EarlyAmericanCeramics.com

Friday, September 26, 2014

A Discovery Auction Held in Worcester, Massachusetts that Featured Examples of New England-Made Stoneware and Earthenware

After work yesterday, I traveled to Worcester, Massachusetts for an auction held by an auction-house I had never heard of before, Central Mass Auctions; the main reason I drove to Worcester was to see a dark green glazed red earthenware jug with orange halos that was likely related to the Osborn family of potters in New Hampshire from the nineteenth-century. The auctioneer replied to an email I had sent a few weeks prior, where I inquired about a listing he had that described redware as part of his upcoming auction. He wrote back to me on Wednesday (the day before the sale); he told me that they had uploaded a photo of the redware they had for sale to their website. The redware (which was in the form of a jug) appeared okay to me - so I decided to drive from coastal Massachusetts to the central part of the state to preview the auction because I figured the jug would not sell for much money (less than $75).

I arrived at the sale around 4:45pm - which was roughly forty-five minutes before the art portion of the sale began at 5:30pm. The auction-house had amassed dozens of consignments of amateur and professional art that all sold in a quick sale that lasted merely a half-hour. Most of the pieces sold for less than a hundred dollars.

The main part of the sale began just after 6:00pm. The sale featured an eclectic assortment of items that ranged from eighteenth-century products right up through the 1970s. There was stoneware, redware, art pottery, baskets, coins, currency, jewelry, arrow heads, twentieth-century advertising, railroad memorabilia, furniture, vintage comic books, a vintage tractor trailer and a wide range of related products. Unfortunately, I was not too impressed with the red earthenware jug when I finally saw it in person. The colors and form were nice; however it was nothing I really needed to own. I decided to stay for the start of the auction just in case the jug sold for the opening bid (for some reason I thought that was going to happen) or a low bid.

This is Where the Auction Was Held in Worcester, Ma By Central Mass Auctions

The Preview Area for Many of the Auction Listings

Vintage Tractor Trailer that Sold for Under $500

Front of the Tractor Trailer

A Sample of the Baskets that were Available

A Sample of the Stoneware that was Available

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug - Likely Made in New Hampshire

Possibly Related to the Osborn Family of Potters

Stands Approximately 7"-8" Tall

Moments before the main auction began, I was in the preview area - and I noticed three pieces of Dedham Pottery made in Dedham, Massachusetts. On first sight, they all appeared to be reproductions that were made by the Dedham Historical Society in the late twentieth-century; nonetheless, I picked them up to examine each and I was surprised to see the bases revealed they were actually all original. There was a plate, a creamer and what I perceive to be a lidded sugar bowl. They were all decorated in a grape pattern. There were a number of patterns used at the Dedham Pottery - and some of those styles are rarer than others today. In fact, there are more than fifty patterns known today. Patterns ranged from flowers, rabbits, turtles, turkeys and the list just keeps on going.

A little history about Dedham Pottery: The business was established by Hugh Robertson in 1896. He was apart of the Robertson family of potters, who worked in Revere, Massachusetts in the 1870s, 1880s and 1890s. While employed in Revere, he was involved with earthenware and terracotta businesses. The most successful was Chelsea Keramic Arts Works; products from this business are represented in many major museums around the country like the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and Historic New England. Robertson eventually relocated to Dedham, where he established his most successful business venture - the Dedham Pottery.

All three pieces at the auction were marked with the company stamp that was used from 1896 to 1928, that featured a square stamp with the word, Dedham Pottery over a rabbit. A variation of this stamp was used after 1928.

The plate was signed by Maude Davenport, who was a very skilled decorator at the Dedham Pottery from 1902 to 1928. I had no interest in that piece; however the creamer and sugar bowl was a completely different story. According to what I have read - most pieces were only marked with the traditional Dedham Pottery stamp; although these two pieces were marked differently on the base. According to the book, The Dedham Pottery and Earlier Robertson's Chelsea Potteries, published by the Dedham Historical Society in 1968, "Rarely the decorator would add his initials, a date, or the initials of the purchaser (at the Dedham Pottery). These instances are considered very rare (today)."

Dedham Pottery Plate, Sugar Bowl and Creamer - Dedham, Ma

All Decorated in a Grape Pattern

Ca. 1896-1928

Prices were as expected when the auction began. It wasn't a high profile auction so prices were pretty much relative. The red earthenware jug ended up selling for over $300 to a Massachusetts auctioneer, who also works as an antique dealer in Maine. I was very surprised with the price. Equally as surprising - I was shocked to purchase the creamer and lidded sugar bowl for well under $100 each. Despite about fifty or more bidders in attendance, nobody else really showed an interest. What caught my attention is that each form was marked on the base with an unusual mark (like described above); I am now in search of what these possible marks may mean. One mark is written in a similar blue as the grapes in a large capitalized B. The other mark is incised and it appears like someone's initial's; although I am not positive of that; take a look for yourself.

