A Very-Important Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware Jug that Sold at Northeast Auctions in 2004

August, 2004

"Collecting Americana has been a passion in this county for well over one hundred years, yet it is only within the past two or three decades, that the beauty, form and rarity of New England redware has registered with most contemporary collectors and dealers.  Hilary and Paulette Nolan were fortunate to have been inspired thirty years ago by the singular elegance and splendor of these utilitarian objects, and the ensuring years have resulted in a grouping of eye dazzling beauty which is now being offered in its entirety in this sale.  Their attention on the truly magnificent symmetry, form, and above all, the colors achieved by the eighteenth and nineteenth century New England potters is a testament to their collection and focus in the assemblage of this significant collection.

As with any collecting journey, insights and revelations would build an awareness and deeper understanding of the artists, who created these pieces and parts of the puzzle would fall into place as time progressed. While the majority of the collection is focused on Bristol County, Massachusetts and neighboring Rhode Island, some outstanding pieces of other regional New England centers are also to be found in the offerings. Rare forms with a rainbow of colors came from a diversity of sources,  from old time dealers, such as I.M. Wiese, to pieces found at local flea markets or even the town landfill.

Charlotte Cook of Little Compton, Rhode Island was an early source and fountain of knowledge. Mrs. Clark of New Bedford, while no longer living in the 1970's, certainly helped with establishing the importance and desirability of these ceramic objects. Most likely, the Nolans have concluded, it was her marketing of redware through her shop in New Bedford in the first half of the twentieth century that cemented the name, "New Bedford Pottery" into the lexicon of the antiques world. Her son, who Hilary and Paulette met in Rhode Island confirmed that the bright orange crayon prices found on the bottom of some redware pieces were placed there by Mrs. Clark. Surprisingly, these were not cheap objects even then. My personal association with Hilarly and Paulette began with the loan of several pieces of redware from their collection for an exhibit at Heritage Plantation in 1991. Their input and generosity to the show were essential to the success it achieved.

The catalogue entries written by Hilarly and Paulette contain valuable information on provenance and their personal insights on various pieces. What they have not included are the resounding accolades of friends and associates, scientists, fishermen and the casual visitor who have all responded in similar manner to this outstanding collection. One need not be an antiquarian to appreciate the timeless beauty of these art objects. They speak to anyone who takes the time to stand back and enjoy the fruits of our gifted ancestor' craftsmanship and artistry.

The motivations for parting with this collection are many, but best summed up by Hilarly and Paulette - We are moving on to building barns, bigger boats and our beloved brown dogs. May our redware bring others the happiness it has given to us all these years."

Brian Cullity
Sagamore, Massachusetts

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

This letter was written by Cape Cod, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Brian Cullity for Northeast Auctions when Hilary and Paulette Nolan's private collection of red earthenware was sold in the summer of 2004 in Manchester, New Hampshire. The collection really helped define and confirm why the southeastern Massachusetts potter's industry is so important today. This importance was first noted by Charles D. Cook, an early collector and writer from Cape Cod; although, Lura Woodside Watkins also confirmed the significance that was the potter's industry in southeastern Massachusetts when 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' was published in 1950.

It should be no surprise, either that the Nolan's Collection was also one of the most successful private red earthenware collections that has ever been consigned to a New England auction house. Many of the objects soared well into five-figure prices.

Historically speaking, the most significant example of pottery from this collection was an important handled marriage jar that was likely made by the Purinton family of potters, circa 1812. The jar is dated in slip '1812' under one handle, and the the initials 'AP' are found under the other handle. The jar is decorated with a bright orange-glaze with white slip-decoration and splashes of bright-green. A similar style of white and green slip-decoration was also applied in Philadelphia in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth-centuries.

It is also important to note that many of the objects from this collection had never been placed in the spotlight of the national antiques industry before. They were objects that had been personally picked by the Nolans over the previous thirty-years, and those objects had been kept privately in their home on Cape Cod.

Nevertheless, the most-spectacular piece of pottery in the Nolan's Collection was likely the largest southeastern Massachusetts red earthenware jug that I have ever seen. The combination of the form and the glaze-colors are second to none. In my opinion, this is one of the finest American-made red earthenware jugs known to exist today. It may even be the finest - I cannot remember ever seeing a more beautifully made jug from an American potter.

