Christopher Weber: The 19th Century Harmonist Potter in New Harmony, Indiana

According to Michael Strezewski, who is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern Indiana, "The Harmonists were a millennial and utopian religious group founded in Iptingen, Germany in the late eighteenth century. The spiritual leader of the group was George Rapp (1757-1847), who believed that the second coming of Christ was near, and that all Christians must make preparations to lead a model life for his return. 

Due to their unorthodox ideas (for example, celibacy and communal living), the Harmonists were persecuted in their homeland, and they immigrated to the United States in 1805. They settled in Pennsylvania, but in 1814, Rapp moved the entire community to present day Posey County, Indiana, and built a new town, New Harmony, adjacent to the Wabash River. New Harmony was home to the Harmony Society from 1814 to 1824 and consisted of 180 buildings with a maximum population of about 750 residents.

The Harmonist potter, Christopher Weber, lived adjacent to his shop and kiln, and worked full-time manufacturing red earthenware for the residents of the town, as well as the non-Harmonist settlers in the area. Weber's production included storage jars, jugs, plates, mugs, serving bowls, and pitchers (see below)."

All of the following nineteenth-century red earthenware artifacts were recovered on the original site of the Solomon Wolfe House, circa 1819-1822 in New Harmony, Indiana. They were discovered when the house was moved by Historic New Harmony, Incorporated in 1975, and the area was professionally excavated soon after.

None of these red earthenware objects were recovered at the site of Christopher Weber's kiln in New Harmony; although, they were likely made by Weber when he distributed his production among New Harmony and the non-Harmonist settler's in the area. Weber also sold his pottery through the New Harmonist store from circa 1815-1824.

The slip-decorated artifacts are especially intriguing, but I suspect that any of this production, which survives today would be attributed to Pennsylvania if it were found outside of Indiana or the Midwest. The simpler glazed objects are also fascinating, where I suspect these type of products would also be generically attributed to another location today, as-long-as they are found outside of the Midwest.

However, I assume that Weber may have previously manufactured red earthenware at the society's first settlement in Harmony, Pennsylvania, circa 1804/05-1814. I have not found any evidence to prove whether he was a German-trained potter or a Pennsylvania-trained potter. But his Pennsylvania-German background is evident in the red earthenware, which was produced in New Harmony. I also assume that Weber may have traveled with George Rapp when Rapp built Economy Village in southwestern Pennsylvania in 1824.

Here is a link to an article that I wrote earlier this week, which discussed a piece of pottery that was attributed to Economy Village by Winterthur in Delaware.

Williams Fort, Illinois
It has been speculated that pottery from New Harmony may have been recovered in an early-nineteenth-century archaeological context at Williams Fort, which was owned by Aaron & Tabitha Williams in White County, Illinois, circa 1811-1838. The artifacts included slip-decorated bowls and plates, which were styles that are known to have been produced in New Harmony (see below). The wares would have been transported about eight-miles north by way of the Wabash River in order to reach this location in Illinois. The society later took advantage of the Ohio River when it was located in Economy Village near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Nonetheless, green-glazed red earthenware sherds were also recovered at Williams Fort; they were cataloged as having been produced in France in the early-nineteenth-century. However, these sherds appear very-similar to the green-glazed pitcher that I wrote about earlier this week, which Winterthur attributes to Economy Village in Pennsylvania. I had written in that article that the pitcher would likely be attributed to France today if it were not for Winterthur acquiring this object and its provenance in 1961.

I have not handled the green-glazed sherds that were found at Williams Fort in Illinois, but I suspect they may have possibly also been made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony. After all, the green-glazed sherds were recovered surrounded by locally produced red earthenware, which is thought to have been produced at the nearest pottery, and that happened to have been Weber's kiln in New Harmony.

Note: I have posted two pictures of a red earthenware washbasin that was recovered at the Solomon Wolfe House in New Harmony, Indiana. This artifact appears to have been over-fired, which shows how objects were still used in the 1800's even if they came out of the potter's kiln in a condition that was not intended.

New Harmony, Indiana Layout with Location of Potter's Kiln

Christopher Weber's Potter's Kiln Located Lower Left

Operated in New Harmony, IN Circa 1815-1824

His Pottery was Sold in the New Harmonist Store

But He Also Sold His Pottery to Locals Who Were Not Involved with the Society

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

Over-Fired Washbasin

 19th Century Red Earthenware Washbasin Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Appears Over-Fired

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

Another View of the Washbasin

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

Objects Likely Made in New Harmony, IN

19th Century Red Earthenware Creamer Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Porringer Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Pot or Storage Jar Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

Slip-Decoration Likely Produced in New Harmony, IN

19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Bowl Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Sherds Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Sherds Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Sherds Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Sherd Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

19th Century Red Earthenware Slip-Decorated Sherd Uncovered in New Harmony, IN

Recovered at Solomon Wolfe House, Built Circa 1819-1822

Likely Made by Christopher Weber in New Harmony, IN

Circa 1815-1824

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski, University of Southern Indiana

Excavations at the Wolfe House and Harmonist Warehouse Sites, New Harmony, IN, 2014

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

A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug Recently Discovered in the Concord, New Hampshire-Area

This is an unglazed nineteenth-century red earthenware harvest jug, which was recently discovered in the Concord, New Hampshire-area. This form would have been used to carry water to a field or some type of outdoor setting, which would have often entailed outdoor labor. But I do not think this type of object's use always involved labor. I have studied this jug for the past few days, and I feel it was made somewhere in central or northern New England, circa 1790-1860.

