A Quick Recap of Some of the Slipware and Stoneware that Sold this Week at Sotheby's in New York City

According to the Decorative Arts Trust, "For the field of American decorative arts, the third week in January is the most exciting time of year. Curators, collectors, and dealers gather in New York for Antiques Week, which consists of auctions, antique shows, and special events" 

Those auctions include two major annual sales held each winter at Sotheby's and Christie's, whereas, this week, Sotheby's offered a number of terrific examples of American/English-made slipware and stoneware.

I have listed my favorite three lots from the sale, which include a nineteenth century stoneware face  jug from the Edgefield District in South Carolina, a type of jug that has risen to incredible heights among collectors, dealers, museums, and scholars in the past decade. This particular object sold for $27,500 including the buyer's premium; although, it has been reported that the face jug sustained some noticeable damage since its creation in the 1800s.

The remaining lots incorporate a variety of remarkable eighteenth and nineteenth slipware from America and England. One of the lots consists of five great pieces of slipware - this actually may be my all-time favorite lot that I have seen sell at auction, which was exclusively made up of flatware. The lot sold for only $4,750 including the buyer's premium, which suggests there may have been condition or restoration issues; however, I did not inspect any of these lots. If there was no major damage or restoration, then merely just below $1,000 per plate is a real good deal.

Note: I suggest searching Sotheby's website in order to see what other significant pieces of American/European pottery sold this weekend.

19th Century South Carolina Stoneware Face Jug

19th Century Stoneware Face Jug Attributed to the Edgefield District in SC

Circa 1860s

Stands 4 7/8" Tall

Link to Auction Listing on Sotheby's Website

Sold: $27,500

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's

18th/19th Century American and English Slipware

18th/19th Century Slipware from Pennsylvania and England

Link to Auction Listing on Sotheby's Website

Sold: $4,750

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's

18th/19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate

Reportedly Made in Fair Lawn, NJ

Circa 1800

Measures 3 7/8" in Diameter

Link to Auction Listing on Sotheby's Website

Sold: $5,000

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Sotheby's

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

18th Century Red Earthenware Kiln Furniture Recovered in Chimney Point, Vermont

Earlier this month, I posted an article about Moses Bradley's red earthenware production in Chimney Point, Vermont, circa 1790-1797. Bradley is regarded today as a man who was involved with the first true wave of red earthenware potters to migrate to the state in the late-1700s. Although, Bradley was originally from Haverhill, Massachusetts, where he presumably learned the potter's craft in Essex County, Massachusetts.

I wrote, "Archaeologists from Vermont located the remains of a nearby red earthenware pottery in Chimney Point near an eighteenth century Colonial French fort, which was operated by Moses Bradley (1765-1826) in the 1790s. Bradley is regarded today as one of the first red earthenware potters to work in Vermont before 1800, where many of these late-eighteenth century potters also possessed a training from Essex County, Massachusetts.

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins wrote about Bradley when she published 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' in 1950 -- "Moses Bradley traveled from Haverhill, Massachusetts to Chimney Point in Adddison County in Vermont in 1790. After a residency of seven years, Bradley, with his family moved east to Windsor, Vermont, where they continued to produce red earthenware well into the 1800s."

From what I have read, Bradley dug his own clay from the local riverbanks while he operated in Chimney Point that he later used to produce pottery, which was sold locally, but it may have been shipped to other locations along Lake Champlain, as well. Archaeologists reportedly recovered kiln bricks, wasters and kiln furniture at this site, where these artifacts certainly indicate the remains of a pottery. It was also reported that Bradley likely made the typical forms, such as mugs, creams pots, jugs, pitchers, milk pans, vases and other objects. This production is likely based on what is known about Bradley's later production after 1797."

Nevertheless, this is some of the late-eighteenth century red earthenware kiln furniture that was recovered. Similar forms have been found at most red earthenware potter's sites throughout New England from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Note: Here is a link to an article that I wrote about Moses Bradley's family's red earthenware production after 1800 in West Woodstock, Vermont.

