A Red Earthenware Handled Pot Discovered Yesterday at Antiques Week in New Hampshire

Thus far, I have only purchased a single object of pottery at this year's 'Antiques Week in New Hampshire' celebration; although, I have seen many museum-quality objects in dealer's booths from all around the county.  The piece that I bought yesterday was found at 'Antiques in Manchester: The Collector's Fair.' I discovered a small handled pot tucked inside an eighteenth-century corner cupboard owned by Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Greg Kramer. Greg handles a lot of red earthenware so it is always a surprise to see what he finds in Pennsylvania. It seems that he is always discovering red earthenware from New England, western New York, Ontario and such at auctions and in early collections.

The object that I found yesterday was undoubtedly made in Merrimacport (formerly West Amesbury), Massachusetts; however, I am not convinced if it was made at William Pecker's (1758-1820) business before 1820 or at James Chase's (1779-1849) business after 1820. Nevertheless, Pecker and Chase were both related with similar production styles, which was a result of Chase having been trained by Pecker during the circa 1800-1820 period.

I was also drawn to this object since the Historical Society of Old Newbury in Newburyport, Massachusetts owns two pieces decorated with a very-similar glaze. The historical society also attributes their objects to Merrimacport with each piece having a long history of ownership in the Newburyport-area.

Here are links to two articles, which I have written for the 'New England Antiques Journal' that will provide more information about the red earthenware produced at the William Pecker Pottery and the James Chase Pottery in Merrimacport.

William Pecker Pottery

Chase Family Pottery

Objects Owned by the Historical Society of Old Newbury

19th Century Red Earthenware Objects Attributed to Merrimacport, Massachusetts

Both Pieces Have a Long History of Ownership in the Newburyport, Mass. Area

Circa 1790-1840

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, Mass.

Handled Pot Found in New Hampshire

 19th Century Red Earthenware Handled Pot Attributed to Merrimacport, Massachusetts

The Historical Society of Old Newbury Owns Two Similar Objects 

Circa 1790-1840

Stands 4 5/8" Tall

Purchased Yesterday at Antiques Week in New Hampshire

 Another View of the Handled Pot

View of the Handle

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

An Important 18th Century Red Earthenware Chamber Pot Sherd Recovered in Berwick, Maine

In the past year, I have examined a number of locations, where eighteenth-century red earthenware produced at the Charlestown, Massachusetts potter's industry was discovered elsewhere in New England. I truly believe that a percentage of the pottery produced in Charlestown was made with the intent that it would be shipped to another location. There has been strong archaeological evidence found in Maine and Canada to suggest the idea that northern New England was definitely a destination for Charlestown-made red earthenware before 1775.

I have also recently discovered that slip-decorated red earthenware sherds were just recovered in southern Maine, which appear like slip-decorated products that were recovered in Charlestown in the 1980s as part of the archaeology that was conducted with Boston's Big Dig Project.

According to archaeologist and adjunct professor at Southern Maine Community College, Dr. Neill De Paoli, "The site of the South Berwick, Maine dig is located in Old Fields, an area that by the 1660s was the heart of the English settlement of Berwick situated on the upper reaches on the Salmon Falls River. This neighborhood consisted of several homes, a tavern, a meetinghouse, a burial ground, a public landing, and expansive hay fields. 

The Old Fields dig site is reputed to be the former home and tavern of the families Humphrey and May Spencer (c. 1696-1742), Captain Ichabod Goodwin (1740-1777), and his son General Ichabod Goodwin (1777-1829).

Historical documents also locate one of Berwick's fortified garrisons here during the conflict ridden 1690's and early 1700's. 

In 1690 and 1691, Wabanaki war parties in separate incidents attacked the Spencer garrison and two men working in a nearby field. 

Today, the property is dominated by the two and a half story second home of General Goodwin. The General had this home built in circa 1795 to replace his earlier residence that had burnt down the previous year. Here, he remained with his family until his death in 1829. 

Archaeologists have recovered a treasure trove of seventeenth and eighteenth century artifacts left behind by the Spencers, the Goodwins, tavern goers, and the black and indian slaves owned by Captain Goodwin."

The following artifact (chamber pot sherd) is an example of the type of slip-decorated red earthenware, which was recovered at the Old Fields site. This type of slip-decoration has also been recovered in various mid-eighteenth century archaeological contexts in Charlestown.

The mid-eighteenth century context in Charlestown also suggests that the chamber pot sherd found in Berwick may have been used when Captain Ichabod Goodwin owned the property in the 1740s and 1750s.

