19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Produced in Galena, Illinois and the Surrounding Area

According to the archaeology report, Redware Production in the Lead Mine District of Northwestern Illinois: Summary of Recent Archaeological Research, "Galena lead glazed earthenware has received the attention of antique and pottery collectors for many years. The locally manufactured earthenware was first studied by avocational archaeologist and historian Wayne Horney from Fort Wayne, Indiana during the 1960s. His seminal work, which consisted of the analysis of surface collections from several local pottery production sites, resulted in the publication of the manuscript entitled The Pottery of the Galena Area. Horney's manuscript was a pioneering study of Illinois earthenwares. Additionally, Horney collected samples of ceramic sherds from the various pottery sites that became the focus of later studies. 

During late 1986 and early 1987, an archaeological survey of a proposed sanitary sewer and water main extension was conducted for the City of Galena by Fever Rich Research. Based on that survey, it was determined that the proposed sewer and water line construction would have an effect on the Galena Pottery Site. At that time, in order to further assess the potential National Register of Historic Places eligibility of the site, a limited survey was conducted. The results of this research stressed that the site of the Galena Pottery had the potential to yield significant information regarding the local and regional earthenware industry.

Construction of the sanitary sewer line was initiated in 1991 and it appears to have had a minimal impact on the actual pottery production site. Immediately after construction of the sanitary sewer line, Fever River Research re-surveyed the disturbed right-of-way and discovered previously unknown concentrations of earthenware waster sherds which had been deposited in several small gullies, which had been partially filled with ceramics, leveled, and eventually buried, were not identified during the initial survey. Subsequent research recorded the profile walls of these machine cuts and sampled the ceramic waster sherds at three sites along the corridor. This work isolated two temporarily discreet assemblages which have contributed dramatically to our understanding of Galena earthenware by allowing us to separate these wares into early and late assemblages."

My reason for posting this information about Galena pottery today is the fact that wares, especially spotted green glazes, as well as some forms can be misinterpreted today for production from places such as Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ontario, New Hampshire, etc. However, similar styles and glazes can also be confused for objects attributed to Galena. But because of the archaeological evidence recovered in the twentieth century and published facts that I just described, a lot of information is known about the lead glazed earthenware made in Galena.

For instance, the three jars that I posted today were just sold on eBay by an antiques dealer in Wisconsin; although, they are attributed to Galena. In fact, the slip-decorated jar may even be a unique style of production from Illinois.

But it should be noted that there were similar types of production found elsewhere in northwestern Illinois, like the earthenwares that were made about 15 miles southeast of Galena in Elizabeth, Illinois. In some ways, I also wonder if it would be more accurate to refer to "some" of this pottery production as northwestern Illinois, as opposed to a more specific location, seeing that there were a group of earthenware manufacturers in this area and there must have been some overlap in production.

However, it should also be taken into consideration that some of these wares could have easily been shipped by way of the Mississippi River, located only a few miles east of this region. This may also explain the origin of some artifacts that I wrote about a few years ago, which were recovered by archaeologists from the University of Iowa at a prairie site in northeastern Iowa. All of these objects are thought to have originated in Illinois.

Map Showing Distance from Galena, IL to Elizabeth, IL

These Communities are Separated by About 15 Miles
This Part of NW Illinois Produced a Large Amount of Earthenware in the 1800s
The Mississippi River is Located Just to the East of this Region

See Article for More Information

It was also published in Redware Production in the Lead Mine District of Northwestern Illinois: Summary of Recent Archaeological Research, "In 1990, improvements to U.S. 20 by the Illinois Department of Transportation near Elizabeth threatened the remains of a middle-to-late nineteenth century earthenware pottery production site, which had been established at this location around 1850. The initial research testing by Fever River Research identified the surface remains of an intact kiln structure. Subsequent investigations exposed the kiln, a large cistern, and the foundations of an associated structure. But unlike the research at the Galena Pottery Site, the excavations at the Elizabeth Pottery Site, resulted in a structural definition of the kiln. Furthermore as part of this research, another 1840s earthenware site (the Goble Site) was located in the immediate area."