Kiln Furniture Recovered in Chimney Point, VT

18th Century Red Earthenware Kiln Furniture

Recovered at the Site of the Moses Bradley Pottery in Chimney Point, VT

Circa 1790-1797

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Vermont State Historic Sites

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

February 2018 Feature Story in Maine Antique Digest About the 18th/19th Century Dodge Family Potteries in New Hampshire and Maine

I wanted to quickly announce that my feature story about the eighteenth and nineteenth century Dodge family potteries in Exeter, New Hampshire, Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine is now available in the February 2018 edition of 'Maine Antique Digest.' I will post a link to the story later this month. The story includes previously unpublished archaeology, surviving examples and new information.

Nevertheless, this is a nineteenth century red earthenware bank or money box, which was excavated years ago in Portland, Maine. I believe this is a product of the Dodge family's production in Portland before 1876. I did not include this in the article since I am not 100 percent certain of the attribution, but considering the context that it was discovered, I would be quite surprised to learn it was made elsewhere.

Note: Here is also a link to an article that I posted in November of 2017 about a red earthenware sherd recovered by archaeologists from a nineteenth century estate in Portland, Maine, which had been marked, "B. DODGE / PORTLAND."

Red Earthenware Bank or Money Box

 19th Century Red Earthenware Bank or Money Box Recovered in Portland, ME

Possibly Made by the Dodge Family in Portland

Stands 5 1/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

View of the Base

See Article for More Information

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

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Flowerpot Recently Discovered in Southern Maine Possibly with Ties to Artifacts Owned by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

I have written a number of articles on this website (ex. article 1 and article 2) about the nineteenth century red earthenware production that took place in West Sterling, Massachusetts, a small community in the central part of the state. These objects included skillfully produced products, often adorned with colorful glazes, and even sometimes marked with a maker's stamp, such as 'A.S. WIGHT.'  This particular mark represents Abner S. Wight (1822-1890), a potter employed in the 1840s-1860s, but he was not alone in West Sterling; whereas, there were many other potters, who came before and after Wight's ownership.

However, the manufacture of interior and exterior household flowerpots eventually developed into a major means of industry for this area. Production included hand-thrown objects, but wooden and plaster-of-Paris molds were also implemented to create these type of objects.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares), "In West Sterling, Massachusetts, by far the greater proportion of fragments that we recovered from the later period are parts of flowerpots, which seem to have been produced in countless styles. 

First, there are the hand-turned flowerpots with separate saucers. Except for the largest sizes, these have no collars. Flowerpots of this type were no longer made by hand in redware potteries after the introduction of machinery, which turned them out with such regularity that they could be more easily stacked for merchandising. 

The hanging flowerpot was in its heyday for twenty years or more after the Civil War; many of us can remember the jar of ivy in our grandmother's window. At West Sterling we found them plain or with ruffled edges, glazed and unglazed. Some have saucers attached, while others are designed with an ornamental pendant on the base. The saucers often have a good and simple motif molded underneath, where it can be observed when hanging (see sherd posted below).

The glazed pots are dark brown or black in color and are frequently embellished with sprays of colors painted over the glaze in colors of gold.

Others of bowl shape, in many sizes have merely a green band painted below the rim. Another method of decoration practiced in many potteries of the period was to color the whole pot with bright blue, red, rose, or green touched with gold, or to perhaps outline its molded patterns with these colors. 

We also unearthed a section of one very large jar or flowerpot molded in really good design, indicating that the mold makers, whoever they were, were familiar with classic art (see sherd below)."

In keeping with Watkins writing about West Sterling, I have posted a decent-sized nineteenth century molded red earthenware flowerpot that was recently discovered in southern Maine, which I believe is related to similar artifacts that Watkins collected in West Sterling before 1950. These specific sherds are owned today by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Molded Red Earthenware Flowerpot Recently Discovered in Southern Maine

 19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Flowerpot

Likely Made in West Sterling, Mass.

Recently Found in Southern Maine

Stands 7" Tall - Measures 8 3/8" in Diameter

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Flowerpot

See Article for More Information

 View of the Interior

See Article for More Information

View of the Base

See Article for More Information

Molded Flowerpots Recovered in West Sterling, Mass.

