The Mark Used at Thomas Nickerson's Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Circa 1897-1908

The first two reports about Thomas Nickerson's Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts have targeted the garden wares that the company made from 1897-1908; although, there were likely more garden products made between 1897-1901 than 1902-1908.

In January of 1902, the company changed its focus to meet a certain market demand with formal wares adorned with colorful glazes. Many of the colors Nickerson applied had never been seen from a Massachusetts utilitarian potter before. Glazes ranged from greens to blues, purples, pinks and yellows. Production of garden products did not completely cease after 1901; whereas, Nickerson somewhat remained a utilitarian potter, but he altered his appearance in the potter's industry to be seen as an art potter, as well.

Some might think that it may be difficult to identify products made by this company considering many terracotta products are reflections from one company to the next. Thomas Nickerson applied paper labels to his products before 1902 that were marked "MERRIMAC CERAMIC COMPANY." Although, over the years, many of the labels have disappeared leaving some of the products open for debate for a proper attribution by qualified professionals.

Nonetheless, in 1902, Nickerson incorporated a company stamp that was impressed at the base on most of the company's wares. The stamp read "MERRIMAC" with a sturgeon underneath the name. It is pretty simple to explain how this mark materialized; the name "MERRIMAC" was taken from the local river that the company was located next to, and the sturgeon is a native fish to the river. The idea of a paper label or a missing paper label versus a stamp makes it easier to identify when products were made today at the Merrimac Pottery Company.

Merrimac Ceramic Company, Circa 1897-1901

 

Merrimac Ceramic Company Red Earthenware Vase

Paper Label Attached to the Bottom

Circa 1897-1901

Stands 6 7/8" Inches Tall
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc - Boston and Marlborough, MA

Merrimac Pottery Company, Circa 1902-1908

 Partially Glazed Merrimac Pottery Company Red Earthenware Vase
Bottom Half Not Glazed
Merrimac Stamp on Bottom
Circa 1902-1908
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Rago Fine Arts - Lambertville, NJ

The curator at the Olde Newbury Historical Society, Jay Williamson and past president, Chris Snow salvaged a large amount of sherds, wasters and kiln furniture from the actual site of the Merrimac Pottery Company when a condominium development was constructed on top of the original business in 1998. Many of the sherds had also been impressed with the circa 1902-1908 company mark.

Jay Williamson told me that they arrived as construction was already happening. He said they just began collecting sherds from foundation holes and piles of dirt.  Luckily, the land had previously been left undisturbed. 

Artifacts Collected at Merrimac Pottery Company Site

 Condominiums Built on the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, MA

Built in 1998

See Article for More Information

 Condominiums Built on the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, MA

Built in 1998

See Article for More Information

Note: I have used archaeological evidence, as well as an image of the paper label below to show how the Merrimac Ceramic/Pottery Company marked its products in Newburyport, Massachusetts, circa 1897-1908.

Paper Label

Merrimac Ceramic Company Paper Label

Used Circa 1897-1901
See Article for More Information

Impressed Mark

Sherd Stamped "MERRIMAC" with a Sturgeon

Used Circa 1902-1908
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, Ma

 Sherd Stamped "MERRIMAC" with a Sturgeon

Used Circa 1902-1908
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, Ma

Sherds Stamped "MERRIMAC" with a Sturgeon

Used Circa 1902-1908
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historic Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, Ma

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

An Important Example of New England Pottery Produced During the Grecian Revival Movement

The Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts should be viewed today as both a utilitarian and art pottery company, which operated for only one decade in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century, circa 1897-1908. Thomas Nickerson ran the Merrimac Pottery Company in an industrial-type building less than one-half of a mile from where the old nineteenth century brick buildings are found in downtown Newburyport today.

Nickerson's business used an indoor industrial-style kiln; whereas, there was even a dedicated room that was reportedly used just for mixing glazes.

