Simeon Bray Story Featured in the December 1, 2019 Issue of the Digital Antiques Journal

You may recall a story I posted last month about a nineteenth century stoneware temperance snake jug attributed to Simeon Bray (1849-1914) in Evansville, Indiana - that story has just been published in the December 1, 2019 issue of the Digital Antiques Journal. It is part of a larger story, titled, "Booze Matters," which not only discusses the Indiana jug, but it also focuses on early glass bottles, as well.

Simeon Bray Story Featured in the December 1, 2019 Issue of the Digital Antiques Journal

Simeon Bray Story Featured in the December 1, 2019 Issue of the Digital Antiques Journal

This Jug is Featured as Part of a Larger Story, Titled, "Booze Matters"

See Article for More Information

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

How to Order My New Book: The Beverly Pottery The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

My new book, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence is now available for purchase on Historic Beverly's website, and it will also be posted on Amazon soon. Here is the link to purchase the book directly through Historic Beverly.

I have also attached a screen capture of my book featured in the December 6, 2019 issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly's Holiday Book Roundup insert. It received a very nice review from Anne Kugielsky. See their website for the December 6 issue, and the full holiday book insert.

How to Order My New Book: The Beverly Pottery The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

My New Book Now Available to Purchase Through Historic Beverly's Website

See Article for More Information

 Review of My Book in the December 6, 2019 Issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly

December 6, 2019 issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly's Holiday Book Roundup Issue

See Article for More Information

See Antiques & the Arts Weekly's Website for the Full Review

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

A Great New England Pitcher that Sold Last Month at Crocker Farm in Maryland and Its Possible Origin

A few years ago, while researching the archaeology from the Bradford family pottery in Kingston, Massachusetts at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., I came across a group of sherds that looked very familiar (Lura Woodside Watkins Collection). The three-color glazed sherds very much resembled a small group of jars known to exist today, commonly attributed to Maine, without any further explanation. The attribution is likely a result of the glaze, but I have not viewed any archaeological evidence, or published or museum information to support it.

I was stunned to see these artifacts that Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) collected at the site of the Bradford Pottery before 1950 because I thought these type of jars were made in Maine, as well (or Vermont). The attribution seemed like a possible scenario. But as my studies progressed, I was equally as surprised to learn that the Bradford Pottery in Kingston is not common knowledge today. This was a multi-generational family company that existed for well-over 100 years, beginning before the American Revolution. I compare the family business and its output to what was made in Merrimacport, Massachusetts, circa 1784-1890. And there was a lot of skillfully made pottery produced in Merrimacport during this period, just like there was with the Bradfords in Kingston.

New England Red Earthenware Jar

Early-19th Century New England Red Earthenware Jar

Typically Attributed to Maine, But May Have Been Made in Kingston, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Stands 8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: Skinner

However, I was also surprised while speaking with Luke and Mark Zipp from Crocker Farm this past summer in Manchester, New Hampshire, when they pulled me aside to show me a great pitcher. The pitcher was undoubtedly from the same potter as was the jars that I just referenced, selling at Crocker Farm's most recent sale in Sparks, Maryland on October 26, 2019. It  had been consigned from a longtime New England collection.

Although, I cannot 100 percent guarantee that these objects were made by the Bradfords in Kingston, I can provide strong archaeological evidence that supports my idea. The only evidence that I know about that suggests these wares were made in northern New England is a result of the colorful glaze; nevertheless, I can easily prove that this identical glaze style was also produced by the Bradfords, a family business that I firmly believe should be much better known today.

For a full history about the Bradford family pottery in Kingston, as well as another family business on Cape Cod, and current academic research, along with archaeology from the Smithsonian and Plimouth Plantation - I highly recommend a lengthy feature story I wrote for the May 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts."

New England Red Earthenware Pitcher

Early-19th Century New England Red Earthenware Pitcher

Typically Attributed to Maine, But May Have Been Made in Kingston, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Stands 7 7/8" Tall

 Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

Another View of the Pitcher

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

 Another View of the Pitcher

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

View of the Handle

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

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

My New Book: The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

Born in Danvers, Massachusetts in 1829, Charles Albert (Solares) Lawrence (1829-1904) learned about household red earthenware production as an apprentice at Joseph Reed’s (1809-84) pottery in Peabody, Massachusetts in the 1850s and early-1860s. He later established his own pottery in Beverly, Massachusetts, around the end of the Civil War. This aspect of Lawrence’s career has been well documented, although it only represents a small percentage of his output as a career potter. 

For the last decade, I have been researching the history of the C.A. Lawrence Pottery, wanting to know all of the facts about this business. From the start, I knew this was a significant company based on some of the known early production, but there was very little documented information.

I began my search by speaking to some local longtime collectors and historians, such as Roger Pheulpin from Gloucester, Massachusetts.  And from there, I began to visit other private collections and museums all over the country. I learned about a hand-painted ancient formed jug owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, made in Beverly in the 1870s. This was the only documented object in this style, which was a major area of production, beginning in 1872. I also walked the shoreline of the Bass River in Beverly, next to where the pottery operated, trying to find hidden clues about the business. I read a countless number of nineteenth century local publications and newspapers from the Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts area, hoping to find any records of this business; any type of advertising was helpful, and especially any text that accompanied it. 

