A Notable List of 17th and 18th Century Red Earthenware Potters from Essex County, Massachusetts that was Published in 1927

In 1927, author, Henry Wyckoff Belknap (b. 1860) published 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Massachusetts' through the Essex Institute in Salem, Massachusetts, which is now known as the Peabody Essex Museum.

This group of accomplished workers is probably incomplete by what is known today about the skilled artisans employed north of Boston before and after the American Revolution; however, I thought the list of seventeenth and eighteenth century potters that Belknap acknowledged was notable. For each potter's name, a short profile was posted that included family information and the particulars about that potter's career.

For example, "Ebenezer Morrison, born May 15, 1741, in Newbury married Sarah Nowell July 29, 1762 in Newbury and died April 4, 1804 in Newbury. He was a potter." 

In total, Belknap summarized the life of 55 prominent Essex County potters. It is also probably safe to presume that Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins studied the information that had been reported in this book before 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' was published in 1950.

Note: This image is a scan of an original early-twentieth century photograph that I obtained in December 2017 from the Peabody, Massachusetts Historical Society. Some of the red earthenware on display was made by potters that Belknap published in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Massachusetts.' 

Early 20th Century Photograph from the Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

18th/19th Century Red Earthenware On Display at the Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

Photograph from the Early-20th Century

Some of these Objects were Made by Potters Published in Belknap's Book

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody, Mass. Historical Society

An authentic copy of  'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Massachusetts' is a difficult book to find today with what was probably a limited amount of copies published in 1927, when compared to some of the more popular books that were also printed during the period. Nevertheless, I have posted images of the pages this morning that were provided from an original copy of the book kept in the Peabody Essex Museum's library - these pages include all of the potter's names that were published by Belknap.

But Belknap also illustrated three local late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century red earthenware objects in this book on page 120.  These objects have been owned by the Peabody Essex Museum for more than one century, having also retained nineteenth century histories of ownership in Salem. They were manufactured a few miles west at one of the potteries in Peabody (formerly South Danvers), Massachusetts, likely circa 1770-1840.

The pitcher illustrated in the middle is a traditional form from Peabody that can be mistaken for production further north at the William Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, circa 1790-1820. Nearly identical shaped objects are owned today by the Peabody Historical Society, as well as artifacts that were recovered within a circa 1770-1810 archaeological context at the Narbonne House in Salem.

The objects illustrated to the left and right of the pitcher are quite rare forms to see today from the industry in Danvers/Peabody. To my knowledge, there are not many examples of either form in existence, but I could also foresee these forms mistaken for nineteenth century production from Connecticut.

Note: Here is a link to a feature story that I wrote about the potter's industry in Peabody, Massachusetts, which was published in the November 2017 issue of the New England Antiques Journal. This article provides a much more in-depth analysis of this industry than what I have posted this morning.

18th/19th Red Earthenware from Peabody, Mass.

Page 120

18th/19th Century Red Earthenware from Peabody, Mass.

Circa 1770-1840

Published in 1927 in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Mass.'

Owned Today by the Peabody Essex Museum

All Objects Retain 19th Century Histories of Ownership in Salem, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum

List of 17th and 18th Century Essex County, Mass. Potters Published in 1927

Page 121

List of Potters Published in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Mass.'

Published in 1927

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum 

Page 122

 List of Potters Published in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Mass.'

Published in 1927

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum 

 Page 123

List of Potters Published in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Mass.'

Published in 1927

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum 

 Page 124

List of Potters Published in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Mass.'

Published in 1927

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum 

Page 125

List of Potters Published in 'The Artists and Craftsmen of Essex County, Mass.'

Published in 1927

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Peabody Essex Museum 

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

Registration and Event Details for a Redware Workshop that Will be Held at Historic New England on March 22, 2018

Last week, I posted an article about a redware workshop that will be held at Historic New England on March 22 with the Ceramics Study Club of Boston (formerly known as the China Students Club) - I have been asked by the museum to speak at this event, which will cover the aesthetics and history of New England's industry from the colonial period through the twentieth century.