Nonetheless, Thomas Nickerson traveled down to Boston's Museum of Fine Arts at the turn of the twentieth century, where he examined a number of Grecian sherds and whole objects recovered in Europe. Nickerson used those forms as inspiration for his own line of Grecian influenced products. Most of the forms were intended for garden purposes, where there was a large emphasis also devoted to strictly terracotta products.

A well-kept secret at the Old Newbury Historical Society in Newburyport is arguably one of the most detailed forms ever constructed by an American utilitarian potter. It is described as a garden urn; although, I absolutely view it as a work-of-art today.

This large urn was reportedly produced in two-halves; the first half being the base and the second half is the body. The detail is incredible!

This object was donated by a local owner to the historical society in 1906. The date of manufacture is not known; however it was made no earlier than 1897 when the company was founded. It is my belief that the urn probably dates between 1900-1906.

The entire urn is manufactured from unglazed red earthenware, where similar, but simpler objects made from this style are also known today including an object in my personal collection. But this specific object is an absolute masterpiece for an object made during the Grecian Revival Movement in Massachusetts, as well as a benchmark that some potters from the the American Arts and Crafts Movement should be held up against today.

Note: This object has never been published (or really seen) before outside of this website, which I find exciting!

Urn Made in Newburyport, Mass.

 

Merrimac Pottery Company Red Earthenware Urn

Made by Thomas Nickerson in Newburyport, Massachusetts
Stands Over 36 Inches Tall

Ca. 1897-1908
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, MA

 

Beautiful Acorn Decoration Used as the Finial

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, MA

Wonderful Base

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, MA

 

The Detail of the Decoration is Wonderful

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Old Newbury - Newburyport, MA

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

Floral Products Made at the Merrimac Pottery Company in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Circa 1897-1901

The Merrimac Pottery Company will be an ongoing series over the next couple of weeks, where I have been studying a large collection of sherds recovered by the curator of the Olde Newbury Historical Society, Jay Williamson and past president, Chris Snow at the original site of the pottery. The sherds were discovered in 1998 when a local contractor was building condos on top of the pottery's site; there was no professional archaeology scheduled for the site so Jay Williamson and Chris Snow both acted quickly to preserve the site's history and recovered as many sherds, wasters and kiln furniture as possible.

They may not receive the local credit that they deserve today for this act, but I compare what they did to when Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins (Early New England Potters and Their Wares) stepped in to salvage as many objects as she could in the 1930s at the site of the Daniel Bayley Pottery Company in Newburyport, circa 1764-1799 when construction crews were demolishing the site for a highway underpass. All of the objects that were salvaged by Watkins are owned by the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. today.

The Merrimack Pottery Company was established by an English trained potter, Thomas Nickerson; whereas, I view this company today as a hybrid of a utilitarian pottery company that morphed its output with the demand of the Art Pottery Movement.

The Merrimac Pottery Company is a rather unique situation that flourished in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries; however, a massive fire broke out in 1908 destroying the business forever. In that short lifespan, Nickerson left such a legacy and an impression that even the biggest critics of form, glaze and proportion in the field of American pottery must respect Nickerson for what he accomplished. The Merrimac Pottery Company focused on garden products from 1897-1901, before the company altered its production to focus on finer glazed formal wares in 1902. There was still a focus on garden products after 1902, but not like it was.

Nonetheless, before Nickerson's business was known as the Merrimac Pottery Company it was known as the Merrimac Ceramic Company. This earlier business produced a variety of garden wares, many of which are forms that may not be recognized by collectors today. I was also surprised to learn that this business produced both earthenware and red earthenware products; although, the objects that I see today that are credited to this business are really only made from red earthenware.

Note: These are some of the artifacts that I recently studied from the Merrimac Pottery Company at the Olde Newbury Historical Society in Newburyport, Massachusetts.

