of the Incised Eagle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

Pook and Pook Jug

19th Century Stoneware Jug Made by Absalom Stedman - New Haven, CT

Circa 1825-1830

Stands 19 1/4" Tall

Sold for $402,900 in 2012

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

Another View of the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

Another View of the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

Another View of the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

Another View of the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

Another View of the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

Another View of the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

View of the Potter's Inscribed Signature 'MADE / BY / A. STEDMAN'

Photo Courtesy: Pook and Pook - Downington, PA

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

A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Wall Pocket Discovered Yesterday in Rowley, Massachusetts

I discovered the following nineteenth-century red earthenware wall pocket yesterday at Todd's Farm Flea Market in Rowley, Massachusetts for $3. The dealer told me that it was recently found in a house in New Hampshire. The base of the wall pocket is flanked with what I would describe as an acorn finial.

Overall, the American-made red earthenware wall pocket is a rare form to find today - it was designed with the intent to hold flowers while it hung from an exterior or an interior wall. The form gained popularity in Europe in the late-eighteenth-century. But, its popularity did not spread to America until after the American Civil War - and, its popularity continued with American homeowners unit the 1950's. However, most of the wall pockets that were designed in the twentieth-century were molded products made by industrial-type companies.

The nineteenth-century handmade American wall pocket was likely most-popular with the red earthenware potters, who were employed in the Mid-Atlantic region; although, it is debatable that the majority of the nineteenth-century red earthenware production happened within Virginia and Pennsylvania after 1870.

Nevertheless, the handmade wall pocket that I discovered yesterday at Todd's Farm Flea Market in Rowley is possibly a very-rare object made in New England.

To my knowledge, institutions such as Historic New England and Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts do not own a related form from New England despite owning large red earthenware collections. However, it is difficult to say specifically where this object may have been made since there are no other New England-made forms known (to me), and there is also no archaeological evidence (that I am aware of today).

It could be argued that this wall pocket was made in Massachusetts, New Hampshire or possibly even Maine during the circa 1870-1900 period. It would have likely been made in an area, where potters focused on the production of floral products after 1870.

For example: I have seen similar bright orange glazes attributed to the Lamson Pottery in Exeter, New Hampshire after 1840; although, I have also seen similar bright orange glazes attributed to the Moses Paige Pottery in Peabody, Massachusetts after 1880. Both the Lamson and Paige Potteries also focused on the production of floral products in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth-centuries.

Note: The back of this handmade red earthenware wall pocket is glazed, which is similar to wall pockets that were made in the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia in the late-1800's.

19th Century Red Earthenware Wall Pocket Possibly Made in New England

Reportedly Recently Found in a House in New Hampshire

Discovered Yesterday at Todd's Farm Flea Market in Rowley, Mass.

Circa 1870-1900

Stands 7 3/8" Tall

View of the Back

View of the Interior

Another View of the Wall Pocket

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