The Nolans purchased this jug at an autumn antique show on Cape Cod in the early-1980's. They said its glaze was breathtaking when they viewed it in direct sunlight. They said the glaze-colors blended beautifully with the variety of colors on the tree leaves that had just begun to change for the season.

The jug also retains a history in Little Compton, Rhode Island, where it was reportedly handled by Charlotte Cook, who was an early Rhode Island antiques dealer. Although, it should also be no surprise that this was the most-desired object when Northeast Auctions sold the Nolan's Collection in 2004.

Ultimately, this jug ended up with a prominent private collector, but it has recently been consigned to Antiques Associates at West Townsend, Massachusetts. This is only the second time that this object has been offered for sale since the Nolans originally acquired it on that fall day in the early-1980's. For more information: go to aaawt.com.

Note: Here is a link that discusses a collection of southeastern Massachusetts red earthenware that is owned by the Little Compton, Rhode Island Historical Society. Little Compton is an area, where a lot of southeastern Massachusetts red earthenware was exported in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. However, it is also a location, which has generated many wonderful New England-made antiques since dealers began picking the area in the 1900's.

Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware Jug

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Southeastern Mass.
Circa 1780-1820
Stands 11" Tall
Ex-Hilary & Paulette Nolan Collection - Cape Cod
Provenance: Charlotte Cook - Little Compton, RI
Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend - West Townsend, Mass. 

Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend - West Townsend, Mass. 

 Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend - West Townsend, Mass. 

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Antiques Associates at West Townsend - West Townsend, Mass. 

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

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher that was Recently Found at an Estate Auction in Southeastern Pennsylvania

This nineteenth-century red earthenware pitcher was recently discovered on eBay, although, the glaze really stood out to me as a type of glaze that was produced in Buxton, Maine in the 1800's. But I can not make an attribution based on glaze alone since the form of this object relates to many areas that produced red earthenware in America before 1860.

It is not just the glaze that is great, either - the size of this pitcher is a little more than seven-inches tall. It is a perfect size!

According to the antiques dealer, "This pitcher was purchased at an estate auction in southeastern Pennsylvania. I can not say where it came from before that, but southeastern Pennsylvania is an area, where redware has been quite popular for many years."

This will be a fun piece to research that I hope to write about, again in the near future.

Red Earthenware Pitcher Found in Southeastern Pennsylvania

19th Century American Red Earthenware Pitcher

Recently Found at an Estate Auction in Southeastern Pennsylvania

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 7 1/8" Tall

 Another View of the Pitcher

 View of the Handle

 Another View of the Handle

View of the Base

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

A Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish that is Owned by the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts

In recent months, I have written about two late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century red earthenware objects that were likely made in Philadelphia, which retain a nineteenth-century history of ownership in Massachusetts. Additionally, sherds from Philadelphia-made red earthenware objects have also been recovered in early-nineteenth-century archaeological contexts in Massachusetts, which suggests (to me) that Philadelphia pottery must have been exported to New England in the 1800's.

An advertisement, which ran in the Newport (Rhode Island) Mercury on June 22, 1767 likely explains how Philadelphia pottery was viewed in New England in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries: "Joseph Wilson - potter at the North End of Providence Informs the Public that he can Supply them with Earthen Ware at a Cheap Rate, made in the best Manner and Glazed in the Same Way as Practised in Philadelphia - All Persons in this Town may be regularly supplied by Means of the Boats which constantly pass between this Place and Providence."

Potentially, there is another documented example of pottery that may have been made in Pennsylvania, which was acquired in 1984 by the New Bedford Whaling Museum in New Bedford, Massachusetts. This object also retains a history of ownership in New Bedford, which is interesting since southeastern Massachusetts also supported a very-successful red earthenware potter's industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. 

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins also quickly mentioned a type of slipware that was found on Cape Cod (not far from New Bedford) in the early-to-mid-nineteenth-century in figure 54 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.' Watkins described it as "a red earthenware tray with bands of wavy lines in light slip." She suggested that the object may have been made on Long Island (or somewhere else), but I suspect that this could also be a Philadelphia-made product.