Objects Recovered at Site of Merrimac Pottery Company

 Marked & Unmarked Sherds Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

 Marked & Unmarked Sherds Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

   Kiln Furniture Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., 

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

  Artifacts Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

 Artifacts Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

 Artifacts Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

 Artifacts Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

Artifacts Recovered at the Site of the Merrimac Pottery Co., Newburyport, MA

Circa 1897-1908

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Olde Newbury Historical Society - Newburyport, MA

Note: Below is a photo from Irene Sargent's twentieth century published article, 'Some Potters and Their Products,' where a number of the floral wares made at the Merrimac Ceramic/Pottery Company were illustrated in black and white. Products ranged from terracotta forms to Old World Grecian styles copied from actual pots at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts at the turn of the twentieth century.

My nephew, Jason is pictured with a twentieth century painted Italian-style red earthenware flower pot that we recently found in southern Maine. A similar object is shown in Sargent's article; although, we are not sure if the pot that we discovered in related.

A Comparison of Flower Pots

My Newphew, Jason with a Painted 20th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot

Recently Found in Maine
See Article for More Information

Merrimac Ceramic Company Pot, Newburyport, MA
Somewhat Similar to the Example Pictured with My Nephew
Ca. 1897-1901
See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Some Potters and Their Products, Irene Sargent

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

An Incredible Selection of 19th Century Red Earthenware Glazes Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine

These are more of the artifacts that have been recovered at the site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine. Some of the glaze colors that I have posted below are absolutely amazig! The Bickford Pottery was an important multi-generational southern Maine potter's business, which operated in Buxton, circa 1825-1880; although, it is currently under investigation whether this potter's business could also be related to another potter's business nearby in Limington, Maine.

I also want to mention that I have seen some small red earthenware jugs attributed to Buxton today that closely resembles objects that were made at the Dodge Pottery in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

Note: This is an amazing site in Buxton, Maine that is privately owned today; whereas, the location remains a secret until the property owners and the State of Maine determine how they want to proceed with the site. I have visited this site on a few occasions and I feel this site can really contribute extensively to what is known about the nineteenth century southern Maine potter's industry today.

Artifacts Recovered in Buxton, Maine

 19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

 19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

  View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

 View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

 19th Century Red Earthenware Sherd with a Glazed Base

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

  19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

Red Earthenware Sherds

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME

Circa 1825-1880

See Article for More Information

  (Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot Saucer
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information
 (Right) 19th Century Red Earthenware Bowl
Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

  19th Century Red Earthenware Flower Pot with Attached Saucer

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

Red Earthenware Sherd

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME

Circa 1825-1880

See Article for More Information

Red Earthenware Sherd

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME

Circa 1825-1880

See Article for More Information

  19th Century Red Earthenware Sherd, Possibly the Base of An Object

Recovered at the Site of the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
Circa 1825-1880
See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rick Poore - Southern Maine

Please stay tuned....

A Follow-Up to the Recent Dated Slip Decorated Earthenware Pitcher

Report 1 on Slip Decorated Pitcher

I have taken into consideration many possible origins with the dated 1865 slip decorated earthenware pitcher. I feel the key characteristics are the handle and the rounded foot. The manner in which the handle was applied is really an Americanized form. I have considered possible English, Spanish, German, Swiss, French, Bulgarian and Lithuanian makers - and none that I can see, demonstrate either of these characteristics in this style. The way the slip was also applied is seen by earthenware makers all over America. The wavy and straight line decoration was used by potters in North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania - and by potters of many more backgrounds all over the east coast.

19th Century Earthenware Pitcher

Probably a Highly-Skilled American Potter
8 3/4 Inches Tall

Wonderful Use of Slip Decoration

Dated on Bottom -1865- and Possibly Signed (See First Report)

In the previous report, I showed the base, which was covered in kaolin clay. Kaolin is used to make slip decoration, clay pipes, refined ceramics and sometimes other means of pottery. For the base to have been covered in kaolin, I feel the pitcher must have been near a large kaolin source or inside a kiln that fired many white clay products. From here, I thought about where white clays were most used in 1865. Southern potters used plenty of kaolin to produce porclain and related products in the nineteenth century. There were abundant sources of kaolin in South Carolina and Georgia that were harvested. South Carolina porcelain manufacturers used the white clays in the 1850s and 1860s, which also happens to coincide with when the pitcher is dated. Kaolin was also used by the state's stoneware potters for ornamental slip decoration. I have considered the pitcher may be a southern product - and I would not be surprised to find out if it is.

