A Rare 19th Century Red Earthenware Mug that just Sold at Auction in Plainfield, New Hampshire

Two days ago, I posted an article about some of the red earthenware that I had just purchased on a beautiful summer August day under a tent in the country at a William Smith auction in Plainfield, New Hampshire. The collection had been consigned from a 90-year-old gentleman, who lived in Vermont and has been collecting antiques his entire life. Many of the objects he has owned for more than fifty-years. The majority of the red earthenware was likely collected in the Vermont and northern New England area, which likely explains how he came to obtain a few examples of rare Vermont-made pottery.

Nevertheless, the most contested piece of red earthenware in the collection was a manganese splash decorated red earthenware mug that somewhat resembles the glazes, which were produced at the John Corliss Pottery in Days Ferry, Maine, the industry in Peabody, Massachusetts, as well as some glazes that have appeared on red earthenware found in Ontario. But I believe this rare object was possibly made in Vermont before 1840.

The handle terminal is a style that I have never seen before on red earthenware, where the potter carefully sculpted it to almost appear like a tail.

This mug was also accompanied with a legendary provenance having reportedly been previously owned by Nina Fletcher Little; although, I did not see any paperwork that documented this ownership. But any folk art or pottery that was once owned by Little is extra special today.

I tried to acquire this mug, but it sold well past what I wanted to pay for it with active bidders in the crowd and two focused bidders on the phone. Ultimately, the mug sold for an extremely strong price to a private phone bidder.

Note: Here is a link to the original auction listing for this mug listed on William Smith Auction's website.

I also want to mention that an incredibly important piece of pottery made in Charlestown, Massachusetts, circa 1750 sold a few years ago at a Tim Gould auction in Maine, which was also reportedly once owned by Nina Fletcher Little. Here is a link to an article that I wrote for the February 2016 edition of the New England Antiques Journal, which takes a closer look at this object and the potter's industry, where it was made.

Rare Red Earthenware Mug

Mug Previously on Display in the Vermont Gentlemen's House

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: W. A. Smith, Inc. - Plainfield, NH

19th Century Red Earthenware Mug Possibly Made in Vermont
Retains a History of Ownership in Vermont
Reportedly Previously Owned by Nina Fletcher Little
Stands 5 1/2" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: W. A. Smith, Inc. - Plainfield, NH

Another View of the Mug

Photo Courtesy: W. A. Smith, Inc. - Plainfield, NH

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: W. A. Smith, Inc. - Plainfield, NH

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: W. A. Smith, Inc. - Plainfield, NH

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

An Incredible Piece of Beverly, Massachusetts Red Earthenware Acquired Yesterday at the National Antique Bottle Show in Springfield, Massachusetts

Yesterday, I visited the National Antique Bottle Convention & Expo at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, an annual event that is held at different locations across the country, which was founded in California in 1958. I have been to some bottle shows in New England before, but I have never seen a bottle show of this size and quality; although, I was told that the annual bottle show in Baltimore is even larger.

But I drove to Springfield in order to pick up an incredible piece of New England red earthenware that I first learned about on Facebook last year just before Christmas. This object was acquired privately over one-year ago by Midddlebury, Vermont antique dealer, Jeff Noordsy.

This pitcher was made at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery (ca. 1866-1906) in Beverly, Massachusetts; however, this is certainly an object that was produced in the company's initial years of operation likely in the mid-to-late-1860s.

I also believe this to be an important piece of pottery for multiple reasons - the first being Lawrence's obsession with ancient pottery, which is a style of production that he led the country when in 1872 he was the first potter in America to begin copying Grecian-style pottery that he saw in prints and museum collections. The form of this pitcher closely resembles known ancient Grecian pitchers.

The second reason why I feel this is an important piece of pottery is the obsession that potters had with red earthenware made in Philadelphia in the eighteenth century. This obsession went as far as at least one potter advertising in the 1760s that he was producing pottery in Providence, Rhode Island, which was similar to what was manufactured in Philadelphia.

The glaze on this pitcher closely resembles some of the multi-slip glazes that were often utilized on plates and platters in Philadelphia in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. I would definitely not be surprised to learn that there is a connection, especially since this is a rare style of slip that Lawrence is known for today.

Notes: Here is a link to an article that I had published in the January 2014 edition of the New England Antiques Journal, which discusses the history of the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Here is also a link to an article that I posted last summer about an important piece of signed red earthenware from the Lawrence Pottery, circa 1872 that shows the Grecian influence.

And, here is a link to an article that I posted in June about an important piece of Lawrence Pottery that is kept in the Colorado Springs Pioneers Museum in Colorado.

Incredible Red Earthenware Pitcher

 My Niece, Alexis Pictured with the Pitcher Yesterday in Springfield, Mass.