New Bedford Whaling Museum Dish

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

Possibly Made in Philadelphia

Retains a History of Ownership in New Bedford, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

 Measures Approximately 16"-18" Long

Photo Courtesy: New Bedford Whaling Museum - New Bedford, Mass.

Dish Found on Cape Cod Before 1950

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

Possibly Made in Philadelphia

Retains a History of Ownership on Cape Cod in Massachusetts

Circa 1790-1820

Measures 18 1/2" Long

Pictured in Figure 54 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

Photo Courtesy: 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' Watkins, Harvard University

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

Rare Examples of William Pecker Red Earthenware and Stoneware from Merrimacport, Massachusetts that Recently Came to Auction

William Pecker Stoneware
A few weeks ago, I wrote about two rare late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century stoneware objects that had been consigned to Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland, which were made by William Pecker (1758-1820) in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, circa 1790-1820. Neither object met its reserve; however, they were also previously unknown to me, where there are still less than ten examples of Pecker stoneware known to exist today.

The two objects included an important stoneware jar that was attributed to Pecker based on the overall form, as-well-as the incised bird and fish decoration. The incised bird also matched archaeological evidence, which I have recovered at the site of the Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport.

But there was also an unusual straight-sided stoneware jug consigned to Crocker Farm, which had been impressed with Pecker's mark, 'Wm Pecker.' I had commented saying that this was an unusual form since all of the previous known Pecker Pottery stoneware jugs were manufactured with an ovoid body.

William Pecker Red Earthenware
Nonetheless, last weekend, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia sold a straight-sided red earthenware jug that was also made at the William Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport. This was also an unusual form for red earthenware jugs that were produced at the Pecker Pottery, where most (but not all) of the company's jugs were made with an ovoid body, as well.

Interestingly, the form of the straight-sided red earthenware jug (see below) that sold in Virginia is almost a mirror image of the straight-sided stoneware jug (see below) that sold at Crocker Farm.

Historically speaking, this is a rare comparison, where a red earthenware jug and a stoneware jug can be compared, as-a-result of having been produced at the same small potter's business in the early-nineteenth century.

Typically, an American potter's business produced either red earthenware or stoneware, especially businesses located in New England. It is rare to find an eighteenth or nineteenth century American small potter's business, which produced both types of pottery, especially in the late-1700s and early-1800s. I think the comparison is even rarer when there is an obvious crossover that happened with the initial production of red earthenware to the eventual manucture of stoneware (or stoneware to red earthenware).

Note: I have included various examples of William Pecker's red earthenware production, which shows that red earthenware jugs from the Pecker Pottery are represented at a number of national museums, such as Old Strubridge Village in Massachusetts, the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., Historic New England and Winterthur in Delaware (not pictured).

Jug Sold by Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Virginia

Likely Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug 

Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

Stands 7" Tall

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

Another View of the Jug

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

View of the Handle

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

William Pecker Straight-Sided Stoneware Jug

Likely Early-19th Century 1-Gallon Stoneware Jug

Made by William Pecker - Merrimacport, Mass.
Marked 'Wm Pecker'

Stands 9" Tall
Circa 1790-1820

Photo Courtesy: Crocker  Farm - Sparks, MD

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm - Sparks, MD

William Pecker Ovoid Red Earthenware Jugs

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

Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

Stands 9 1/4" Tall

Previously Owned by William Pecker's Grandson

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection 

See Figure 40b in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

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

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

Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

Stands Approximately 7" Tall

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

See Figure 40c in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

Photo Courtesy: Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge, Mass.

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

Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

Stands 11" Tall

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

See Figure 41b in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

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

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

Attributed to the William Pecker Pottery - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820

Stands Approximately 8 1/2" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England - Haverhill, Mass.

William Pecker Ovoid Stoneware Jug

  Late-18th or Early-19th Century 2-Gallon Stoneware Jug

Made by William Pecker - Merrimacport, Mass.
Marked 'Wm Pecker'

Jug was Found in a House in Wenham, Mass. in 2012

Stands 9" Tall
Circa 1790-1820

View of the Handle

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

An Important Red Earthenware Ring Flask that Sold Last Weekend in Virginia

In recent months, I have written a few articles about Nathaniel Seymour (1763-1849), who was an important late-eighteenth and nineteenth-century potter from West Hartford, Connecticut. Seymour's work was acknowledged in 2002 by the American Folk Art Museum in New York City when the museum published a detailed article about the potter.