Coincidentally, it is also documented today that red earthenware was exported from Charlestown to Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the late-1740s and 1750s. This chamber pot sherd may represent that export/import business since Berwick is located less-than twenty-miles north of Portsmouth.

Further proof, which supports the idea that this chamber pot sherd may have traveled from Porsmouth is documented in John Parker's (born 1725) potter's daybook at the Baker Library at Harvard University. Parker was a potter in Charlestown, who was the son of Isaac (1692-1742) and Grace Parker (1697-1754) - and, together, they ran the Parker Pottery from circa 1714-1754. Some of the red earthenware that was exported to Portsmouth is cited in Parker's daybook, and a matching style of slip-decoration is also found with sherds recovered at the site of the Parker Pottery (see below) in Charlestown.

Chamber Pot Sherd Recovered in Berwick, ME

18th Century Slip-Decorated Chamber Pot Sherd Recovered in Berwick, ME

Similar Slip-Decorated Sherds Recovered in a Mid-18th Century Context in Charlestown, Mass.

This Chamber Pot Sherd was Likely Made at the Parker Pottery in Charlestown, Mass.

It May Have Been a Product Imported Into Portsmouth, NH in the Late-1740's or 1750's

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Neill De Paoli - Southern Maine Community College

Chamber Pot and Sherd Recovered in Charlestown, Mass.

(L) Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Sherd Recovered in Charlestown, MA

Uncovered in a Mid-18th Century Context at the Parker Pottery

(R) Mid-18th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Chamber Pot Uncovered in Charlestown, MA

Likely Made in Charlestown, Mass. at the Parker Pottery

Uncovered in a Mid-18th Century Privy at the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown, Mass.

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

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

An Interesting Comparison with 18th Century Red Earthenware Objects from Massachusetts

It has been about five-years since I visited the Dyer Memorial Library in Abington, Massachusetts to view a small collection of red earthenware, kiln furniture, sherds and a couple of kiln bricks related to the potter, John Henry Benner (1726-1795) in Abington, Massachusetts. Benner was reportedly active circa 1765-1795 producing red earthenware for local needs south of Boston, and likely Boston's south shore, as well.

My latest article in the New England Antiques Journal discusses Peter Clark, who was active in Braintree, Massachusetts, circa 1764-1775. The distance between Abington and Braintree is roughy nine-miles. Presumably, Benner and Clark knew each other before 1775; however, I have also suggested in the past that colonial Massachusetts potters, such as Benner and Clark were also well-aware of the potter's industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts before 1775.

The following red earthenware jug is attributed to John Henry Benner by the Dyer Memorial Library; although, the glaze does not appear familiar for eighteenth-century potters in Massachusetts. Common knowledge today suggests that this type of glaze would more-likely be attributed to northern New England or western New York after 1820.

However, a matching glazed crock was recovered from an eighteenth-century privy in Charlestown, circa 1770. Interestingly, this type of glaze does not appear anywhere else in the Charlestown Archaeology Collection, which includes dozens of boxes of ceramics recovered from various potter's businesses in Charlestown.

In theory, I have wondered if Benner could have exported red earthenware into Charlestown (or Boston) when the turmoil began between English soldiers and American patriots culminating in the American Revolution (1775-1783). Events, such as the Intolerable Acts likely hampered the production of red earthenware in Charlestown, and I have always speculated if some potters outside of Boston may have exported their products into the Boston-area during the circa 1770-1783 period.

This jug and crock may be proof that a domestic export/import business did happen around the American Revolution with certain potters located just outside of Boston. They may have helped fill the demand for utilitarian red earthenware, which had been filled by the Charlestown potter's industry. However, that industry was largely affected by the turmoil that led up to the American Revolution - and, even more-so, when Charlestown was entirely burned by British soldiers at the Battle of Bunker Hill of June 17, 1775.

Note: The name, John Henry Benner is not widely known today, but I assume his business was similar to Daniel Bayley's company in Newburyport, Massachusetts, which operated circa 1766-1799. Archaeological evidence has proven that Daniel Bayley's company was exporting red earthenware to Salem, Massachusetts, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Portland, Maine, and even colonial military forts in Maine and Canada.

Jug from Abington, Mass.

Reportedly 18th Century Jug Attributed to John Henry Benner - Abington, MA

Circa 1765-1795

Stands Roughly 9" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Dyer Memorial Library - Abington, MA

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Dyer Memorial Library - Abington, MA

View of the Handle and the Rim

Photo Courtesy: Dyer Memorial Library - Abington, MA

Crock from Charlestown, Mass.

18th Century Red Earthenware Crock Recovered in Charlestown, Mass. 