19th Century Molded Hanging Red Earthenware Flowerpot

Recovered by Watkins in West Sterling, Mass.

Notice the Base - See Article for More Information

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.

 19th Century Molded Hanging Red Earthenware Flowerpot

Recovered by Watkins in West Sterling, Mass.

Manufactured with a Classic Art Design - See Article for More Information

Illustrated in Figure 80 in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares'

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.

Another View of the Flowerpot Sherd

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian, Washington, D.C.

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

A Few Notable Red Earthenware Sales that Recently Happened on eBay from Various Sellers Located Across the Country

Here is a real quick recap of some recent eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware sales that have taken place on eBay, which I thought were noteworthy - these objects were all sold by various dealers from across the county.

The first object that I have included is a rare damaged late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware jar attributed to West Hartford, Connecticut. It was likely made at the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery, circa 1795-1820. This particular form of slip-decorated jar is highly desired by collectors and museums, alike, where similar examples in much better condition have sold for thousands of dollars. There are some examples that have even sold for nearly ten-thousand dollars.

Another notable object is a large plain glazed red earthenware jar that may have also been made in Connecticut, which closely resembles the form of some nineteenth century stoneware jars that were also made in the state.

Lastly, I have included a circa 1820-1860 red earthenware jug from Maine that was skillfully painted in the twentieth century; whereas, I am not usually a person, who feels a need to remove this type of paint, but I would make an exception in this case. This particular form of jug is often adorned with colorful glazes - and, I would not be surprised to learn that type of glaze is laying underneath this paint. Overall, the jug also survives in remarkable condition.

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

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to West Hartford, CT

Possibly Made at the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery

Circa 1795-1820

Stands 8 1/4" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

 Another View of the Jar

Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Interior

Photo Courtesy: eBay

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in Connecticut

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 14 1/2" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

 View of the Rim and the Incised Decoration

Photo Courtesy: eBay

 View of One of the Handles

Photo Courtesy: eBay

A Closer View of One of the Handles

Photo Courtesy: eBay

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Maine

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 6 1/4" Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Handle

Photo Courtesy: eBay

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

The 19th Century Hutchinson Red Earthenware Pottery in St. Johnsbury, Vermont

According to the book 'The Town of St. Johnsbury, Vermont: A Review of One-Hundred Twenty-Five Years to the Anniversary Pageant 1912,' which was published in 1914, "William Hutchinson (1751-1820) carried on a pottery in town for making domestic red earthenware. He was the son of Nathaniel Hutchinson (ca. 1719-1780) (originally from Saugus, Massachusetts) and he preached in Plainfield and other places in New Hampshire."

It has been reported that William Hutchinson's business was established in St. Johnsbury around 1815. He may have originally trained under the Clark family in Lyndeborough sometime after 1775, which was a prominent eighteenth and nineteenth century family of potters. But his brother, Ebenzer Hutchinson (1764-1854/55) also ran a potter's business in Lyndeborough, where he may have also worked; although, I suspect the Hutchinsons must have had some connection to the Clarks, as well.

Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins wrote about the Hutchinson Pottery in 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares:' Although St. Johnsbury made much fine stoneware, the town also supported a redware shop. This was started in 1815 by William Hutchinson, either alone or with Ebenezer Hutchinson, who sold his potter's business in North Lyndeborough in the spring of that year and removed to St. Johnsbury. He had a brother, William, who was presumably the St. Johnsbury man. 

The existence of Ebenezer's shop was printed in the 'Farmer's Cabinet' in Amherst, New Hampshire on September 8, 1815: "The subscriber having removed his pottery from Lyndeborough, to Vermont, acquaints those indebted to him that he will be at his father's house in Lyndeborough on the 15th to 20th day of September next, when he requests they will call upon him and make payment, or they may expect costs."

The Hutchinson Pottery was apparently still running in 1840, when according to the Haskel and Smith Gazetteer two shops were in operation at St. Johnsbury. Otherwise, nothing further has transpired about them. Richard W. Fenton and his son, who ran the other works (in St. Johnsbury), made redware bowls, milk pans, flowerpots, and such utensils in addition to their stoneware output."