Historic New England has requested that I select a group of red earthenware from the museum's collection, and each object will then be discussed and further analyzed. Right now the goal is for those objects to be chosen a few days before the workshop - I plan to go through the collection and try to find the best objects in order to describe and demonstrate the history of red earthenware production in New England from both an aesthetic and historical point of view.

I have posted the event details today, which include the location for where the event will be held, the time, and how to register. But here is also a link to a downloadable PDF document that I have uploaded with the same event information.

This should definitely be an exciting opportunity to explore this collection, and examine a number of the museum's really special objects; however, I am also hopeful that I will learn some new information from the members of the Ceramics Study Club of Boston who attend the workshop.

I'm not sure if there is room for others to attend who are not already a member of the ceramics society, but I would suggest contacting Historic New England (or the contact person provided in the downloadable PDF document) for anyone who may be interested. It should be a really fun event.

Note: The image that I have posted today is an example of some of the red earthenware that is currently in the museum's storage facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts. But this is merely just an example - there is so much more to see from this collection that the museum began assembling more than 100 years ago. I should also note that not every object owned today by Historic New England was made in New England; although, almost every object retains a great provenance and history of ownership in New England, which makes some of the objects produced elsewhere in America a fascinating study, as well.

Examples of Red Earthenware Owned by Historic New England

Examples of Red Earthenware (and some Other Ceramics) Owned by Historic New England

Historic New England Will be Holding a Redware Workshop on March 22, 2018

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

Historic New England Redware Workshop Flyer and Registration

 Page 1

Flyer and Registration for Redware Workshop at Historic New England on March 22, 2018

This Document Can be Downloaded in a PDF Format from the Link Provided in the Article

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

Page 2

Flyer and Registration for Redware Workshop at Historic New England on March 22, 2018

This Document Can be Downloaded in a PDF Format from the Link Provided in the Article

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

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

A Recently Acquired Red Earthenware Jar that was Reportedly Found in Central Massachusetts

I recently acquired a wonderful nineteenth century red earthenware jar from an antiques dealer in central Massachusetts, who told me that the jar was also discovered locally, as well. This jar is pictured to the left in the following group of images.

In terms of attribution, I do not want to get into specific details about this object today, but I will write that two similar jars are owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, which retain a strong nineteenth century history of ownership on Cape Cod in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

I have also included another jar that I own that could very-well be related since it is decorated with highly unusual matching handles. If I were forced to make a statement, then I would say that I suspect that both of these jars are related based on the handles.

These objects may be from the same potter or they may represent two different potters; however, the handles certainly appear like the same individual is responsible for their manufacture and application to each jar.

New England Red Earthenware Jars

 (Left) 19th Century New England-Made Red Earthenware Jar

Recently Discovered in Central Massachusetts

Stands 9 1/8" Tall

(Right) 19th Century New England-Made Red Earthenware Jar

Reportedly Found in Vermont A Few Years Back

Stands 9 7/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Jars

See Article for More Information

 View of Two of the Handles

See Article for More Information

View of the Other Two Handles

See Article for More Information

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

The Origin of a Red Earthenware Jar Made in Maine in the 1800s

It may not be recognized nationally today, but the name Thomas Truxton Kendrick (1815-1878) and red earthenware production in Hollis, Maine has been desired for decades in New England by collectors and museums. The idea as to what Kendrick actually produced is also a subject that I examined in a few words in a recent article published in the February 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, 'The Dodges and Their Potteries.'

I have seen a number of objects attributed to Kendrick in the past decade, but the attribution is often based on merely just a glaze. I believe some of those attributed objects are actually from western New York and Ontario, where similar glazes were also produced. There have even been objects found in Maine that were said to have been made by Kendrick that I now believe are more likely from Ontario. But, nevertheless, this attribution, which is often based only on a glaze has been somewhat of an ongoing enigma with the Kendrick Pottery since probably the 1970s.