More recently, surviving slip-decorated pottery, which was made by Seymour has been highly sought after by collectors at nationally recognized antique shows, as-well-as auction houses, such as Crocker Farm in Maryland, Skinner, Inc. in Boston, Garth's in Ohio and Sotheby's in New York City.

Nevertheless, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates sold an important slip-deocrated ring flask last weekend in Mount Crawford, Virginia, which appears like it was also made at the Seymour Pottery in West Hartford, circa 1790-1820.

Interestingly, this object was previously owned by the New York Historical Society, which likely accounts for the old museum number that was written on this ring flask. However, the fact that this piece retains a history of ownership at the New York Historical Society likely also explains why the museum was loaned an important Seymour pitcher for an exhibit before 1967. I recently wrote an article about this pitcher, but it seems that this ring flask could have been included in the American Folk Art Museum's article (mentioned above), as well.

The museum's article showed a slip-decorated standing flask, multiple slip-decorated jars, a slip-decorated porringer and multiple slip-decorated pitchers. However, the article did not mention the production of slip-decorated ring flasks, which seems to indicate the rarity of the object that was sold last weekend in Virginia.

According to Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, "This ring flask was consigned from an important private Virginia collection. Although, it was also sold at Sotheby's in New York City on January 29, 1995."

Important Slip-Decorated Ring Flask

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Ring Flask

Likely Made at the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery in West Hartford, CT

Circa 1790-1820

Measures 9 1/2" in Diameter

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

Another View of the Ring Flask

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

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

Joseph Hazeltine: A 19th Century Red Earthenware Potter in Concord, New Hampshire

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares), "The Hazeltines ran a redware shop of some importance about a half mile west of the Clark (family) Pottery in Concord, New Hampshire. Joseph Hazelintine (1799-1880), its founder, was a native of Concord. He worked for the Clarks (Peter Clark, Jr., 1794-1855 and John Farmer Clark, 1832-1885) at times, but Hazeltine also carried on an independent business that he established around 1842, and operated until about his death in 1880. (Note: Joseph Hazeltine likely trained at the Clark Pottery in Concord, as well.).

Joseph Hazeltine's shop stood on the north side of Hopkinton Road, east of Miss Alice Moulton's land, and near the line where an iron fence now stands close to a barn on the next estate. The kiln was located behind the shop.

Hazeltine reportedly operated four potter's wheels and must have employed a number of men. Several pieces of his red earthenware have survived (prior to 1950). His grandson, (also) Joseph Hazeltine, postmaster at Contoocook, New Hampshire, cherishes a shaving mug, and the museum of the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society at Hopkinton has preserved a stew pot with a handle made by Hazeltine in 1845."

I recently contacted the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society in Hopkinton, New Hampshire in order to view the objects that they own, which are attributed to the Hazeltine Pottery in Concord, New Hampshire. I truly believe that the Concord potter's industry is an area that is not completely understood as a whole today; although, this was also a city that produced red earthenware at multiple businesses well into the late-nineteenth-century. I could also see some of these objects mistaken for products that were made in Maine today.

Nevertheless, these are the objects that the museum currently owns, which include a stew pot or a pitcher that is likely similar to the stew pot or pitcher that Lura Woodside Watkins references in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares.'

I have also posted a short report that was written by archaeologist, Dr. David R. Starbuck for 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire: Exploring 10,000 Years in the Granite State,' where the archaeology of the Joseph Hazeltine Pottery is discussed. This article mentions the location of the kiln, the type of kiln, as-well-as the types of artifacts that were recovered.