Glaze Matches the Glaze on the Jug Shown Above, Which is Attributed to John Henry Benner

Circa 1770

Stands Approximately 10" Tall

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

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

A Wonderful (and Unusual) Red Earthenware Pitcher Recently Discovered on Mount Desert Island in Maine

This is a really neat nineteenth-century red earthenware pitcher, which was recently discovered by Maine antiques collector and picker, Chris Havey on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park in Maine. He told me that he discovered it in a small shop.

Chris also mentioned to me when I saw him last week at the Union, Maine Antiques Show that the form of this object reminded him of some nineteenth-century American-made stoneware pitchers.

Truthfully, I have never seen this exact form in red earthenware before; although, I have seen similar formed red earthenware pitchers attributed to Massachusetts, Vermont and Ontario from various production periods throughout the nineteenth-century. For what it matters: I do not believe this is a product that was made in Pennsylvania.

For example, the Bidwell House Museum in Monterey, Massachusetts owns a pitcher that is not exactly like this pitcher, but the idea is similar, and the museum attributes their object to Massachusetts. Unfortunately, no specific county, city, town, potter's business or potter is credited for its production. I feel the same idea can be applied to the pitchers, which I refer to that are attributed to Vermont and Ontario today, where the styles appear similar, but the form is not exactly the same.

Nevertheless, I feel this pitcher is likely a northern New England or Canadian-made product; however, I am hesitant to say that a similar form was made in Massachusetts, like the Bidwell House Museum suggests. I am not confident that there is sufficient evidence today to prove this is a Massachusetts-type of form from  the 1800's.

I really feel this is an incredible example of nineteenth-century red earthenware with a highly unusual form to find today. I have never seen anything exactly like this object before from an American or Canadian potter. Although, I would not rule out the idea that this product may have been made in any number of locations that include Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Ontario, circa 1840-1880.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Likely Made in Northern New England or Canada

Recently Found in a Shop on Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park in Maine

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

Circa 1840-1880

Another View of the Pitcher

View of the Handle

View of the Interior

View of the Base

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

A Comb-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish that was Found Almost Ten-Years Ago at a Flea Market in Massachusetts

I discovered this slip-decorated red earthenware dish at an Essex County, Massachusetts flea market almost ten-years ago. I bought it for the wonderful combed slip-decoration, and it has hung on a wall in my house ever since. I walk by it many times every day; however, I have never really given it much thought. Similar decorations were applied on English slipware in the seventeenth and eighteenth-centuries; although, this type of decoration was also applied on products made in Philadelphia in the eighteenth-century.

Curiously, I decided to take a better look at this dish yesterday in comparison to the marbled red earthenware dishes, which I have discovered in central Maine and western Massachusetts in the past two-months.

The combed slip-deocration on this dish looks to be in incredible condition, and that's probably why I never really gave this piece much attention after I hung it on my wall. Although, the back of the dish seems to have a little bit more age.

Nevertheless, I also compared this dish to three nineteenth-century slip-decorated red earthenware banks from Buckley, England, where there appears to be some similarities found in the clay, the lead glaze and the color of the slip.

Traditional red earthenware remained an industry with country potters in England well into the twentieth-century, and this seems (to me) that it could be related to this industry whether it is from the nineteenth or  twentieth-century.

Note: I do remember the dealer telling me that this dish was found in a house cleanout, but I do not remember where. Although, it was likely in coastal Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire or southern Maine. But this piece is also interesting since it may represent that English red earthenware still found its way into America during a later period of production.

Likely 20th Century Combed Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Likely Made by a Country Potter in England

Found Years Ago at an Essex County, Massachusetts Flea Market

 Measures 10" Long and 9" High

View of the Back

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

Another Marbled Red Earthenware Dish Discovered Yesterday in New England

Tonight, I would like to quickly discuss (and show) a wonderful marbled red earthenware dish that I discovered yesterday in a shop called, 'Elmer's Barn' in Cooper Mills, Maine. This dish is from the same maker or location as a marbled red earthenware dish that I found in June in western Massachusetts on my way home from Historic Eastfield Village's annual ceramic  conference, otherwise known as 'Dish Camp' in Nassau, New York.

I also believe that these dishes are related to a nineteenth-century marbled red earthenware dish that Mount Crawford, Virginia auctioneer, Jeffrey Evans  sold on June 18, 2016. That dish was reportedly consigned from a prominent private Virginia collection, and it had been previously acquired at Sotheby's in New York City. 

Jeffrey Evans described his dish as an "English slip-decorated red earthenware dish with manganese, a lead glaze, a coggled pie crimp edge, and swirled yellow slip-decoration from the nineteenth-century."