This is a rare form to find today from any New England red earthenware or stoneware potter; although, the most-prominent New England harvest jugs were likely made in southeastern Massachusetts, circa 1790-1830. These type of jugs were also usually glazed, but they were not all glazed (see below).

Three wonderful red earthenware southeastern Massachusetts harvest jugs sold when Falmouth, Massachusetts antique dealers, Hilary & Paulette Nolan sold their longtime red earthenware collection at Northeast Auctions in Manchester, New Hampshire in 2004. But there are a few other southeastern Massachusetts examples known to exist today that are privately owned, as-well-as a wonderful example owned by Winterthur in Delaware.

My observation: The footed base, the ovoid shape, the handle and the rim, which is seen where water would have been poured into this harvest jug remind me of regular red earthenware jugs that were made in Essex County, Massachusetts and various areas in New Hampshire in the late-eighteenth and nineteenth-centuries. I can not prove it; although, these characteristics also remind me of features found on objects that were produced by the Osborn family in Essex County, and in Gonic, New Hampshire, Loudon, New Hampshire, Boscowan, New Hampshire, Dover, New Hampshire, etc. These features are why I believe this harvest jug was made in central or northern New England in the nineteenth-century.

Note: I have also included pictures of a rare unglazed nineteenth-century red earthenware harvest jug that is owned by Winterthur in Delaware, which is thought to have been made in Philadelphia, circa 1832. The jug is inscribed, 'Made by David Rittenhouse / June 4th 1832.'

Harvest Jug Found in the Concord, NH-Area

 19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug

Probably Made in Central or Northern New England

Recently Found in the Concord, New Hampshire-Area

Circa 1790-1860

Stands 11 1/8" Tall

 Another View of the Harvest

 Another View of the Harvest

 Another View of the Harvest

 View of the Footed Base
This Type of Footed Base is Seen on Central and Northern New England Red Earthenware

View of the Base

Harvest Jug Owned by Winterthur in Delaware

19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug 

Attributed to Pennsylvania, Possibly Philadelphia

Inscribed 'Made by David Rittenhouse / June 4th 1832'

Circa 1832

Stands 13 1/8" Tall

Acquired by Winterthur in 1969

 Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Winterthur, DE

Another View of the Harvest Jug

 Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Winterthur, DE

View of the Inscription

Inscribed 'Made by David Rittenhouse / June 4th 1832'

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Winterthur, DE

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

A 19th Century Green-Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher Attributed to Economy Village in Southwestern Pennsylvania

According to Old Economy Village in Ambridge, Pennsylvania, "Economy Village, a National Historic Landmark built circa 1824, tells the story of the Harmony Society (a society founded in Iptingen, Germany in 1785), one of the oldest and most successful religious communal groups of the nineteenth-century. The society sought to create a utopia inhabited by German Lutheran separatists who subscribed to the mystical religious teachings of their leader George Rapp (1757-1847). In Economy, they waited for the second coming of the Messiah. 

Economy was the third and final home of the society in America (where previous settlements had already been established elsewhere in Pennsylvania and Indiana). In 1824, leaders purchased 3,000 acres in Beaver County on the Ohio River in southwestern Pennsylvania, eighteen miles downriver from Pittsburgh. The soil was rich for farming and the location was ideal for shipping Society products to the markets on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and to the West in the newly settled areas on the frontier. 

Economy was planned for efficiency. After twenty years in the United States and the experience of building and operating two other communities - Harmony, Pennsylvania (1804), and New Harmony, Indiana (1814) - The society's leaders had a clear understanding of the community needs. The church and the houses of George Rapp and his son Frederick Rapp (1775-1834) were located at the center of the town. Business locations included a store and post office, mechanics building and wine cellar, warehouse and granary. 

The Feast Hall, used for communal dinners and concerts, with the Natural History Museum on the first floor, was also located in the center of town. Positioned directly around the center were member's houses, eighty of which survive. At the outer edges of the community were livestock barns and stables, a tannery, textile mills, blacksmith shop and other buildings."

It has been reported that by 1829, Economy Village dominated the markets in Pittsburgh and down the Ohio River. As already noted, the society manufactured many goods, while utilizing the latest technology with their clothing factory, a sawmill, a tannery, and their vineyards and distillery. The group also reportedly produced high quality silk for garments. According to Cleveland.com, "They developed a technology for high-quality silk that won awards in Boston, New York City and Philadelphia. The group also built steam engines that were used in some of their factories."