Archaeology of the Joseph Hazeltine Pottery - Concord, NH

Joseph Hazeltine Pottery Archaeology - Concord, NH

Photo Courtesy: Page 129, 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire'

 

 Joseph Hazeltine Pottery Archaeology - Concord, NH

Photo Courtesy: Page 130-131, 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire'

 Joseph Hazeltine Pottery Archaeology - Concord, NH

Photo Courtesy: Page 132-133, 'The Archaeology of New Hampshire'

Joseph Hazeline Pottery - Concord, NH

Lidded Jar
1983.0007

Glazed redware bean pot with lid and handle. Paper Label "This jug was made by Mr. Hazelton in his shop at Millville, in Concord, NH in 1845". This is where St. Paul's School is today.

According to Mary B. Dupre's article in ”Historical New Hampshire, Searching for New Hampshire Redware Potters,” this piece is the only known surviving piece from the Joseph C. Hazeltine pottery and was donated to the New Hampshire Antiquarian Society by a family member. Dupre references Early New England Potters and Their Wares by Lura Woodside Watkins for this information.

Watkins (1950) p. 127 states that at the time "Several pieces of his earthenware have survived. His grandson, Joseph Hazeltine, postmaster at Contoocook, cherishes a shaving mug, and the museum of the New Hamphsire Antiquarian Society has preserved a stew pot with handle made by Hazeltine in 1845."

19th Century Red Earthenware Lidded Jar Attributed to Joseph Hazeltine - Concord, NH

Circa 1842-1880

Stands Approximately 7" to 8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Antiquarian Society - Hopkinton, NH

Rundlet
1983.0002

Dark brown glazed ceramic bottle. Plug hole on side with cork plug in hole.   Paper label on side of rundlet above bung hole " A. N. 28 Ancient Earthen Bottle".

Card enclosed in folder. "Rundlet Small redware barrel-shaped vessel with bung hole at waist. Rundlets held alcoholic beverages, primarily rum, and were taken to the field or workshop."

 19th Century Red Earthenware Rundlet Attributed to Joseph Hazeltine - Concord, NH

Circa 1842-1880

Stands Approximately 5" Tall

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Antiquarian Society - Hopkinton, NH

Pitcher or Stew Pot
1988.0013

Glazed redware pottery pitcher with handle. Made by Hazelton Potters.

 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher or Stew Pot Attributed to Joseph Hazeltine - Concord, NH

Circa 1842-1880

Stands Approximately 5" Tall

A Similar Object is Mentioned in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Antiquarian Society - Hopkinton, NH

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

A Rare Onsite Auction in Newburyport, Massachusetts with Many Objects that Retain a 19th Century History of Local Ownership

According to a book written by John J. Demers and Raymond J. Demers, 'Piscataqua Discoveries: Diving and Exploring the Coastal Waterways and Harbors of New Hampshire,' "Spanish earthenware olive jars are commonly found on shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, but are less common on North American shipwrecks. The style of some of the jars are derived from the Roman Amphora family. Those recovered can be attributed to an Iberian descent in western Europe. The wares, being trade goods, have been found on Dutch, English, French and Spanish wreck sites. 

These containers were at times called the five gallon cans of the seventeenth-century. They were commonly used to carry olives, olive oil, honey, wine and, at times, water. Historians claim that coins were sometimes hidden amongst the internal contents so as to prevent them from being pilfered by pirates.

A typical shipwreck site will often contain many different size jars. Their form will also allow them to roll around, until they find a safe spot, generally not too far from the wreck from which they originated."

Yesterday, I attended an onsite estate auction at the Bass-Whitney house in Newburyport, Massachusetts, which was described by Amesbury, Massachusetts auctioneer, John McInnis as an "original untouched Federal Period home built circa 1807." 

John McInnis Auction of the Bass-Whitney House

John McInnis Auction of the Bass-Whitney House in Newburyport, Mass.

John McInnis Auction of the Bass-Whitney House in Newburyport, Mass.

According to a book written in 1912, 'Old Newburyport Houses,' "The land was bought in 1806 by Edward Bass, by then whom the house was then built, remaining in the hands of his son Edward Bass, until 1858. A life interest was then inherited by Thomas H. Whitney, cousin of Mr. Bass, the property passing in 1864 to his son, James E. Whitney and other children (and family members until about 1960)."

Bass-Whitney House - Newburyport, Mass.