 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher

Made at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

Likely Ca. Mid-to-Late-1860s

Stands 5 1/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Pitcher

 Another View of the Pitcher

View of the Handle

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

An 18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jug that was Recently Found in an Old House in the Concord, New Hampshire Area

A rare eighteenth century red earthenware jug sold last night on eBay that I believe was made at the Daniel Bailey Pottery Company or at the potter's industry in Newburyport, Massachusetts, circa 1760-1810. Although, I believe the use of slip was confined to eighteenth century production in Newburyport, which likely indicates this object was made before 1800.

The attribution is a result of similar formed jugs, which I have seen that are attributed to the Bayley Pottery that are similar in form. But I have also seen similar glazes and styles of slip-decoration from sherds that Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares) collected at the site of the Bayley Pottery in the 1930s, which are owned by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. today.

However, there were other potter's businesses in Newburyport, such as the Ebenezer Morrison Pottery, where some Bailey family members also worked in the 1700s. It is thought that some of the Morrison Pottery production was similar to what was made at the Bayley Pottery.

Nevertheless, the dealer told me that he recently found this jug inside an old house in the Concord, New Hampshire area, which was being cleaned out by a bank.

Note: I do not have any further information that I can provide about the house, but this is not the first instance that I have seen an example of eighteenth century Newburyport, Massachusetts red earthenware found in New Hampshire -- here is a link to an article that I posted a few years ago that showed a wonderful creamer with a somewhat similar decoration and glaze, which was found in an old farmhouse in Rochester, New Hampshire. The article in this link also shows a number of examples of sherds from the Daniel Bailey Pottery Company that were recovered in various archaeological contexts, including examples from the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

18th Century Jug Recently Found in the Concord, NH Area

 18th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jug Probably Made in Essex County, Mass.
Possibly Made in Newburyport, Mass.

Reportedly Found in an Old House in the Concord, NH Area

Circa 1760-1799

Stands 7" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- cydo97

 Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- cydo97

 Another View of the Jug

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- cydo97

View of Where the Handle Had Broken

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- cydo97

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: eBay Seller -- cydo97

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

A Wonderful Collection of Red Earthenware Acquired Today at an Auction in Plainfield, New Hampshire

I wanted to quickly show a group of red earthenware that I was very lucky to acquire today at a William Smith auction in Plainfield, New Hampshire. All of these objects were recently part of an antiques collection that was consigned, which had been kept in Vermont for decades. These are brief descriptions for each object:

1) Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish: This is a rare slip-decorated red earthenware dish that was likely made in Norwalk, Connecticut.

2) Red Earthenware Jug: This jug was likely made at the John Alld Pottery in Hollis, Maine, circa 1820-1860. It is very similar to two other jugs that sold at a Tim Gould auction in Maine in October 2015, which were attributed to Alld.

3) Red Earthenware Jar: This jar is similar to a jar that is kept with the Lura Woodside Watkins Collection (Early New England Potters and Their Wars) at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. It was most-likely made in Vermont before 1840.

4) Red Earthenware Handled Jar: This jar was also likely made in Vermont before 1840, and it is the same maker as a similar jar that sold in Lewis Scranton's Collection at Skinner in Connecticut in May 2016.

5) Red Earthenware Handled Pot: This is an object that I got as part of purchasing a larger group lot - I think it cold have been made in Vermont; although, I am not positive of that attribution. But the shape of the unusual rim is similar to other rims on objects that I have seen attributed to Vermont.

Collection of Red Earthenware

Some of the Red Earthenware that I was Able to Acquire Today in New Hampshire

See Article for More Information

1) Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

 Rare Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Dish

Likely Made in Norwalk, Connecticut

Measures 12 1/2" by 15 1/8"

See Article for More Information

2) Red Earthenware Jug

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Likely Made at the John Alld Pottery in Hollis, ME

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

View of the Handle

3) Red Earthenware Jar

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Made in Vermont

Similar Example Owned by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Stands 7 5/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

4) Red Earthenware Handled Jar

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Made in Vermont

Similar Example Sold in Lewis Scranton's Collection at Skinner in Connecticut in 2016

Stands 8 1/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

View of One Handle

5) Red Earthenware Handled Pot

19th Century Red Earthenware Handled Pot Possibly Made in Vermont

Stands 7 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Pot

View of the Handle

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

A Group of Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dishes that were Just Discovered at a Yard Sale in Maine

This is a group of small slip-decorated red earthenware dishes that were just discovered last weekend by a friend, who found them at a yard sale at an old house along coastal Maine. I do not believe these to be museum reproductions - they were not made at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia or Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts in the  twentieth century.

I had written last year that I felt this type of production could have happened in England in the nineteenth or even twentieth century; although, a well-known antique dealer in Pennsylvania has amassed almost one-half dozen similar plates in the past twenty-years, which he feels were made in Pennsylvania in the late-nineteenth or early-twentieth century. 

Nonetheless, all of the dishes and plates of this type that I have seen have exhibited some form of wear on the base, which indicates that these type of objects were manufactured to be used as opposed to many museum products and related twentieth century productions, which were primarily intended for decoration.

