A Good Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug from Bristol County, Mass. Sells in Columbus, Ohio

Back in August of 2017, I posted an article to this website about some red earthenware that sold at Northeast Auctions in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, which had come from an old antique dealer's inventory in Boston and had been in storage since the 1940s or 1950s. Those objects included a red earthenware jug that retained an old note, reading, "Charlestown Pottery, 1780-1810": http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2017/08/an-intriguing-red-earthenware-jug-that.html. 

This jug was then illustrated with the tag in my fifth book, titled, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts: https://historicbeverly.net/product/the-dawn-of-independence-the-death-of-an-industry/.

Interestingly, another object that sold in that sale was a colorfully glazed late eighteenth or early nineteenth century red earthenware jug from Bristol County, Massachusetts that was missing its handle. This jug later sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in 2018, where it had a modern tin make-do handle added to it; it was also published as it appeared without the handle in my fifth book, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/.

Nonetheless, a similar glazed red earthenware jug (slightly less vibrant with less green) with a chip on the rim from Bristol County sold yesterday in a group lot at Amelia Jeffers in Columbus, Ohio. It came from the lifelong collection of the late Ginny and Ken Kruizenga of Kalamazoo, Michigan. The lot sold for $425 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/213798246_four-american-redware-items-columbus-oh.

Late 18th or Early 19th C. Red Earthenware Jugs from Bristol County, Mass.

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug from Bristol County, Mass.

Stands 6" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Amelia Jeffers

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug from Bristol County, Mass.

Sold at Northeast Auctions in New Hampshire in 2017

Then Sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in 2018

The Tin Make-Do Handle is a Modern Replacement

Stands 6" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

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

An Outstanding Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl from the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in Western New York

I have posted a number of stories in the past year or so to this website about the circa 1818-1831 Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York, as well as a feature story I wrote for the June 7, 2024 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Nathaniel Rochester's Red Earthenware Pottery: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html.

However, while finalizing my recently published, two-volume, 1,400 page, ninth book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York, I was excited to learn about this bowl that is thought to have been made at the Rochester Pottery. It is unlike any other object that I have seen from this business, although there are aspects about it that closely resemble archaeology collected at the site of the business, now kept at the Rochester Museum & Science Center in Rochester, New York. The object also retains a lengthy history of local ownership in Monroe County and Ontario County, New York. 

Nonetheless, for more information about the Rochester Pottery and this type of slip decorated red earthenware - see the Western New York book - https://historicbeverly.net/product/americas-great-awakening-and-migration-the-red-earthenware-of-western-new-york/.

Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl from the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in WNY

Large 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

Attributed to the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York

Circa 1818-1831

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Gene and Nancy Pratt

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

A 19th Century Religious Slip Script Dish from Norwalk Connecticut, Reading in Part "...Martin Luther Reformer..."

This is an object that I did not know existed until recently, which was acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan, as part of the Robert A. Ellison, Jr. Collection. The religious slip-script decorated red earthenware dish is from Norwalk, Connecticut and is inscribed, "This in the middle is rote ill / Martin Luther Reformer / For this dish it cannot fill."

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German theologian and monk who became the central figure of the Protestant Reformation when he challenged the Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences by posting his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517, leading to a schism in Western Christianity and the establishment of Protestantism. His key theological beliefs emphasized salvation through faith rather than good works and the Bible as the ultimate source of religious authority, and he translated the Bible into German to make it accessible to everyone.

Interestingly, early Quakers in places like New England, Pennsylvania and North Carolina, etc., shared some foundational beliefs with Luther, such as the direct relationship with God, the importance of the Bible, and the rejection of an overly corrupt Catholic Church. Despite these agreements, Quakers ultimately diverged from Luther and other reformers by rejecting certain doctrines like the impossibility of liberation from sin in this life and extending their beliefs further, emphasizing a more radical spiritual equality for all people. 

This subject of Quakers and Protestants will be heavily highlighted in my forthcoming 900-1,000 page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, South Danvers, Peabody and Salem, Massachusetts.

Note: For more information about religious slip script decorated red earthenware made in Norwalk, see my recently published two-volume, 1,400 page, ninth book, titled, America’s Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York: https://historicbeverly.net/product/americas-great-awakening-and-migration-the-red-earthenware-of-western-new-york/.

19th Century Religious Slip Script Dish from Norwalk Connecticut

19th Century Religious Slip Script Dish Made in Norwalk, Connecticut

Circa 1825-1855

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Painting of Martin Luther (1483-1546)

Painted by Artist Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553)

Circa 1532

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

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

An Example of Frey Pottery on Display at the Renfrew Museum & Park in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

While writing the post about the circa 1850-1880 red earthenware teapots this morning that were made at the John Bell (1800-1880) Pottery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, I decided to check my photos from the Renfrew Musuem & Park in Waynesboro to see if this museum owned a Bell teapot. They do not appear to have one, although I was surprised to see a late nineteenth or early twentieth century brown glazed red earthenware pitcher in one of the photos that I somehow previously missed, which was made at the FREY Pottery, although there is a lot to be learned about this business.

There has been some previous speculation that this was a late nineteenth and twentieth century company that operated under the Frey family in Pennsylvania, however that does not appear to be the case. More recently the business has been suggested to have been a pottery company located in either New Jersey or New York City. But more information needs to be documented, where some Frey Pottery was sold in a department store in Washington, D.C. in the 1920s.

