19th Century Canteen or Rundlet Owned by the Livingston County Historical Museum in Western New York

While traveling through western New York a few weeks ago with my nephew Jason and niece Alexis, we visited the Livingston County Historical Museum in Geneseo, New York. Our purpose of the visit was to study a terrific western New York red earthenware jar inscribed "Ice Cream," but we also saw other examples of locally made red earthenware and stoneware.

For instance, this red earthenware canteen or rundlet is a form that is typically attributed to manufacturers in New England today. However, this particular example was reportedly made in western New York in the 1800s, and according to the museum's records, it was owned by a local man named Zolman Wright.

Zolman Wright reportedly used this canteen while he served in the 171st Regiment in the New York Infantry during the Civil War, which was organized in New York in 1862. I have not been able to find much information on Wright's life, yet, but it appears that he served alongside other family members. The potter responsible for this object has also not been identified.

Western New York Canteen or Rundlet

19th Century Red Earthenware Canteen or Rundlet

Attributed to Western New York

Used by a Local Man Named Zolman Wright

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Photo Courtesy: Livingston County Historical Museum

Information on Display with the Canteen or Rundlet

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Photo Courtesy: Livingston County Historical Museum

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19th Century New England Red Earthenware Jar Sells in Freeport, Maine

This excellent nineteenth century red earthenware jar just sold on Sunday September 8, 2019 at Casco Bay Auctions in Freeport, Maine. It was the firm's inaugural antiques auction. And while I cannot say specifically where this jar was made, I suspect that it was manufactured somewhere in northern New England. 

The combination of colors is quite attractive, combined with the shape and the incised decoration. However, this was a highly competitive lot in the sale seeing that there were 79 different bids.

New England Red Earthenware Jar

19th Century New England Red Earthenware Jar

Likely Made in Northern New England

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Casco Bay Auctions

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Early 19th Century Whale Oil Lamp Complete with a Double Burner Tin Insert

This is one of two incredibly rare nineteenth century red earthenware whale oil lamps that sold through Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland earlier this year. I actually bought this example after the auction while visiting central Pennsylvania in June. I think the form is just spectacular, and it may be related to a specific type of jar manufactured in southeastern Massachusetts.

However, neither lamp retained their burner inserts, and I was very fortunate to acquire a period double burner tin insert yesterday that fits perfectly from Milford, New Hampshire antiques dealer, Mark Newton. The lamp is now complete, and as far as I know, this is the only lamp in this form known today.

Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Whale Oil Lamp

Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Whale Oil Lamp

I Added the Tin Double Burner Insert Yesterday

Stands 4 3/8" Tall

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Today's the Day! Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics

Today is the big day! After a very successful opening night party last night, the Newburyport, Massachusetts Pottery exhibit, known as "Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics," opens to the public this morning at 10:00 am at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport. This is an exhibit that I have dreamt of putting together for about a decade now, and the museum generously brought me on board as a guest curator, making this idea a reality.

I think this is a collection of extremely exciting pottery, all of which was made locally in the Newburyport area. There are wares that can positively be identified as production from the early-1760s right up through the artware made in the early twentieth century.

However, the aspect about this exhibit that makes me most proud is the selection of stoneware made by William Pecker (1758-1820) in the early-nineteenth century; an exhibit of this type of production has never been assembled before. And we have most of the best pieces in existence on display, including a monumental six-gallon jar and a jar that was published in the 2004 edition of Ceramics in America. There are less than 15 examples of Pecker's stoneware known today, and seven of those pieces can be seen in this exhibit, demonstrating a variety of production. There is also archaeology on display from the site of Pecker's stoneware business in Merrimacport.

Overall, these are the businesses targeted by the exhibit:

1) Daniel Bayley Pottery Company, ca. 1763-1792
2) William Pecker Pottery, ca. 1791-1820
3) James Chase Pottery, ca. 1820-1849
4) Phineas Chase Pottery, ca. 1849-1890
5) Merrimac Pottery Company, ca. 1897-1908

There is also a book that was published to coincide with this exhibit, featuring new research and many of the objects displayed. It is available in the museum's bookstore, as well through this link on Amazon.com.

A special event of interest is planned for Saturday October 5, 2019, where Massachusetts potter Rick Hamelin will demonstrate pottery production behind the Custom House building and along the picturesque Merrimack River. This event will compliment the exhibit, and will be both entertaining and extremely informative.

Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics

Part of the Pottery Exhibit at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport, Mass.

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Part of the Pottery Exhibit at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport, Mass.

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The Exhibit Catalog is Available in the Museum's Bookstore and Through Amazon.com

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

Excellent Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Found in a Rhode Island Estate

An early-nineteenth century red earthenware cup will be on display at the Newburyport, Massachusetts pottery exhibit, beginning this weekend at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport - the cup was made at William Pecker's business in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, and it was discovered earlier this summer inside an old estate in Rhode Island.

However, also found in that estate was this beautiful late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century red earthenware jar, likely made by Peter Clark (1743-1826) in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire; otherwise, another potter located somewhere along Boston's South Shore or southeastern Massachusetts. 

I recently acquired this piece from Sagamore, Massachusetts antiques dealer, Brian Cullity who purchased this jar from the person handling the Rhode Island estate, while I bought the Pecker Pottery cup. And granted this is a Clark jar, then very few objects in this form are known to exist today with the most famous of those likely being an example owned by the New Hampshire Historical Society in Concord, New Hampshire. The museum's jar was reportedly made during the 1790-1810 period, and measures about the same height.

The lid also appears to be original; it certainly is the correct shape for the type of lids made by Clark, and it fits the jar very well. 

For more information about Peter Clark, I recommend a feature story I wrote for the August 2016 issue of the New England Antiques Journal, titled, "A Pottery Moves to New Hampshire: Peter Clark and His Family in Lyndeborough.

Excellent New England Red Earthenware Jar

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jar
Likely Made by Peter Clark in Lyndeborough, NH or Another Potter in Southeastern Mass.
Recently Discovered in an Estate in Rhode Island
Stands 8 1/4" Tall
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Another View of the Jar

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19th Century Red Earthenware Bottle of Inkwell Found Yesterday in Brimfield, Massachusetts

While walking around the antique shows yesterday in Brimfield, Massachusetts, I came across this unexpected find, which immediately reminded me of a western New York red earthenware jug that sold at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland in July 2011. This bottle is decorated with a mustard-colored glaze and embellished with some copper that appears green, the same style of decoration found on the jug. Both objects also measure the same height.

As I inspected this object closely, I noticed that it was manufactured with a pouring spout, similar to that found on some master inks. As a result, I suspect that this may have been intended to be used for ink, otherwise it was designed for another household purpose where it was necessary to carefully pour the contents.

I was told that until recently, this object had resided in a private collection in western Massachusetts, not far from the New York border. But aside from the form, the color combination is really excellent.

Red Earthenware Bottle or Master Ink

19th Century Red Earthenware Bottle Manufactured with a Pouring Spout
Possibly Intended to be Used as a Master Inkwell
Attributed to Western New York
Stands 8 1/8" Tall
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Another View of Bottle of Master Inkwell

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View of the Pouring Spout

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Another View of the Pouring Spout

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19th Century Red Earthenware Jug with Copper Spots

Attributed to Western New York

Stands 8 1/8" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auction of American Redware and Stoneware

Another View of the Jug

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auction of American Redware and Stoneware

Another View of the Jug

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auction of American Redware and Stoneware

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Ceramics in Virginia: A New Book Published About Stoneware Made in the Lower James River Valley

This is a brand new book that I just received, written by Eric Jenkins, titled, Ceramics in Virginia, covering nineteenth century stoneware from the Lower James River Valley region. The book runs 232-pages, and is loaded with excellent photography and archaeology.

According to the author, "Ceramics in Virginia contains a wealth of information on stoneware made by several pottery factories in the Lower Basin of the James River from the early 1800s to the Civil War era. It covers the major Virginia production centers in Richmond, Henrico County along Four Mile Creek and Bailey's Run near New Market, and Petersburg. Extensive background information is given on the pottery sites and the potters who operated them: David Parr, Richard Randolph, Stephen Sweeney, John Schermerhorn, Henry Lowndes, and others."

For those who would like to add this beautiful book to their library, I believe it is available on eBay, as well as Facebook, and possibly other sites online.

New Book, Titled, Ceramics in Virginia

My Niece Holding Eric Jenkins' New Book, Ceramics in Viriginia

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View of the Cover of the Book

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View of the Back Cover

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