Lead Glazed Earthenware Attributed to Northwestern Illinois

 19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Jar Attributed to Northwestern IL
Attributed to Galena, IL

Stands 10 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Jar Attributed to Northwestern IL
Reportedly Made in Galena, IL

Stands 8 1/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Jar with Slip-Decoration Attributed to Galena, Illinois

Stands 8 3/8" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

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

19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Dish with Slip-Decoration from Alamance County, North Carolina

According to an article written by Linda F. Carnes-McNaughton for the 2010 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, Solomon Loy: Master Potter of the Carolina Piedmont, "Solomon Loy (1805-before 1865) emerged as a master potter during the second quarter of the nineteenth century - a period of technological and stylistic transition in North Carolina's ceramic history. Although trained as an earthenware potter in a tradition distinguished by the use of polychrome slip decoration, Loy responded to demand for more durable forms with nonreactive coatings by making salt-glazed stoneware. Many of his salt-glazed vessels have trailed slip designs that relate to those on his earthenware as well as pottery associated with earlier members of his extended family. 

To say Loy was born into a "clay clan" may be something of an understatement, as his father, father-in-law, uncles, brothers, and possibly his great-grandfather were potters. He also trained his son, nephew, grandsons, and neighbors.

Several stoneware vessels documented to Loy survive, but an earthenware dish decorated with triangles on the marley is the only object in that medium bearing his full name."

Interestingly, a lead glazed earthenware dish exhibiting a very similar slip-decoration, but lacking the name of the potter recently sold at Leland Little Auctions in Hillsborough, North Carolina. The dish was attributed to Alamance County, and was possibly made by Solomon Loy.

Similar and related examples of lead glazed earthenware are currently displayed in the William C. and Susan S. Mariner Southern Ceramics Gallery at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, as well as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.

Note: The links highlighted in the above paragraph will redirect the reader to some stories I published on this website last summer, which demonstrate some of the related wares in existence today.

Alamance County, NC Lead Glazed Earthenware Dish

19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Dish with Slip-Decoration

Attributed to Alamance County, NC

Possibly Made by Solomon Loy in Alamance County, NC

Measures 10 3/8" in Diameter

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Photo Courtesy: Leland Little Auctions 

View of the Back

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Photo Courtesy: Leland Little Auctions 

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

Slip-Decorated Jar from Nathaniel Seymour's Pottery in West Hartford, Connecticut

Earlier this week, I posted an article that told the story of how I just discovered two decent examples of lead glazed earthenware from West Hartford, Connecticut. Both of these jars were found in a consignment shop last week in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In fact, one of the jars was manufactured with slip-decoration, a desired style of production from Nathaniel Seymour's (1763-1849) pottery around the turn of the nineteenth century.

Nevertheless, this is another Seymour jar that recently came onto the market, having been sold last year on eBay. But while this jar certainly exhibits some condition issues in terms of the glaze, the vast majority of the slip-decoration is intact, which I feel is the most important aspect of this type of production.

Nathaniel Seymour Pottery Slip-Decorated Jar

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Jar 

Attributed to the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery in West Hartford, CT

Circa 1795-1820
Stands 8 1/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

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

A Pair of West Hartford, Connecticut Jars Just Discovered in a Consignment Shop in South Carolina

While looking for an old article online last week, I accidentally found two pieces of lead glazed earthenware from West Hartford, Connecticut that had just been listed on a consignment store's website in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Finding these objects happened by chance, but I was also completely surprised to see a great looking slip-decorated jar made at Nathaniel Seymour's (1763-1849) pottery around the turn of the nineteenth century.

These type of Seymour jars are quite difficult to find today, and this is a decent example, seeing that it has been decorated with a brush stroke of slip in the same manner on both sides. The lids on both jars also appear to be original.