Dedham Pottery Earthenware Creamer and Sugar Bowl - Dedham, Ma

Both Decorated in Cobalt Blue Grapes

Ca. 1896-1928

Close Up of the Sugar Bowl

Stands 4 5/8" Tall w/Lid

Sugar Bowl with Lid Removed

Stands 4 1/8" Tall w/out Lid

Dedham Pottery Stamp with a Hand Written "B"

Close Up of the Creamer

Stands 4 3/4" Tall

View of the Front/Spout

View of the Back/Handle

Dedham Pottery Stamp with Incised Letters or Numbers

Another View of the Incised Letters or Numbers

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

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

An Unusual and Possibly Rare Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Jug Currently Without a Defined Origin

A few weeks ago, I wrote about an extremely rare red earthenware vase made by the late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century red earthenware and stoneware potter, William Pecker of Merrimacport (formerly West Amesbury), Massachusetts. Previously, I had never seen such a form from Pecker before. The most common forms seen from this potter today (and none of Pecker's work should be considered common) are stew pots, pitchers and herb pots. The vase was extremely well made - and actually more thickly potted than some of Pecker's more traditional forms. The vase was found by an accomplished picker in a Rhode Island home earlier this year.

That same picker also found this wonderfully slip decorated miniature handled jug in Rhode Island. I am not sure if the Pecker vase and miniature jug were discovered in the same home at this time - so for the sake of this report, let's assume they were not.

The miniature jug is fragile. It was thinly potted by a very skilled potter. The jug appears like it may have had a lid at one time, but I am not positive of that either. There is very little wear beyond the small amount seen around the edge of the lip; although a lack of wear or a great deal of it should not always be an indicator of age. There are many ways material culture can contribute to a form's condition today; probably the number one contributor is merely that some pieces were cared for more than others over the years

Other characteristics I would like to point out; the handle is also fragile, the unusual base and the manner in which the slip was applied actually reminds me of a stencil. To me personally, it appears like a unique piece that if there was a purpose it was specific - it wasn't like some forms that could be used for any given number of specific needs.

I am not aware of this jug's age or its origin; however it is a piece that I do enjoy as part of my collection - and I wanted to share it on this website.

It should be important to note that these pictures were not taken in direct sunlight and without a camera flash because I did not want the slip decoration to be diluted from how it actually appears in person. The colors are all correct in these photos; although envision the jug a little brighter when light is reflected on it. The jug is pictured between two glass insulators for an accurate size comparison.

Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Handled Jug

Age Unknown - Although it Appears 19th Century

Origin Also Unknown

Measures 2 3/4" Tall

Recently Found by an Accomplished Picker in a Rhode Island Home

The Slip Decoration Appears Like it May Have Been Applied by a Stencil

Another View of the Slip Decoration

View of the Handle

View of the Interior

Another View of the Slip Decoration

A quick look ahead: I will be attending an estate sale (where everything must go from the cellar to the attic) in Beverly, Massachusetts this coming Saturday morning. It's an early home - so I am hopeful I will dig out a story or two to tell.

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

Sunday, September 14, 2014

The Locally Made Red Earthenware Discovered at an Onsite Sale at Historic Centre Farm in Lynnfield, Massachusetts

I spent the majority of my weekend in Lynnfield, Massachusetts at an onsite auction hosted by Amesbury, Massachusetts auctioneer, John McInnis, where he sold the contents of Lynnfield's most historic piece of property, 'Centre Farm,' which was originally built in 1714. Although, there are sections of the home that were added later in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

The property was purchased by the town of Lynnfield earlier this summer; however all of the contents had to go. Most of the furnishings were purchased by the current homeowners - Dr. Afred M. and Maureen Donovan in the twentieth century. It was also in this home where the couple raised eleven children.

The original contents of the home were reportedly auctioned off before the Donovans bought the property, but there were some old objects that still remained and descended with this family's ownership.

According to John McInnis, "'The Historic home and land has been recently purchased by the Town of Lynnfield to be preserved. The Trustees have hired our firm to sell the entire contents of the house, safe deposit boxes, carriage house and barn. There will be something for everyone to match your individual style and taste. Due to the large quantities of items many will be grouped together and sold in large lots.

The first day of the sale featured most of the finer furnishings, which included a wonderful eighteenth century North Carolina-made secretary that sold for $40,000 (without premiums) to a bidder from Virginia. Whereas, I managed to purchase a wonderful nineteenth century painting of a local home in Wakefield, Massachusetts that some may have seen posted to my Facebook page yesterday. Unfortunately, the Wakefield home was torn down in the twentieth century for a telephone company. However, this sale also included a number of examples of fine art, a collection of Fitz Henry Lane prints, a huge collection of jewelry, a Babe Ruth autographed baseball, period furniture, medical instruments and so much more!

Day 1 Onsite Sale in Lynnfield, Massachusetts

Day 1 Auction at Centre Farm - Lynnfield, MA
See Article for More Information

As fun as the Saturday sale was, I was really interested in the Sunday portion of the sale because the contents of the barn would be sold. I had a feeling there would be some utilitarian pottery pulled from the barn that may have been acquired locally by the Donovans, which may have been made at the potter's industry in Peabody, Massachusetts.