Below the kaolin is a light colored clay. Similar pale colored clays are associated with Southern Maine, parts of New York, Rhode Island and Virginia - but that shouldn't mean these colored clays were not seen from additional American potters.

A very interesting characteristic which should be noted is where ever the slip was applied in a wavy or straight line decoration on the pitcher - it appears to have either been incised before the slip was applied or the slip cup (what applies the slip) was dug into the clay. It is very smoothly done. The potter was obviously skilled. The pitcher is also thinly potted.

The lead glaze also appears American. I know that's a bold statement, but it just has that certain feel and look to it. It has the same appearance that William Pecker's lead glaze showed on the jugs he made in Merrimacport, Massachusetts in the early nineteenth century. It really gives a thick glass-like appearance to it.

An obvious characteristic is the boldly slip decorated interior. Not many potters applied this type of decoration to their wares. It was probably expensive to use this amount of slip on the interior - especially since that part of the pitcher was not really seen when it was displayed in a formal setting. It had to have been a special piece for the potter to put this amount of effort into it.

I did find a slip decorated pitcher attributed to the Valley of Virginia that Jeffrey Evans auctioned off a few years ago.The pitcher dates about forty years before the pitcher of discussion was manufactured, but between the Valley of Virginia pitcher and the stew pot in the previous report - it shows slip decorated interiors were used by nineteenth century American potters.

The Virginia pitcher is described as a kaolin clay. That is exactly how I would like to describe the yellow and red pitcher above. I wouldn't be surprised to find out if the pitcher was made in Virginia.

Valley of Virginia Earthenware Pitcher

Ca. 1800-1820

Described as a Kaolin Clay Product

Probably Wythe or Smyth County, Va

Possibly Augusta County, Va

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey Evans & Associates - Mt Crawford, Va

Light Colored Clay Similar to the Above Pitcher

Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey Evans & Associates - Mt Crawford, Va

Here  is more information about the Valley of Virginia pitcher.

A nearly identical stoneware form is seen in Diana and Garrison Stradling's book, The Art of the Potter. It is attributed to the Hartford, Connecticut area. The body, rounded foot, lip, placement of the handle and the incised lines are all very similar to the slip decorated pitcher. I also wouldn't be surprised to hear the pitcher was made by a Connecticut potter. After-all, that is where it was found.

Hartford, Ct Stoneware Pitcher

Ca. 1800-1820
Notice the Form When Compared to the Earthenware Pitcher Above

Photo Courtesy: The Art of the Potter, Stradling, 1977

I personally feel the slip decorated pitcher is either a product of a Connecticut or a Southern American potter. Feedback is always welcome! The form of the stoneware pitcher in the last photo really shows all the characteristics of the earthenware pitcher. There are really a lot of similarities, but the use of kaolin and the quality of slip decoration make it appear more southern. The clay color also makes it seem southern rather than from a Connecticut potter. It is a very interesting piece!

Much More to Come...

An Unusual Slip Decorated Pitcher Dated 1865 with Similarities in Form to Many Industries

This report can be in keeping with the report from a few days ago about eighteenth century slip decorated shards.

Here I am seeking any type of quality input from any readers who are generous enough to lend their knowledge. This pitcher recently emerged in Connecticut. My initial thought was Hervey Brooks because of the manner in which the slip decoration was applied. The form also looks like a Connecticut potter, however - the interior slip decoration is not something usually seen from early American potters.

I showed the pitcher to a very knowledge Pennsylvania dealer yesterday and he felt it was not made in that state. He said it could have been southern, but he was not sure about it. He even said it may have been made in England. The form doesn't really seem English to me, but I am not an English ceramic expert.