The glaze that I am referencing is a marbled manganese glaze (see jar below), and also objects that were decorated with similar glaze colors that appear in a combination of cream, tan, brown and manganese. The glaze usually incorporates two of these colors.

To my knowledge, there is no public archaeology that survives today from the Kendrick Pottery (even though I have heard that the site of the pottery is privately owned with some remains still intact), and there are only two known objects that descended in the Kendrick family. Both of these objects were on display in a collector's exhibit at the Maine State Museum in Augusta, Maine in the 1970s; one was a simple thickly potted red earthenware cup and the other was a red earthenware pan decorated with the marbled type of glaze that I just described. I believe it is because of this pan that the attribution for this type of glaze began. After the exhibit, this pan was then illustrated when author, Manlif Lelyn Branin published 'The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine' in 1978. The fact that this object was published has likely also contributed to the attribution.

Note: I have posted the two known objects that I described from the Kendrick family below; although, I have also posted images of two lidded pots that Branin attributed to Kendrick and said descended in the Kendrick family. But the Kendrick family members that I have spoken with are not aware of these objects.

Hollis, ME Attributed Red Earthenware Objects

19th Century Red Earthenware Cup Attributed to the Thomas Truxton Kendrick Pottery - Hollis, ME

Descended in the Kendrick Family in Maine

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Kathleen Kendrick

19th Century Red Earthenware Pan Attributed to the Thomas Truxton Kendrick Pottery - Hollis, ME

Descended in the Kendrick Family in Maine
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine, Spargo, 1978

 View of the Description
Photo Courtesy: The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine, Spargo, 1978

19th Century Pots Attributed to the Kendrick Pottery in Hollis, ME
Reportedly Descended in the Kendrick Family of Maine
But the Kendrick Family that I Have Spoken with Are Not Aware of These Objects
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: The Early Potters and Potteries of Maine, Spargo, 1978

It is my interpretation that a number of the objects, which Branin illustrated in this book came from the Maine State Museum's exhibit, such as the objects that had descended in specific families. A similar sequence of events took place in 1926, when John Spargo published 'Early American Pottery and China.' 

Many of the New England-made red earthenware objects Spargo illustrated had come from an antiques collector exhibit held at the Park Square Building in Boston in 1925. Some of the published attributions were unfounded and came from collectors, who had loaned objects to the exhibit. Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins attempted to address some of the attribution issues that were reported by Spargo when 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares' was published in 1950.

I feel it may have been a similar situation that could have happened with the Maine State Museum's exhibit in the 1970s; whereas, collectors may have compared objects decorated with a similar glaze to the glaze found on the pan, which had reportedly descended in the Kendrick family. As a result, this is how the Kendrick attribution may have begun with this type of glaze. But I have also found through archaeology that this style of glaze was not exclusive to a single potter's business in southern Maine, either.

The biggest misconception that I tried to address in the Maine Antiques Digest article was with a distinct form of refined red earthenware jar that the Maine State Museum attributes to Kendrick. As far as I can see, this attribution has never been published elsewhere - and I also believe that the museum's exhibit in the 1970s is where the attribution may have originally begun.

I have also noticed that the Maine State Museum is almost always the source that is referenced when this attribution is used; although, there is no archaeology or Kendrick family reference (known to me) that can support such an attribution.

The jars that I am referencing were undoubtedly made at the same potter's business, and decorated in two unmistakable styles. The first glaze style embodies the marbled manganese glaze that I just described, and the second incorporates the use of a clear lead glaze and one of many household ingredients stenciled in slip-decoration (i.e. starch, spice, allspice, ginger, etc.).

A few years ago, I compared one of these jars to a red earthenware jar that was made at the Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine, which had been stamped on the base, 'B DODGE / PORTLAND.' It was determined that the production of the marked jar closely resembled the manufacture of the storage jars - and, as a result, this is far more proof than I have previously seen as to where these jars were probably made.