There have also been some Frey Pottery objects sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in recent years, including a pitcher that sold this past winter for $720 including the buyer's premium: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2025-01-31/lot-302/Cobalt-Glazed-Redware-Pitcher-Stamped-Frey-American-circa-1920s/.

Nonetheless, for more information - see a feature story I wrote for the October 21, 2022 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Frey Pottery: The Forgotten History Of An American Red Earthenware Manufacturer: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/10/new-published-story-frey-pottery_17.html.

Example of Frey Pottery on Display at the Renfrew Museum & Park

Late 19th or Early 20th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Made at the Frey Pottery

The Base Might be Stamped "FREY"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Renfrew Museum & Park

A View of the Handle

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Renfrew Museum & Park

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

Two 19th Century Teapots Made at the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

In the fall of 2024, I was thrilled to handle a nineteenth century red earthenware teapot made at the John Bell (1800-1880) Pottery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania, circa 1850-1880. This business is known for a variety of skillfully made objects manufactured out of stoneware, earthenware and red earthenware, although this teapot is one of the rarest forms known from this business today. It sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in the summer of 2024 for $8,400 including the buyer's premium: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2024-07-26/lot-418/Extremely-Rare-JOHN-BELL-WAYNESBORO-Glazed-Redware-Teapot-1850-80/.

Interestingly, there is actually a second teapot known from the Bell Pottery, which is owned by the Historical Society of Washington County, Maryland; both teapots are impressed on the base "JOHN BELL": https://washcohistory.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/19B19AE8-F313-456B-9974-722303938045.

For more information about the John Bell Pottery - see a three-page cover story I wrote for the December 7, 2018 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Bell Pottery Collection At The Renfrew Museum In Waynesboro, PA.

Print version of the article --

Page 1: https://www.scribd.com/document/395680888/The-Bell-Pottery-Collection-at-the-Renfrew-Museum-in-Waynesboro-Pa-Page-1

Page 2: https://www.scribd.com/document/395680950/The-Bell-Pottery-Collection-at-the-Renfrew-Museum-in-Waynesboro-Pa-Page-2

Page 3: https://www.scribd.com/document/395680958/The-Bell-Pottery-Collection-at-the-Renfrew-Museum-in-Waynesboro-Pa-Page-3

Teapots Made at the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

19th Century Red Earthenware Teapot with Original Lid

Made at the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro, PA

Circa 1850-1880

Stands 6" Tall with the Lid

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

A View of the Base

The Base is Marked "JOHN BELL"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

19th Century Red Earthenware Teapot with Original Lid

Made at the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro, PA

Circa 1850-1880

Stands 4 1/2" Tall without the Lid

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Washington County, Maryland

A View of the "JOHN BELL" Mark on the Base

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Washington County, Maryland

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

In Search of Any Other Related Jars: A Type of Red Earthenware Jar Most Likely from the Danvers and Salem, Massachusetts Area

Included as part of my forthcoming 900-1,000 page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, South Danvers, Peabody and Salem, Massachusetts, is a chapter about a type of red earthenware jar that I firmly believe was made in the Danvers and Salem, Massachusetts area, circa late eighteenth or early nineteenth century. 

To date, I have been able to identify three of these types of jars, one of which was sold earlier this year by John McInnis in Amesbury, Massachusetts, and retains a history of ownership in the Boston area. 

However, I am in search of any other related jars...so if anyone reading this post owns one of these types of jars and would like to have it published in the forthcoming book, please contact me as soon as possible. Two of the jars shown below are privately owned today, while the third is in the collection of Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

A Type of Jar Most Likely from the Danvers and Salem, Mass. Area

Three Related Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars

Most Likely Made in the Danvers and Salem, Massachusetts Area

Each Jar Measures About 9 or so Inches Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collections and Historic Deerfield

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

A Very Good 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from Western New York that Showed Up this Week in Brimfield, Massachusetts

I came home with one find from the antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts this week, although I think it is an outstanding object! I posted a picture of it last night to my Instagram account, but here are some more pictures. This nineteenth century red earthenware jar with a vibrant glaze was made in Western New York, circa 1850 or thereabouts. 

However, what also struck me about it is that it reminded me of another jar that I suspect was made in Western New York (see last picture), which sold as part of Lew Scranton’s private collection at an onsite sale at his house in Killingworth, Connecticut in May 2016 that was sold by Skinner. The jar was attributed to Maine in the sale, although I suspect current research probably suggests a Western New York origin: https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2897M/lots/305. Both of the jars measures exactly nine inches in height.

Nevertheless, this particular jar came from Victor, New York collector and antiques dealer Gene Pratt, whereas there are similarities in the glaze found on this jar to the one that was owned by Lew Scranton, including the use of glaze colors, as well as some separation or crawling in the glaze.

For more information - see my recently published 1,400 page, two volume book, titled, America’s Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York - https://historicbeverly.net/product/americas-great-awakening-and-migration-the-red-earthenware-of-western-new-york/.

A Very Good 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from Western New York

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from Western New York

Showed Up this Week in Brimfield, Massachusetts

Adorned in a Vibrant Multi-Colored Glaze

Circa 1850 or Thereabouts

Stands 9" Tall

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

See Article for More Information

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly from Western New York

Showed Up this Week in Brimfield, Massachusetts

Adorned in a Vibrant Multi-Colored Glaze

Circa 1850 or Thereabouts

Stands 9" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Lew Scranton

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