Twentieth Century Stoneware Face Jug from Vale, North Carolina Found in Southern Connecticut

According to the American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., "Albert Hodge (b. 1941) began creating pottery in 1989 when a knee injury forced him to retire from his job as a match cloth cutter for a furniture company. He built a workshop in his backyard, purchased an electric kiln and  potter's wheel, and taught himself to make pottery. A left-handed artist using a right-handed potter's wheel, Hodge developed an unconventional technique in which he pulls the clay from the inside of his pot, instead of the outside. He collects nineteenth century pottery from  nearby "Jug Town," North Carolina, the local name for the area where Catawba and Lincoln counties meet. The shapes and styles of these pieces continue to influence Hodge."

While traveling to New York City over the weekend, I purchased this face jug manufactured by Hodge for an inexpensive price in southern New England. I guess my interest was piqued by the form, which I thought was influenced by face jugs manufactured in Edgefield, South Carolina in the 1800s. These photos were taken outside of the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan.

The base is impressed "Vale / N.C.," which at the time also reminded me of a similar mark applied by Burlon "B.B." Craig (1914-220) in Vale, who's work is also represented in the Smithsonian Institute.

Twentieth Century Stoneware Face Jug from Vale, North Carolina

Twentieth Century Stoneware Face Jug 

Manufactured by Albert Hodge in Vale, North Carolina

Just Found in Southern New England

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View of the Handle

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Another View of the Jug

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View of the "Vale, N.C." Mark on the Base

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

19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Creamer or Pitcher Found Yesterday in Southern New England

This may not be the most exciting piece in terms of the glaze, although I thought the refinement, black glaze and manufacture of this nineteenth century red earthenware creamer or pitcher was noteworthy, seeing that it reminds me of various black glazed red earthenware teapots manufactured in America, about the same period. 

I found this piece yesterday while traveling to New York City, and what I just described was my immediate reaction about the way it was made. It really reminded me of teapots produced in places like Whately, Massachusetts and southeastern Pennsylvania. I  certainly could not beat the $8 price tag either. 

Nonetheless, though I am curious to learn if this was produced by a teapot manufacturer; my best guess at the moment is that it may have been produced in southeastern Pennsylvania at some point during the nineteenth century. But everything about its manufacture, especially the matte black glaze, reminds of red earthenware teapot production in America, circa 1820-1860.

19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Creamer or Pitcher

19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Creamer or Pitcher

Possibly Made in Southeastern Pennsylvnania

Everything About Its Manufacture Reminds Me of Teapot Production

Stands 3 1/2" Tall

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Another View of the 19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Creamer or Pitcher

Found Yesterday in Connecticut While Traveling to New York City

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View of the Handle

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View of the Base

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

New Published Feature Story: The Concord, N.H. Red Earthenware Industry

In case you have not seen it, the five page research story I wrote about the eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware industry in the Concord, New Hampshire area is published in the current June 2021 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled accordingly, "The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire." The story includes a previously unknown and unpublished Colonial jug, dated "1765" that is likely the second oldest example of dated New England red earthenware known today. The jug is also heavily inscribed with other information.

Here is a link to a PDF of the story posted to my Scribd account.

My next story slated to run in Maine Antique Digest will cover the red earthenware production of Heber Kimball (1801-1868) in western New York, who went on to fame as a Mormon leader in Salt Lake City, Utah. That story should be published later this year.

New Published Feature Story: The Concord, N.H. Red Earthenware Industry

The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire

Published in the June 2021 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

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The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire

Published in the June 2021 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

See Article for More Information

The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire

Published in the June 2021 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

See Article for More Information

The Red Earthenware Industry in Concord, New Hampshire

Published in the June 2021 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

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

In Search of a Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar for My Next Book

I'm working on my next book, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod, and I believe I have every major museum piece as well as many incredible privately owned objects pictured in it. The majority of these objects have never been published before, although, I am in search of one jar that may be from this region. 

The following green glazed jar sold in the Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Huntington Collection at Morrill's Auction, Inc. in Harrison, Maine in 1974. I recall having a picture of this piece at one point, but I cannot find it. If anyone knows the whereabouts of this jar or owns it, and would like it included in the book, please contact me! The jar is pictured twice in the catalog.

Interestingly, a number of important pieces from the Huntington Collection have resurfaced in recent years at sales held by Willis Henry in Massachusetts and at Crocker Farm in Maryland.

The new book will run about 300 or so pages and I'm hoping it will be published in the summer or fall of 2021.