I have no idea how two pieces of lead glazed earthenware from two of the major potteries in West Hartford migrated from Connecticut all the way to South Carolina - although, I suspect that someone may have moved south with these objects in their possession.

Nonetheless, I called the shop as soon as it opened, and they told me that both jars had just recently been consigned from a local home. However, they also explained to me that they do not ship so I spent some time last Thursday and Friday morning trying to find a shipper who would be willing to drive to the shop, pick up the pottery, box it and then ship it to me. Fortunately, I found such a business, and I will post better pictures of the Seymour jar when it arrives later this week.

According to the Noah Webster House & the West Hartford Historical Society, "Early on, grist saw, and carding mills along with blacksmith shops, tanneries and general stores emerged around the (West Hartford) community to support and help drive agriculture. One of the first major industries to arise centered on the pottery and brick works. Extending from Hartford to Berlin is a sizable deposit of fine clay. 

In 1770, Ebenezer Faxon (1749-1811) came from Massachusetts and settled in what would become the Elmwood section of West Hartford. There he established a pottery on South Road (what is today New Britain Avenue) which took advantage of the local geographical landscape. Nathaniel Seymour later followed, but it was Seth Goodwin (1772-1828), however, who helped to establish a pottery dynasty. Goodwin started his pottery works around 1798. For over a hundred years, the Goodwin name would be associated with West Hartford Pottery - producing utilitarian items such as jugs for the gin manufactured in local distilleries, to terra cotta designs and fine china. The Goodwin Company employed up to 75 people in its heyday in the mid-to-late nineteenth century. The Goodwin Brothers Pottery Company (as it came to be known) burned for the third time in 1908 and never recovered."

West Hartford, CT Lead Glazed Earthenware Jars

(Left) 19th Century Lead Glazed Earthenware Jar with Manganese Decoration

Attributed to the Goodwin Pottery in West Hartford, CT
Probably Made by Seth Goodwin (1772-1828) or Thomas O'Hara Goodwin (1796-1880)

Circa 1800-1840

(Right) Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Jar 

Attributed to the Nathaniel Seymour Pottery in West Hartford, CT

Circa 1795-1820

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Carolina Consignment

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

Excellent Green Glazed Pitcher from Bristol County, Massachusetts

I'm thrilled to have acquired this wonderful late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century green glazed pitcher from Bristol County, Massachusetts. A good friend, Sam Herrup had owned it for a few years, and prior to that it was owned by Massachusetts antiques dealer, Mark Brightman. But I'm very lucky to say that it now resides in my private collection.

The form and size of this pitcher is somewhat similar to another pitcher I own, which was published in a feature story I wrote for the June 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled The Pottery Industry in Southeastern Massachusetts.

Green Glazed Pitcher from Bristol County, Massachusetts

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Green Glazed Pitcher

Attributed to the Industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts

Circa 1780-1830

Stands 10 1/4" Tall

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View of the Handle

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

Wonderful 19th Century Hand-Painted Easter Egg Manufactured in North Cambridge, Massachusetts

As I promised earlier this week, here are better pictures of the nineteenth century hand-painted Easter egg that was recently found at a thrift store in Fall River, Massachusetts. The egg was made at the A.H. Hews pottery in North Cambridge, Massachusetts after 1871, having been stamped on the base, "A.H. HEWS & CO. / NO. CAMBRIDGE / MASS." - and the paint is also believed to be original to the manufacturer. The color of the blue used for the egg closely resembles the color of a Robin's egg, and that may be the type of bird's nest that was painted on top of the Easter egg. Although, I have also posted an advertising envelope, which I recently acquired from this company.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "Far more important of these minor potteries was one founded by Abraham Hews (1741-1818) in Weston, Massachusetts in 1765. The beautiful house that he later built and occupied is standing today on the Main Street, just east of the Baptist church. The earthenware workshop stood a short distance east of the house. 