As the pieces of the puzzle began to unfold, I learned that Lawrence produced traditional household pottery in the early years, often decorated with multiple colors of slip, a style of decoration rarely found in Massachusetts in the 1800s. In fact, it was rarely produced in New England, and in some ways, resembles some slipware manufactured in Philadelphia in the eighteenth and early-nineteenth century. This style of slip is found on a variety of rare Beverly forms today, and while some forms were expected, others were surprising to see.

However, I had to learn more about the ancient production - I aggressively pursued this research, and it took years to really understand what was actually happening with these wares. Outside of the collections of Jim Kaufman in Dedham, Massachusetts, who specializes in pottery made at the Chelsea Keramic Arts Works and the Dedham Pottery, as well Historic Beverly and the MET, it is a subject that has been largely forgotten since the company ceased production around 1906. 

It was in the early-1870s, when Lawrence introduced a new line of artware to the Beverly and Boston marketplace, which at the time was unique for American production. A few years later, American consumers and design enthusiasts found themselves infatuated with the decorative wares made by some of the best manufacturers in Europe and China at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition which triggered the American art pottery movement, a change that Lawrence had already foreseen in the industry. 

For about forty years, the wares made at the C.A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly were among the most innovative products made anywhere in America, bringing together household pottery, artware and commemorative objects. As a collective group, this was really unlike anything else in New England.

I am thrilled to announce that my newly published book, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence is the first of its kind and the culmination of ten years’ worth of research, exploring the life of Charles A. Lawrence, the history of the Beverly Pottery, and the totality of the company’s production.  The 108 page book includes well over 100 illustrations, advertising, business cards, exports, paperwork, and most of the major pieces of documented Beverly pottery known to exist today.

For more information about the book - it will be included in Antiques & the Arts Weekly's forthcoming Holiday Book Roundup issue, which prints on Tuesday November 26, 2019, as well as an upcoming issue of Maine Antique Digest.


Where to Buy: The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence is available to purchase for $12 plux tax through Historic Beverly’s bookstore (discounted for members), Historic Beverly’s online store (historicbeverly.net/shop/), and Amazon.com. 

My New Book: The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

My New Book: The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

See Article for More Information

Available Through Historic Beverly and Amazon.com

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

Newburyport, Massachusetts Pottery Exhibit Feature Story Published in the November 22, 2019 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

This is the print version of the feature story about the Newburyport, Massachusetts pottery exhibit at the Custom House Maritime Museum that I wrote about last week, which was just  published in the November 22, 2019 issue of Antiques & Auction News. The newspaper is a Mid-Atlantic publication currently celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Here are links to the PDF version of each page uploaded to my Scribd account:

Page 1 Newburyport, Mass. Pottery Exhibit Feature Story

Page 2 Newburyport, Mass. Pottery Exhibit Feature Story

Feature Story: Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics

Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics

Published in the November 22, 2019 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

 See Article for More Information

Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics

Published in the November 22, 2019 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

 See Article for More Information

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

Newburyport, Massachusetts Pottery Exhibit Featured in Winter 2019 Issue of Newburyport Magazine

The Winter 2019 issue of Newburyport Magazine has just been published, and it includes a wonderful feature story showcasing the local Newburyport, Massachusetts pottery exhibit that I guest curated at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport. The story was written by Dave Rogers; Bryan Eaton was the photographer.

The perspective in this article is somewhat different than what has already been published in the exhibit catalog, as well as by Maine Antique Digest, Antiques & the Arts Weekly, and Antiques & Auction News. This is a more personal story, describing the meaning of the exhibit, and how it actually materialized, among other subjects.

Here is a link to the Winter 2019 issue - the feature story begins on page 18.

Newburyport Pottery Exhibit Featured in Winter 2019 Issue of Newburyport Magazine

Winter 2019 Issue of Newburyport Magazine

This Issue Includes a Feature Story Written About the Newburyport, Mass. Pottery Exhibit

See Article for a Link to the Story

Part of the Cover Photo to the Feature Story

See Article for a Link to the Story

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

Wonderful Late-19th Century Red Earthenware Vase that Sold Yesterday at Maple Leaf Auctions in Ontario

This is a really sweet late-nineteenth century red earthenware vase that I won yesterday at Maple Leaf Auctions in Carleton Place, Ontario in Canada. The vase was consigned from a collection in Kitchener/Waterloo, Ontario, and it was likely found years ago in Ontario, as well.

While I do not know who made this vase, it is certainly a very unusual form from a traditional utilitarian potter, which checks all the major boxes for desirability, such as rarity, form, refinement, glaze and aesthetics.

This vase may be American made, but I would absolutely not rule out an Ontario potter. And not that I would ever use glaze as a means for attribution, but this is a glaze style often found in Ontario, especially during this period.

I was also drawn to this piece because its form is really a post-1876 American Arts and Crafts Period form, possibly inspired from Asian wares. But this is an American or Ontario interpretation. This is a form that is more traditionally found with American art potters, especially those employed in New England. Although, I do not believe this is related to New England, which is why I think it is potentially a possible great piece of Ontario pottery. Some may even consider this a transitional piece, moving away from everyday household wares to more decorative objects, including flowerpots and garden wares.

Nevertheless, though, American versus Ontario, I think this is a beautiful piece of pottery in a really unusual refined form with a lot of personality.

Late-19th Century Red Earthenware Vase

 Late-19th Century Red Earthenware Vase

Possibly Made in American, But I Certainly Would Not Rule Out Ontario

Circa 1875-1900

Stands 3 5/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Maple Leaf Auctions

 Another View of the Vase

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Maple Leaf Auctions

View of the Base

See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Maple Leaf Auctions

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