I recently posted an article about this late eighteenth century red earthenware jar to this website, and a friend revisited it this week in a private collection in New York City, whereas I was able to get the full history of this object in the Mid-Atlantic region in America, and how it directly relates to production in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in the 1820s.
A potter named Jacob Bock (1789-1867) is known for these types of jars; Bock was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1789, however he later migrated to Waterloo to eventually work as a potter (among other job titles), where he made some red earthenware tobacco jars there with lids surrounded with images of Saint Ambrose (ca. 340-397 AD) in the 1820s. There is a signed example of this type of production in the collection of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, as well as a few others that are signed and privately owned.
Nevertheless, the production of this jar is very similar to those produced in Ontario, but the inscription on the base suggests it was made in America. The inscription reads, "D.B.R. 1793," whereas the style of the inscription is also completely different than what Bock is known for with his inscribed objects in Ontario that survive today from the 1820s. In this case, the inscription was created with dots, where Bock's inscriptions in Ontario were created in the traditional way of writing script during the period.
Interestingly, though, the belief is that the inscription on this jar represents Daniel Reichard (1780-1859), who was born in West Hanover Township, Daupin County, Pennsylvania in 1780. Reichard is also documented as being a potter in Hagerstown, Maryland in the nineteenth century, although it is not known how he learned the potter's trade.
It was published in Gene Comstock's book, The Pottery Of The Shenandoah Valley Region, that "It has not been established from whom Reichard learned his trade, although in his father's will 15 pence was deducted from Reichard's share of inheritance for "expense of his trade."
Furthermore, Reichard's older sister, Maria Catherine (Bock) Reichard (1769-1830) married Frederick D. Bock (1756-1832) from Lancaster County, and one of their kids was Jacob Bock, the Ontario potter, born in 1789.
It is likely that Bock and Reichard worked together at some point in either Hanover Township or Lancaster County, seeing that Reichard moved back to Daupin County from Maryland in the early 1800s, when he married Catherine (Balsbaugh) Reichard (1785-1870). Although by 1805, Reichard had returned to Hagerstown. It was also in the early 1800s that Bock migrated to Ontario, where he lived the rest of his life.
I also want to add that in 1813, John Snavely, Henry Adam, Peter Bell and Daniel Reichard formed an association to regulate the prices of Hagerstown red earthenware, showing that Reichard was very much involved with early production in Hagerstown, and indirectly, tying in Bock's career with this important production center.
The style of jar is also reminiscent to pottery manufactured in Germany, and especially resembles stove tiles with religious figures that were made in the 1600s (and other centuries too), whereas I have posted an example of this below. German stoves tiles may have been in fact the inspiration that was used to create the St. Ambrose figures on these jars.
Additionally, this information and more will be included in a forthcoming feature story that will be published about this type of St. Ambrose production, although I wanted to post this information here because I think this is an important jar. But I also now consider the fact that there are some unsigned jars known like this today, and it is probably debatable whether they perhaps originated in the Mid-Atlantic region with Reichard or in Ontario with Bock, especially any examples that retain lengthy histories of ownership in America.
Note: It is also important to consider that this jar was previously owned decades ago by Annville, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania antiques dealer Chris Machmer, where he had previously found it in Pennsylvania.
Red Earthenware Jar Made in the Mid-Atlantic Region
Late 18th Century Red Earthenware Jar Thought to have Been Made Made by Daniel Reichard in the Mid-Atlantic Region
The Lid is Thought to be Original
Adorned with Figures of Saint Ambrose (ca. 340-397 AD)
Very Similar to Jars Made by Jacob Bock in Ontario in the 1820s
The Base is Inscribed with Dots “D.B.R. 1793”
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Private Collection
One of the Existing Unsigned Jars that was Found in New England
The Lid is Original
Compared to 17th Century German Red Earthenware Stove Tiles with Religious Figures
The Idea Behind the Figures is Similar
Please Stay Tuned...Much More to Come...