It is also worth mentioning that the use of slip in Maine is considered quite rare today; whereas, the only instances that slip is known to have been used is with some potters who were located on the seacoast. I assume that kaolin must have been imported for potters to use slip in Maine, and I believe the seacoast would have been the most accessible location for such a potter's resource to have been integrated into production. However, Kendrick was a country potter located about 20 miles inland from Portalnd - my belief is that if Kendrick was using slip-decoration then why wouldn't have the other country potters in this part of Maine, who probably knew Kendrick on a personal level also have been exploring with the use of slip in their production. The facts just don't seem to add up to me.

Note: There is also another larger form of this type of jar known with a matching lid from the same potter (probably Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine) - here is a link to an example that is currently owned by the Maine State Museum (museum also attributes to Kendrick Pottery in Hollis, Maine). I also want to note that I provided more information about these type of jars in the article that was recently published in Maine Antique Digest.

Red Earthenware Jars from Maine

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Probably Made in Portland, ME

Previously Attributed to Hollis, ME

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Connecticut Collection

 (Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Probably Made in Portland, ME

Previously Attributed to Hollis, ME
The Word "STARCH" Has Been Stenciled in Slip

See Article for More Information

(Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Made at the Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

Marked on the Base 'B DODGE / PORTLAND'

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Mark Chaplin

View of the 'B DODGE / PORTLAND' Mark

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Dr. Mark Chaplin

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

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Form that is Attributed to Vermont, Circa 1790-1830/40

I have always regarded this as a classic nineteenth century red earthenware form from Vermont, whereas, this form has also been previously attributed to western New York. But I absolutely do not agree with the New York attribution since this form has been regularly found in Vermont, with evidence that dates to at least the 1930s and 1940s when Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins was conducting research for her book, 'Early New England Potters and Their Wares,' which was published in 1950.

I believe the New York attribution began in 1991 when William Ketchum, Jr. published 'American Redware,' a book that provides a short introductory overview of each potter's region in America from New England, to the rest of the northeast, the Mid-Atlantic, the south, the midwest and the west coast.

On page 29, a similar formed jar is pictured with a slightly different rim that is described as a "small butter churn, possibly from New York or Vermont, circa 1840-1865." I assume the suggested New York attribution was developed by just the glaze; although, this type of glaze is found with red earthenware produced in a number regions in America and Ontario.

However, these type of objects likely date from the circa 1790-1830/40 period, and I do not believe they were ever intended to be used as butter churns. For example, I have closely examined a jar that likely possessed its original lid that was once owned by Connecticut antiques dealer, Lewis Scranton, and the lid merely suggested that these type of objects were originally designed by the potter as storage jars. I have also found with the jars that I have studied that most are fairly clean on the interior, which would also suggest some type of storage, rather than a butter churn.

I should also note that both of the jars, which I posted this morning retain twentieth-century histories of ownership in Vermont, with the darker glazed jar having been found in an older context of ownership. The Bennington Museum in Bennington, Vermont also owns a matching jar with brushed manganese decoration that is also attributed to Vermont.

Note: A very-similar jar from Lura Woodside Watkins' collection that was found in Vermont and attributed to Vermont is owned today by the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The only difference that I can see is the rim on Watkins' jar is flat; whereas, these jars reveal a sharp edge on the rim. This difference may represent two different potters or simply two different styles from the same potter. The glaze on Watkins' jar also closely resembles the colorful glaze found on the jar that I have pictured to the right.

Red Earthenware Jars Attributed to Vermont

19th Century Red Earthenware Jars Attributed to Vermont

Both of these Objects Retain 20th Century Histories of Ownership in Vermont

Left Stands 8 1/8" Tall

Right Stands 8" Tall

Likely Circa 1790-1830/40

See Article for More Information

View of the Handles

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jars

See Article for More Information

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

New England Red Earthenware Workshop to be Held at Historic New England on March 22 with the Ceramics Study Club of Boston

I would like to announce this morning that I will be speaking at Historic New England later this month on Thursday March 22. The museum has asked me to talk about eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware production in New England, as part of a workshop that will be held with the Ceramics Study Club of Boston, which is formerly known as the China Students Club and founded in 1934.