In Search of a Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar for My Next Book

In Search of This Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar

Sold in the Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Huntington Collection in Maine in 1974

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In Search of This Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar

Sold in the Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Huntington Collection in Maine in 1974

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

New Book: Red Earthenware Production in Southeastern Mass., Bristol County, Mass. and Cape Cod

I'm in search of pictures! My next book will hopefully be published in the next year or so covering eighteenth and nineteenth century red earthenware production in southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County, Massachusetts and Cape Cod. This will be my most extensive book, so far. If you feel you have any pieces from this region that you would like to have pictured in the book - please feel free to contact me! These are some examples of the type of pieces that I am looking to include or anything with a documented history of early ownership. The book will include hundreds of photos from private collections, museums, as well as archaeology, most of which has not previously been published.

Red Earthenware Production in Southeastern Mass., Bristol County, Mass. and Cape Cod

New Forthcoming Book

Red Earthenware Production in Southeastern Mass., Bristol County, Mass. and Cape Cod

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

Outstanding Example of New York City Stoneware Sells at Pook & Pook in Pennsylvania

Two months ago, I posted a story to this website previewing some of the stoneware that just sold as part of the Bud and Judy Newman Collection of New Hope, Pennsylvania at Pook & Pook Inc. in Downington, Pennsylvania. Although, it was one particular piece that really caught my attention, which is related to some stoneware displayed as part of an exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum in Manhattan a few years ago, titled, Made in New York City: The Business of Folk Art.

According to Pook and Pook, "Impressed with the mark W.A. Macquoid & Co. Pottery Works Little Wst 12th St. N.Y., this six gallon cobalt decorated crock depicts two Civil War officers playing the drum and fife, flanking a keg with two tankards on top. This business is known for its figural decoration, and this example stands out as Macquoid's most ambitious work known. It was previously displayed at the American Folk Art Museum's exhibit, American Folk Art Always in Tune: Music in American Folk Art, September 21, 1989 thru November 26, 1989."

The crock far exceeded the $20,000-$30,000 estimate, selling for $51,660 including the buyer's premium, making it one of the more expensive pieces of eighteenth or nineteenth century Manhattan stoneware to ever sell at auction.

Outstanding Example of 19th Century New York City Stoneware

19th Century Stoneware Crock Decorated with Two Civil War Soldiers

Impressed W.A. Macquoid & Co. Pottery Works Little Wst 12th St. N.Y.

Circa 1870

Stands 12 3/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Pook & Pook Inc.

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Two Examples of Rochester, New York Red Earthenware Sell in St. Paul, Minnesota

Two nice examples of nineteenth century red earthenware attributed to the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in Rochester, New York recently sold at Revere Auctions in St. Paul, Minnesota. The pitcher sold for $550 plus the auction premiums, while the jar was passed.

According to the Genesee Country Village and Museum, "After the American Revolution, when land in Western New York opened up for settlement, men and women left their rocky farms in New England and moved west. Pennsylvanians and Marylanders migrated from the south. 

The pioneers who rushed to clear and develop the rich frontier were all hoping to improve their lot. Some would turn back. Some would be struck by Genesee Fever, a form of malaria. Some would move on to Ohio and Michigan. But many would stay.

In 1801, Colonel Nathaniel Rochester (1751-1831) left his comfortable circumstances in Hagerstown, Maryland, to move north to 155 acres in Dansville, New York, that had been bought on his trip to the Genesee Country in September 1800. The perilous 275-mile journey north through almost impassible mountains took three weeks.

On horseback the Colonel led a procession of carriages bearing the younger children and women of the household and three great Conestoga wagons with household goods, his ten slaves and some of his neighbors who came along to help. The Colonel moved north, he said, "to escape the influence of slavery, to set his slaves free and to rear his family in a free state."

In Dansville, Colonel Rochester purchased from David Scholl a plank house, believed to have been built around 1797 - and once settled in Dansville, he purchased most of the water rights at Canaseraga Creek. Colonel Rochester erected a large paper mill and a gristmill. In the meantime, he began to survey the 100 acre-tract at the falls of the Genesee River that he and his colleagues had purchased in 1803.

After five years in Dansville, Colonel Rochester moved to a large farm in East Bloomfield, New York, and continued his work laying out what would become the Village of Rochester. In 1818, he and his family finally moved near the falls into a house with a large garden and grounds sloping down to the river. In 1824, he erected a brick house on higher ground where he resided for the rest of his life."

Rochester also offered some of his property in the Village in 1818, which was to be used as a pottery. Rochester was not the potter himself, but the business is known by his name today. The potter or potters who worked at the Rochester Pottery produced some of the earliest wares in this section of upstate New York, all of which are highly regarded today among collectors and museums.

Note: There were condition issues with the jar, which is likely why it was passed - interestingly though, the pitcher is decorated on three sides with an impressed circle. There may be more to this impression, and the auction listing suggests that one of the circles may even bear a date of some sort.

Two Examples of Rochester, New York Red Earthenware

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Attributed to the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in Rochester, NY

Circa 1818-1831

Stands 9" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Revere Auctions

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Attributed to the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in Rochester, NY

Circa 1818-1831

Stands 8 1/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Revere Auctions

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