Early-20th Century Photo of the Bass-Whitney House 

22 Tyng Street - Newburyport, Mass.

Photo Courtesy: 'Old Newburyport Homes'

This property was eventually purchased circa 1960 by the current owner, Frank E. Miller (and his family), where the family also purchased the contents of the home, which had descended in the Bass and Whitney families. But Mr. Miller was also apparently an avid collector of various antiques and collectibles, such as objects that retained a local history, as well as military guns and memorabilia. It appeared (to me) that some/many of the objects in yesterday's auction were directly obtained by the current owner.

Nevertheless, I purchased an eighteenth century red earthenware Iberian storage jar that may be related to a matching form and size, which was recovered from what is believed to be a mid-eighteenth century site in the Piscataqua River in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 

I do not think it is unrealistic to believe that a similar object would have found its way into Newburyport by way of the Merrimac River in the 1700s. Portsmouth and Newburyport are also separated by only about twenty-miles.

As-a-result, I would like to be believe that this jar is original to either the Bass or Whitney family's ownership in Newburyport. I have been told that these type of jars were also often re-purposed in the nineteenth century.

Note: This Iberian storage jar has been painted green; although, I plan to leave the green paint even though the paint is not original, but it is still old. Similar formed objects have also been recovered in the coastal areas that surrounded Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as-well-as coastal Massachusetts and coastal Maine.

Spanish Iberian Storage Jar

Huge 18th Century Red Earthenware Spanish Iberian Storage Jar

A Similar Formed Object was Recovered in a Mid-18th Century Context in Portsmouth, NH

 Likely Retains a 19th Century History at the Bass-Whitney House in Newburyport, Mass.

Measures 22" in Length

Another View of the Jar

There was also a group of locally produced red earthenware products that sold yesterday, which included decorative and utilitarian objects. Personally, I felt that a small group of Merrimac Pottery Company products were significant since they were likely obtained directly by the Whitney family from the pottery in the early-twentieth century. It is worth nothing that the Merrimac Pottery was located only a few miles away.

There was also a small brightly glazed red earthenware pitcher that was made at the William Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, circa 1790-1820; although, I am not convinced that this was a piece of pottery that was ever owned by either the Bass or Whitney families. However, if that is the case, then this piece was still likely obtained locally by Mr. Miller in the twentieth century.

Note: One of the Merrimac objects was actually made during the circa 1897-1901 period, which is when the company was originally known as the 'Merrimac Ceramic Company.' This attribution is possible due to the paper label, which the object still retains.

Merrimac Ceramic/Pottery Company Red Earthenware

Late-19th or Early-20th Century Merrimac Ceramic Company Jar with Brass Oil Lamp Insert

Made in Newburyport, Mass.

Marked with Merrimac Ceramic Company Paper Label

Likely Original to the Whitney Family's Ownership of the House

Circa 1897-1901

 Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

Early-20th Century Merrimac Pottery Company Candlestick

Made in Newburyport, Mass.

Stamped with Merrimac Pottery Company Mark

Likely Original to the Whitney Family's Ownership of the House

Circa 1902-1908

 Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

 Early-20th Century Merrimac Pottery Company Pitcher

Made in Newburyport, Mass.

Stamped with Merrimac Pottery Company Mark

Likely Original to the Whitney Family's Ownership of the House

Circa 1902-1908

 Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

Early-20th Century Merrimac Pottery Company Vase

Made in Newburyport, Mass.

Stamped with Merrimac Pottery Company Mark

Likely Original to the Whitney Family's Ownership of the House

Circa 1902-1908

 Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

Early-20th Century Merrimac Pottery Company Vases

Made in Newburyport, Mass.

(Left) Unmarked

(Right) Stamped with Merrimac Pottery Company Mark

Likely Original to the Whitney Family's Ownership of the House

Circa 1902-1908

 Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

Early-20th Century Merrimac Pottery Company Vase

Made in Newburyport, Mass.

Unmarked

Likely Original to the Whitney Family's Ownership of the House

Circa 1902-1908

 Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

William Pecker Red Earthenware

 William Pecker Pottery Red Earthenware Pitcher - Merrimacport, Mass.

Circa 1790-1820 

Stands 5 3/4" Tall

Photo Courtesy: John McInnis Auctions - Amesbury, Mass.

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