The pitcher resembles a cross between an Essex County Massachusetts and Connecticut form.The flat area seen around the lip reminds me of forms made in South Danvers, Massachusetts. The handle placement and form is seen from Connecticut potters. The form is also similar to some pitchers made in New York and Pennsylvania.

I am also not sure how this amount of slip would affect the color of the clay. It's thinly potted when compared to the cruder, country pitchers that were produced in nineteenth century America. If you notice the bottom in the picture at the end of the report, you'll notice it is a lighter color.

These are my questions - I know slip decoration was used in parts of New York and throughout Connecticut. Could this pitcher be tied to either of these areas? I know there's also a chance it may be from England, but the exterior decoration is like nothing I have ever seen from that country - and neither is the form. Are the stew pot (below) and pitcher tied in with a possible maker? The stew pot is very similar to known forms made throughout New England and Pennsylvania in the late eighteenth and nineteenth century. The stew pot also shows yellow and green slip, which is also a characteristic of Connecticut potters.

I think a Connecticut attribution is possible - since the potters of that state placed a heavy emphasis towards slip decoration in the nineteenth century; however, below you will also see arguments for other areas, too.

 19th Century Redware Pitcher

Similar Forms Seen in Connecticut and Massachusetts
Similar Glaze Styles Seen in America and Europe

Stands 8 3/4 Inches Tall

Wonderful Slip Decoration

The handle is nearly identical to a Connecticut form attributed by Lura Woodside Watkins - out of her collection now in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. The only difference are the ribs added to the black pitcher's handle, but I have seen William Pecker use both techniques in Merrimacport, Massachusetts between 1790 and 1820. That should not discredit the near mirror image seen between the two handles.

I really think these two handles are indicative of a possible maker.

 

The Handle of Redware Pitcher

Similar Handle to a Connecticut Pitcher from the Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

Manganese (Black) Glazed Redware Pitcher - Connecticut

19th Century

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

Photo Courtesy: The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

The slip glazed interior is rather unusual for early American potters. I know of a nineteenth century slip decorated stew pot that may be of the same origin. The potters who worked in Staffordshire England used to decorate some of their earthenware in a similar slip technique in the eighteenth century.

Slip Glazed Interior is Rather Unusual for Early American Potters

19th Century Redware Stew Pot

Similar Forms Made Throughout New England
Possibly Connecticut or Virginia
Interior Slip Glaze Similar to the Pitcher

Small Slip Decorated Earthenware Mug

Probably Made in Staffordshire, England

18th Century

Photo Courtesy: Skinner, Inc - Boston

Part of the pitcher's glaze was not covered in a clear lead glaze. The vast majority of it was, which gave it a glass-like smooth feeling. The exposed clay and glaze underneath the lead glaze appears rough. A similar style was seen on a Hervey Brooks pan attributed by Watkins in her collection at the Smithsonian. Look closely at the photos below and you'll see what I am referring to. 

If you also look at the manner in which the slip was applied on the Brooks pan, with the straight and way lines - it is very similar to the style used on the pitcher.

Glaze and Clay Not Covered by Clear Lead Glaze

Appears Rough in Some Sections
Similar to Some Areas on Hervey Brooks Dish Below

Hervery Brooks Attributed Redware Dish - Goshen, Ct

Ca. 1825-1875

Lura Woodside Watkins Collection

Photo Courtesy: The Smithsonian - Washington, D.C.

The pitcher is also signed and dated. I can read M.K., which I assume is the potter. It is dated -1865-, but there are one or two words below the initials and above the date that I cannot make out. Any ideas on what it may say? I've tried, but the letters I assemble are not comprehensive. You can also see the green and yellow slip decoration on the base that is similar to the stew pot from above. I am not necessarily attributing it to Hervey Brooks, but I am saying Brooks was an active potter in 1865. There may have been some sort of influence between Brooks and another potter - or it may be merely a coincidence.

Initials, Word(s) and Date Written on the Base of the Pitcher
It is Dated -1865-

Any Help is Much Appreciated!

Plenty More to Come...Please Stay Tuned!