Economy Village was also reportedly involved with the construction of the local railroad system, banking, oil and lumber. It is evident that this religious group was instrumental in the development of southwestern Pennsylvania in the nineteenth-century.

Economy Village even produced their own bricks, under the name, 'Economy Brick Works.' It also appears that they may have produced utilitarian pottery, as well, comparable to the Shaker Community located in Union Village in Warren County, Ohio, as-well-as a similar German religious settlement in Zoar, Ohio.

I have not been able to prove the following attribution; although, Winterthur in Delaware attributes this green-glazed red earthenware pitcher decorated with a slip-glazed interior to Old Economy Village, circa 1825-1881. The museum purchased this object in 1961, which leads me to believe there must have been a strong association between this pitcher and Economy Village for Winterthur to pursue such an object.

Note: I could definitely see this pitcher attributed as a nineteenth-century object that was said to  have been produced in France today.

Here is also a link to the pitcher listed on Winterthur's website.

Pitcher Attributed to Economy Village in Pennsylvania

19th Century Green-Glazed Red Earthenware Pitcher

Reportedly Attributed to Old Economy Village in Ambridge, PA

Circa 1825-1881

Stands 7 5/8" Tall

Purchased by Winterthur in 1961

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur - Winterthur, DE

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

A Great Collection of Pottery that Sold Today at Brunk Auctions in North Carolina

Today, Brunk Auctions in Asheville, North Carolina sold an important collection of mostly southern red earthenware and stoneware. The stoneware collection was especially important since it included three examples of Edgefield, South Carolina face jugs, which are highly prized today. This desire was evident in July 2015 when Crocker Farm sold an Edgefield face jug for a record $92,000.

Nevertheless, the collection also included wonderful examples of nineteenth and twentieth-century stoneware made in Gillsville, Georgia, Crawford County, Georgia, elsewhere in Georgia, Alabama, Ohio, possibly Anna, Illinois, Alexandria, Virginia and North Carolina.

There was also a number of stoneware face jugs, which included objects made by the Brown Brothers in North Carolina and an intriguing jug that was attributed to Alabama.

The red earthenware was terrific and some of it was really museum-quality, which included an incredible large jug, as-well-as a harvest jug, which were attributed to the Great Road in East Tennessee. Case Antiques sold a similar jug without its handle in Knoxville, Tennessee in 2008 that they attributed to the Cain Pottery in Sullivan County, Tennessee.

But there was also a nice green-glazed red earthenware jug made in southeastern Massachusetts in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth-century, as-well-as red earthenware objects from North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

I have not listed all of the pottery below; instead, I chose some of the objects that I found the most interesting. Here is a link to the entire auction catalog, where all of the pottery can be found.

Note: The auction results shown below do not reflect the buyer's premium. The price only indicates what the object sold for at the auctioneer's podium.

Lot No. 0499

  Late-19th or Early-20th Century Stoneware Face Jug

Attributed to Alabama

Stands 6" Tall

Sold:  $1,600

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

 View of One Side

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

  View of the Handle

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0510

 19th Century Stoneware Face Jug Attributed to Edgefield, SC

Circa 1860's

Stands 4 1/2" Tall

Sold:  $32,000

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of One Side

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Handle

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0511

  19th Century Stoneware Face Jug Attributed to Edgefield, SC

Circa 1860's

Stands 7" Tall

Sold:  $44,000

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

 View of One Side

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Handle

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0512

   19th Century Stoneware Face Harvest Jug Attributed to Edgefield, SC

Circa 1860's

Stands 6" Tall

Sold: $30,000

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

  View of One Side

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

 View of the Back

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

RED EARTHENWARE
Lot No. 0503

 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Harvest Ring

Possibly Made in North Carolina

Measures 11 1/4" in Diameter

Sold: $7,500

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

 Another View of the Harvest Ring

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Back

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0504

  Late- 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Made by Solomon Bells & Son - Strasburg, VA

Stands 8 1/2" in Tall

Sold: $700

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0505

  19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

Likely Made in Pennsylvania

Measures 13 1/2" in Diameter

Sold: $900

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0506

Early-to-Mid-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to Great Road, East Tennessee
Possibly Cain Pottery - Sullivan County, TN

Stands 11 1/2" Tall

Sold: $7,500

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

 View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0507

 19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug

Attributed to Great Road, East Tennessee

Stands 11 5/8" Tall

Sold: $1,100

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Another View of the Harvest Jug

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

 Another View of the Harvest Jug

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0515

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug with an Applied Face

Likely Made in Pennsylvania

Sold: $100

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0689

European Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

Sold at Sotheby's in 1995

Measures 17" in Diameter

Sold: $450

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Another View of the Bowl

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

Lot No. 0695

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Unusual Carrying Handle

Possibly Made in Buckley, England

Stands 8 1/4" Tall

Sold: $150

 Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Brunk Auctions - Asheville, NC 

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