I had actually asked John McInnis if there was any pottery hidden in the barn on Saturday, but he could not recall because the barn was so full; although, I had a feeling something would emerge so I decided to attend the second day of the auction, as well.

Day 2 Onsite Sale in Lynnfield, Massachusetts

Day 2 Auction at Centre Farm - Lynnfield, MA
See Article for More Information

Red Earthenware Discovered at Centre Farm in Lynnfield, Massachusetts
These may not be the most exciting examples of red earthenware, but they are helpful since they were likely made locally in the 1800s. I suspect that the Donovans purchased these objects in the Lynnfield-area, and Peabody is also a neighboring community. The pan is especially interesting since it was manufactured with handles, which is a style that is rarely identified to the Essex County, Massachusetts potter's industry today.

(Back) Likely S. Danvers (Peabody), MA Red Earthenware Crock

Circa Early-to-Mid 19th Century

Stands 10 3/4" Tall
See Article for More Information

(From) Likely S. Danvers (Peabody), Ma Red Earthenware Crock

Circa Early-to-Late 19th Century

Stands 6" Tall
See Article for More Information

Likely S. Danvers (Peabody), Ma Red Earthenware Pan

Circa Early-to-Mid 19th Century

Measures 17 1/2" in Diameter

Stands 4 1/2" Tall
See Article for More Information

View of the Pan's Base and One Handle
See Article for More Information

View of One of the Handles
See Article for More Information

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

Monday, September 8, 2014

A Very-Rare 19th Century Red Earthewnare Vase that Recently Emerged from a Home in Rhode Island

The definition of a vase; a vessel, as of glass, porcelain, earthenware, or metal , usually higher than it is wide, used chiefly to hold cut flowers or decoration.

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The term rare can be used towards multiple ideas when analyzing today's early American utilitarian pottery market. I feel it can be applied when there are only a few known examples of a particular style - such as form, decoration, glaze, maker or location/region; however it can also be applied when a form is rare solely because that particular object is one-of-a-kind. For me personally, when I think of the word rare - the idea, very-few pops into my head - but the word's interpretation may vary from person-to-person.

A really terrific example of William Pecker (Merrimacport, Mass - Ca. 1790-1820) red earthenware recently emerged from a home in Rhode Island in the form of a vase. I have never seen such a style produced in Merrimacport previously to the Industrial Era (second half of the nineteenth-century) - and especially nothing from Pecker's business. I have seen a vase (that will be featured in a research report I wrote for the October 2014 New England Antiques Journal) made in Merrimacport during the 1870s or the 1880s (business was run by Pecker's relatives), but I was shocked to see this vase likley made more than fifty-years prior.

The products from Pecker's business mostly seen today are in the forms of pitchers, jugs, stew pots and herb pots - but I also know of a rare handled bowl, a rare cup and a rare flask; although this is the first vase I have ever seen. It's also quite nice considering it is freshly picked. This vase isn't something that has been available in the marketplace before - so I take extra pride in that.

Vases were really a product that become popular with the Art Pottery Movement after 1870 - late eighteenth and early nineteenth-century utilitarian potters typically focused on more traditional kitchen needs. They were not known for more formal decorative products. With that idea in mind, a product made for a decorative purpose only a few decades after the American Revolution is rather fascinating to me. How many decorative-type products could Pecker's business have actually produced?

This vase has a nice amount of weight to it. It features Pecker's traditional pumpkin-orange glaze with manganese decoration placed on top. I believe this vase is an example of Pecker's nineteenth-century work (Ca. 1800-1820). It is glazed on both the interior and the exterior.

I am curious to know what the vase's purpose was intended for - even though I assume it was designed for a nice floral arrangement. Any type of red earthenware vase from an American utilitarian potter is consider very rare today. I would expect that a vase is a form that Pecker's business would have made less of when compared to the more traditional kitchen forms. It is something that I was really in awe of when I handled it for the first time yesterday.

Take a look at what I am talking about...

19th Century William Pecker Pottery Red Earthenware Vase - Merrimacport, Ma

Ca. 1790-1820

Recently Found in a Home in Rhode Island

Stands 6" Tall

Another View of the Vase and Glaze

I am going to leave you with this wonderfully glazed small red earthenware pitcher made in Western New York around the mid-nineteenth-century. It recently surfaced privately from a small Pennsylvania pottery collection. The pitcher is covered in a cream and green glaze; however, part of the cream mixed with the green and it created a partial blueish glaze (a nearly unheard of early glaze color). I feel the nineteenth-century Western New York potters, as a group - are some of the most underrated, but also the most accomplished potters through form and glaze of all the known early American utilitarian potter's regions.

19th Century Western New York Small Red Earthenware Pitcher

Ca. 1840-1860

Recently Surfaced from a Small Pennsylvania Pottery Collection

Stands 5" Tall

It's also my nephew, Jason's birthday today - he's 11. Here he is with my niece, Alexis for birthday cake earlier tonight. Unfortunately, he didn't get any pottery for his birthday. Maybe next year!

My Nephew, Jason Turned 11 Today

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