 I have also previously written about two related dishes that I found in western Massachusetts and northern Maine. Here are links to the original articles:

1) Dish Found in Western Massachusetts

2) Dish Found in Northern Maine

Note: Here is a link to a dish that I believe is related that Mount Crawford, Virginia auction company, Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates sold in June 2016. Interestingly, this dish had previously sold at Sotheby's in New York City.

Slip-Decorated Dishes Found in Maine

Group of Small Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Dishes Recently Found in Maine

Possibly English or Pennsylvania in Origin

Each Measures Approximately 5" in Diameter

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

View of the Back

Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

View of the Decoration on One of the Plates

Photo Courtesy: Private Maine Collection

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

A Lidded 19th Century Maine Red Earthenware Jar Used to Store Molasses that Recently Appeared in Central New Hampshire

While recently driving home from the lakes region in New Hampshire, I stopped at an antique/collectible-type shop located a little over one-mile from Interstate 93 near downtown Concord, New Hampshire. Inside the Concord Antique Gallery, I saw a lidded nineteenth century red earthenware jar, which is a form that I typically associate with the potter's industry in North Yarmouth, Maine.

The jar was heavily damaged around the rim, as well as having suffered extensive glaze loss; although, it was still an attractive jar. It was also interesting to see the jar's interior, which was partially filled with dried molasses.

It is not uncommon today to see country New England red earthenware jugs from the 1800s filled with syrup; however, I felt it was rare to see this type of form partially filled with molasses. Nevertheless, this certainly proves how this jar was once used.

I asked the shop keeper if she knew where the dealer had found the jar, but she did not have a specific answer. Whereas, she did say that the dealer was from the area, and it was likely found locally in central New Hampshire or just over the border in southern Maine.

It appeared to me that this jar was likely discovered in some type of early context of ownership in regards to its current condition, where it has apparently never been cleaned and the jar also retains its original lid. Both the base on the jar and the lid have been inscribed with the number "22," which is a major indicator that suggests that these two pieces were originally manufactured with each other.

Note: This jar is also currently for sale - for more information, I suggest contacting the Concord Antique Gallery in Concord, New Hampshire.

19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to North Yarmouth, ME
The Jar Retains its Original Lid
Likely Found in Central New Hampshire or Southern Maine

Circa 1820-1880

Stands Approximately 6 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Concord, NH Antique Gallery

 View of the Glaze Loss

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Concord, NH Antique Gallery

View of the Inscribed Number "22" on the Lid

The Base was Also Inscribed with the Same Number

This is the Jar's Original Lid

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Concord, NH Antique Gallery

View of the Inscribed Base with the Lid

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Concord, NH Antique Gallery

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

A Rare Jar that was Recently Acquired from New Jersey which was Likely Made by Peter Clark Possibly in the 1700s

Last week, I wrote about a rare eighteenth or early-nineteenth century red earthenware jar, which I had just acquired from an antiques dealer in New Jersey; although, the jar was reportedly recently found in Pennsylvania. This jar was delivered to my house yesterday and it is very-similar in form, decoration and size to a jar that is owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, Hampshire, which was made by Peter Clark (1743-1826) in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire after 1775.

To my knowledge, this newly discovered jar is a rare form to find today seeing that this object was also likely made by Clark in Lyndeborough, circa 1775-1826. But there is a small chance that it may have been made by Clark when he was active in Braintree, Massachusetts before the American Revolution, as well, circa 1765-1775.

However, I have never seen any red earthenware from Clark that was properly attributed to Braintree since there is no archaeological evidence that truly identifies how this production actually appeared. I can certainly speculate and say that the Braintree business likely manufactured wares that were similar to what Clark produced early-on in Lyndeborough - and, the Braintree wares most-likely also presented a strong Essex County, Massachusetts influence, which is where Clark had previously trained. Nonetheless, this jar does show an Essex County or coastal Massachusetts influence with its ovoid shape, the use of manganese, the banded incised decoration and the large rounded foot at the base.

I personally feel that this jar was likely manufactured at some point during the eighteenth century, as a result of the characteristics, which I just described.

I was also surprised when this jar arrived yesterday to see how different the glaze appeared once I had it in hand versus what I had seen in the photographs that I posted in last week's article. The following photographs show how this jar actually appears when it is viewed in regular sunlight.

Notes: For more information about Peter Clark, here is a link to an article that I wrote about Clark's life in Braintree, Massachusetts and Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, which was published in the August 2016 edition of the New England Antiques Journal.

The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont also owns a large collection of memorabilia and artifacts related to Clark --  here is a link to a story that I posted last September, which shows and discusses these objects.

Here is also a link to an article that I posted in June about a document that is believed to have been written by Clark in 1810 protesting the appointment of a pastor in Lyndeborough.

Red Earthenware Jar

 18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Decorated with Banded Incised Decoration

Likely Made by Peter Clark in Braintree, MA or Lyndeborough, NH

Circa 1765-1826

Stands 6" Tall

Reportedly Recently Found in Pennsylvania

See Article for More Information

Here is a Link to an Article that I Wrote About Clark that was Published Last Summer in the NEAJ

 Another View of the Jar

Another View of the Jar

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