It seems that William established the business in St. Johnsbury, but his brother, Ebenezer must have taken over ownership around William's death in 1820. Ebenezer eventually died in St. Johnsbury in 1854/55 so it can probably be assumed that he produced red earthenware well-into the 1840s, and possibly right up until he died.

I feel this is, yet another example of a red earthenware potter's business in Vermont, which operated for decades, but little is known about the production today. I have never seen or heard about an example of red earthenware attributed to the Hutchinsons in St. Johnsbury.

Interestingly, Ebenezer sold his business in Lyndeborough in 1815 to a potter from Peabody (formerly South Danvers), Massachusetts, which I assume reveals some type of Essex County, Massachusetts connection; whereas, a similar connection can be found with many of the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century red earthenware potters in Vermont. It is also important to indicate that the Clark family of potters in Lyndeborough were originally established by Peter Clark (1743-1826), an Essex County trained potter, who migrated north to southern New Hampshire just months before the American Revolution began.

Nevertheless, I have no doubt that pottery survives today from the Hutchinson's decades of production in St. Johnsbury. Unfortunately, this is not a subject that has been greatly researched; although, it is a safe assumption to write today that I would not be surprised to learn that their work is generically attributed to another location today, such as Maine, New Hampshire or Massachusetts.

It should also be noted that there is an Ebenezer Hutchinson on file with the New Hampshire Historical Society as both a potter in New Hampshire and Vermont, but he also reportedly worked as a printer and a publisher. I assume this is the same man, but the historical society provides a different year of birth. I have included an example of this type of work that is owned today by the New Hampshire Historical Society - the skill that went into the following Masonic apron suggests that he was a skilled artisan, which I assume must somewhat represent the ability the family possessed as potters, as well.

Note: While I have no archaeological evidence, I would still assume that some of the wares made by the Hutchinsons in St. Johnsbury, Vermont may somewhat resemble production from Essex County, Massachusetts. For example, the Hutchinsons began their careers in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire, an area that was largely influenced by what was made in Essex County in the eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries.

19th Century Silk Masonic Apron

19th Century Masonic Apron Printed on Silk Reportedly by Ebenezer Hutchinson

Circa 1820

See Article for More Information

Link to Object Posted on NH Historical Society's Website

Photo Courtesy: New Hampshire Historical Society - Concord, NH

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

An Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Recently Discovered in Massachusetts

This is an early-nineteenth century red earthenware jar that appeared yesterday at the Boston Design and Antique Show at the Shriner's Auditorium in Wilmington, Massachusetts. I have previously written about this type of jar; whereas, Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts owns two related jars that descended through Samuel Wing's (1774-1854) family, an eighteenth and nineteenth century furniture maker from Sandwich, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. Wing is a well-documented craftsman today, who's work is represented in a number of institutions, such as Winterthur in Delaware, as well as featured in the book, 'Harbor and Home: Furniture of Southeastern Massachusetts, 1710-1850.' Another example of this form of jar was also recently discovered in Sandwich by a Massachusetts collector.

I have written in the past that I believe these type of jars may have been made at the Bradford-Parker Pottery on Cape Cod in Barnstable, Massachusetts. In fact, last year, I posted a few articles on this website about the archaeology of this business that Cape Cod antique dealer, Brian Cullity collected at the site of the pottery in the 1980s.

My current goal is to merely document this form of jar as they appear - I also own a wonderful variegated green-glazed example that I purchased four-or-five years ago. This particular jar was reportedly just discovered in Massachusetts. Aside from the form, these type of jars have distinct handles.

Note: Check the right column on this website for some of the archaeology recovered at the site of the Bradford-Parker Pottery in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Possibly Made at the Bradford-Parker Pottery in Barnstable, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Antiques Dealer

Another View of the Jar 

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Antiques Dealer

Another View of the Jar 

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Antiques Dealer

View of One of the Handles

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Massachusetts Antiques Dealer

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