The size of the dish that I found in Maine yesterday is also the exact same measurements as is the Dish that sold in Virginia in June.

Here is a link to the original article that I published on June 26, 2016, which discusses the first dish that I found in western Massachusetts.

Recently Discovered Red Earthenware Dishes

(Left) Dish Discovered in Western Massachusetts in June 2016

Click the Link Above for More Information

(Right) 19th Century Marbled Red Earthenware Dish Discovered Yesterday in Cooper Mills, ME

Matches a Dish that Sold in Virginia in June 2016

Measures 7 1/4" in Diameter

Stands 1 3/4" Tall

Dish that Jeffrey Evans Sold in Virginia

 19th Century Marbled Red Earthenware Dish Likely Made in England

Circa 1800-1900

Measures 7 1/4" in Diameter

Stands 1 3/4" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates - Mount Crawford, VA

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

A Very-Rare Piece of 19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Discovered Yesterday in Union, Maine

I believe Antiques Week in New Hampshire has been scheduled (week of August 7th) a week later in August this year, so, as-a-result, other New England antique shows are now leading up to it rather than happening after the celebration. One of those shows is the Union, Maine Antiques Show, which traditionally happens afterwards; however, the scheduling this year, allowed the Union show to actually coincide with the start of Antiques Week in New Hampshire.

I made the trek north yesterday for the start of the Union Show. I have questioned in years past if I wanted to go since it is over a two-hour ride north (for me), but this year I figured 'what the heck.' This was only my second year of attending, and it was my first time going to the opening day of the show. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the ride and the beautiful country-side views that are found this time of year in Maine.

Luckily, I made an incredible discovery yesterday, too. In my opinion, this is a must-see object for any fan of Maine-made red earthenware.

I was actually the first person to enter the show when the gates opened at noon. That was also a first for me. I am often in line for many antique shows before they start, but because of how the crowd was let in yesterday, I was actually the first spectator to walk onto the field.

As I walked around, I saw quite a bit of Canadian-made red earthenware from the mid-to-late nineteenth-century sold as American-made products. I completely understand the confusion, too - I used to make the same mistake trying to attribute Canadian-made red earthenware to northern New England and western New York. However, I truly believe that the way current research and knowledge is shared today, that it will sooner-or-later result in a better understanding of what was made in Canada (especially Ontario) with American collectors, dealers and museums.

I eventually found a nineteenth-century red earthenware mug hidden in a standing display case. The Maine antiques dealer asked me, "Is there anything that you would like to see?" I said, "Could I please see the redware mug?" As he pulled the mug from the case, he said that a group of dealers told him during the show setup that it was likely made in Connecticut. I think that attribution was partially based on the glaze. He also said that he had owned the mug for a long time.

I ended up buying the mug largely due to the handle, which told me this object was definitely not made in Connecticut.

I asked the dealer where he found the mug - his answer told me exactly what I wanted to hear, and it confirmed where I knew this piece was made. He said, "...I found it years ago in a house in Wiscasset, Maine." He also said that he was never positive where it was made, but he said he loved the form.

I believe this is an important mug since it is the only mug that I have ever seen that was made at the John Corliss Pottery in the Days Ferry neighborhood of Woolwich, Maine, circa 1820-1880. It may even be a unique survivor today. I do not think the Corliss Pottery made a lot of mugs - the Corliss' are really known today for jugs, pans, pots, jars, crocks and objects used for gardening.

The attribution is based on the unmistakable handle, which appears like a fish's tail. This is also a Corliss Pottery-type of glaze, where the manganese was likely applied by the potter's fingers; although, it is also an Essex County, Massachusetts-type of glaze.

Note: I also found a few other objects in rural shops in Maine that I stopped at on my way home yesterday. I will write about these pieces in the next few days.

Scenery in Maine

 Wonderful View on my Way to the Union, Maine Antiques Show

Union, Maine Antiques Show

 Union, Maine Antiques Show

Runs This Year August 5-7

  Union, Maine Antiques Show

Runs This Year August 5-7

  Union, Maine Antiques Show

Runs This Year August 5-7

  Union, Maine Antiques Show

Runs This Year August 5-7

Rare John Corliss Pottery Mug

19th Century Red Earthenware Mug

Attributed to the John Corliss Pottery in Days Ferry, Woolwich, Maine

Reportedly Found Maine Antiques Dealer, Gary Young in a House in Wiscasset, Maine Years Ago

Circa 1820-1860

 Stands " Tall

 Another View of the Mug

 Another View of the Mug

 View of the Unmistakable John Corliss Pottery Handle

View of the Interior

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