Historic New England has requested that I select a group of red earthenware from the museum's collection, and each object will then be discussed and further analyzed. Right now the goal is for those objects to be chosen a few days before the workshop - I plan to go through the collection and try to find the best objects in order to describe and demonstrate the history of red earthenware production in New England from both an aesthetic and historical point of view.

As many of you already know, Historic New England's selection of pottery is among the best collections of New England-made red earthenware to exist in the country today. There are many rare examples with incredible provenances from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, which include locally-made objects that predate the American Revolution.

I'm definitely excited for the opportunity to explore this collection, and examine a number of the museum's really special objects; however, I am also hopeful that I will learn some new information from the members of the Ceramics Study Club of Boston who attend the workshop.

I'm not sure if there is room for others to attend who are not already a member of the society, but I would suggest contacting Historic New England for anyone who may be interested. It should be a really fun event.

Note: The image that I have posted today is an example of some of the red earthenware that is currently in the museum's storage facility in Haverhill, Massachusetts. But this is merely just an example - there is so much more to see from this collection that the museum began assembling more than 100 years ago. I should also note that not every object owned today by Historic New England was made in New England; although, almost every object retains a great provenance and history of ownership in New England, which makes some of the objects produced elsewhere in America a fascinating study, as well.

Examples of Red Earthenware Owned by Historic New England

Examples of Red Earthenware Owned by Historic New England

Historic New England Will be Holding a Red Earthenware Workshop on March 22, 2018

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

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

A Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bottle that Retains a 20th Century History of Ownership in Pennsylvania

This morning's article shows a finely thrown slip-decorated red earthenware bottle that I believe was produced sometime around the turn of the nineteenth century, but it may have been made earlier, as well. I purchased it years ago from Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Greg Kramer who had acquired it from the lifelong collection of Lester Breininger (1935-2011), an accomplished and influential twentieth and twenty-first century Pennsylvania-German potter who also lived in Robesonia.

Greg told me that he had originally sold this bottle to Lester, and it was discovered in Pennsylvania in the 1970s or 1980s. I was also told that Lester had owned it for decades; although, I was not able to obtain any further information. But I assume there must have been a reason why Lester owned such an object, considering the amount of knowledge that he possessed.

Lester Breininger, Pennsylvania-German Potter

20th Century Image of Lester Breininger with a Pot Made by Potters at His Pottery
The Pot was Made by Master Potter, Greg Zieber and Slip Trailed by Wesley Muckey

Lester Breininger Owned the Bottle Discussed in this Article for Decades

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Reading, PA Eagle

Nevertheless, I have not been able to determine a specific origin for this bottle; however, I have always regarded it as an object that could have been made in either North Carolina or Pennsylvania. I have repeatedly leaned more towards eastern Pennsylvania, but I have yet to find any evidence to support such a claim.

There have been numerous times now that I have written on this website that attributions should not be developed based on merely just a glaze, whereas it should always be about the form first. But this glaze may be an exception since it reminds me of various objects that were produced in North Carolina in the eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries, as well as some of the sgraffito decorated objects manufactured throughout Pennsylvania during the same time period.

I am certainly open to opinions and thoughts about this object if there is anyone reading this who can provide legitimate evidence, preferably archaeological artifacts, which could possibly support an attribution. I also want to reiterate that this is a finely thrown bottle made by a skilled potter, and the glaze also appears accomplished.

To my knowledge, this is the only object known today that displays this combination of form and glaze. I have not been able to locate any similar objects or related artifacts in any of the museum collections, private collections or archaeology collections that I have studied.

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bottle

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

Reportedly Retains 20th Century History of Ownership in Pennsylvania

Stands 7 7/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Bottle

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Bottle

See Article for More Information

 View of the Interior

See Article for More Information

View of the Base

See Article for More Information

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