For 100 years the successive generations of the family carried on their trade in this building. About the time of the Civil War a new shop was built on the other side of the Post Road, where it joins the present highway.

In 1871, the shop in turn was abandoned, and the whole manufacture moved to its present site in North Cambridge. The firm name A.H. Hews was then adopted.

When the manufactory was transferred to its larger buildings in Cambridge, it employed 15 men and produced annually 800,000 pieces of ware, principally flowerpots. By 1889 the force had grown to 85 or 100 men and the yearly output to 7,000,000 pieces. 

In prosperous seasons the Hews pottery, in addition to other ornamental wares, has made as many as 20,000,000 flowerpots. Its growth, must, of course be attributed to machine methods that make possible such a large output. Although several potters still work there at the wheel, the restrictions of mass-production preclude any vigorous self-expression."

Easter Egg Made at the A.H. Hews Pottery in North Cambridge, Mass.

  Late-19th Century Hand-Painted Red Earthenware Easter Egg

The Paint is Likely Original to the Manufacturer

Impressed on the Base "A.H. HEWS & CO. / NO. CAMBRIDGE / MASS."

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  View of the Painted Decoration

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  View of the Interior

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 View of the Mark on the Base

Impressed "A.H. HEWS & CO. / NO. CAMBRIDGE / MASS."

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19th Century Envelope from the A.H. Hews Pottery in North Cambridge, Mass.

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

Stoneware Shown in 20th Century Photographs from the Collection of Historic New England

While recently studying some of the ephemera and images owned by Historic New England, I came across two twentieth century black and white photographs, which I thought would be of interest. Both of these photographs reveal nineteenth century American stoneware within the New England antiques marketplace.

The first photo was taken by Verner Reed (1923-2006) in Albany, Vermont in 1951, who is a renowned photographer and World War II veteran. Reed was born in Denver, Colorado in 1923, but after the war he lived in Stowe, Vermont, where he became a furniture maker. Interestingly, when he had difficulty finding a good photographer to market his production, he decided to teach himself photography, which led to his career in the field.

During the 1950s, he worked as a freelancer for Life Magazine, having been assigned to more than 125 jobs throughout New England. Afterwards, he continued his career as a photographer.

According to Historic New England, "Mr. Reed has received increasing recognition in recent years for his accomplishments in the field of photography. His work has been the focus of several one-man exhibitions in New England, most notably A Changing World: New England in the Photographs of Verner Reed, 1950-1972, organized by Historic New England."

Reed's photograph presents two older women sitting at an auction in Albany, Vermont in 1951, where a few pieces of nineteenth century stoneware were placed to the right of them. Presumably, the stoneware was included in the auction.

The second photo that I have posted shows the storefront of antiques dealer, Charles T. Grilley, who owned a shop at 49 Charles Street in Boston. This image was captured on August 1, 1916, and a nineteenth century stoneware butter churn can be seen mixed in among the collection of American and foreign antiques exhibited in the window display.

Note: I have also posted two advertisements from Grilley that were published in The Magazine Antiques in 1922.

Antiques Auction in Albany, VT, 1951

 Two Women Sitting at an Auction in Albany, VT in 1951

Photographed by Verner Reed (1923-2006)

A Few Pieces of Stoneware are Seen in the Picture

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

 A Closer View of the Stoneware

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

Charles T. Grilley Antiques, Boston, 1916

 Front Window of Charles T. Grilley Antiques

49 Charles Street Boston

Photograph Taken August 1, 1916

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

Stoneware Butter Churn Exhibited in the Storefront Window

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Photo Courtesy: Historic New England

1922 Advertisement for Charles T. Grilley Antiques

49 Charles Street Boston

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Photo Courtesy: The Magazine Antiques

Another 1922 Advertisement for Charles T. Grilley Antiques

49 Charles Street Boston

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Photo Courtesy: The Magazine Antiques

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