A 19th Century Maine-Made Red Earthenware Jar Owned by the Art Institute of Chicago

I thought it would be a good time to show this nineteenth century red earthenware jar since I posted an article today about the Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine, which also contained a link to an article that I posted in 2015 that discussed the Thomas Truxton Kendrick Pottery in Hollis, Maine.

The Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois attributes this jar to the Kendrick Pottery in Hollis Center, Maine, circa 1830-1850. A similar jar appeared a few years ago at the annual New Hampshire Antique Dealers Association Show in Manchester, New Hampshire that had been formerly owned by Ohio antiques dealer, David Good. That jar was also attributed to Maine, but I don't remember it having a more specific attribution.

I am not sure how this attribution was developed without any known archaeology from Kendrick or any signed pieces, but I definitely thought it was a good piece to show today. The museum may have acquired this piece with the attribution. But this is definitely a potter's business that I would like to learn more about since I feel there may be some potential confusion that surrounds this potter's production today.

Note: Here is a link to the jar listed on the Art Institute of Chicago's website.

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar from Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Maine

Reportedly Made by Thomas Truxton Kendrick in Hollis Center, Maine

Circa 1830-1850

Stands 9 1/8" Tall

Photo Courtesy: The Art Institute of Chicago

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

The Origin to a Style of 19th Century Red Earthenware that was Stamped with a Vertical Number

I recently posted an article about a nineteenth century red earthenware jar, where I wrote that I had felt it may have been a Midwestern-made object. I had suggested that attribution based on the combination of the form and glaze with similar styles having been produced in Illinois during the circa 1840-1890 period. However, I posted an update the next day at the top of that article stating that I planned to give that jar further research since I have only seen that style found in Maine with the exception of the jar that I owned.

I purchased my jar at a Skinner auction in Boston well-over a decade ago - it was sold by Skinner at a special Saturday auction (their Americana auctions are normally held on Sundays) amongst the contents from a single owner collection of American folk art. The collection of folk art included a variety of red earthenware, which spanned makers from Maine to Virginia to Pennsylvania and Ohio; although, there was a variety of Maine-made red earthenware in the collection. Overall, Maine was definitely the region that was most represented.

Nevertheless, what stands out (to me) today about my jar is the fact that the front of it has been stamped with numbers - I originally thought the stamp read "1/4," but after careful study, I now believe it reads vertically "14." I have seen similar jars that have been stamped vertically "19" and "17." Both of these aforementioned jars also have strong connections to Maine. But a proper Maine attribution has never been developed. However, the Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine is also known to have used a stamped number system (see below) - and, I also believe that those stamps may have been obtained from a printer in Portland since they appear similar to a style that would have been used at a printing press in the 1800s.

Yesterday, I traveled to Maine, where I discovered another jar, which matched the jar that I had purchased at Skinners over a decade ago. This jar was marked vertically "12." But what I also noticed about the two jars that I now own is that the way their bases were manufactured matches the base found on a five-gallon butter churn that I purchased a few years ago from a prominent collection in Blue Hill, Maine. The butter churn is also stamped with the number "5." 

Now, with all of this said, I also noticed on the two jars with the vertical numbers that the way the base was manufactured is very similar to how the bases were manufactured on the Dodge jars that I just briefly described. The Dodge jars are also usually decorated with two incised lines that surround the shoulder. Every jar that I have seen marked with a vertical number is also decorated with two incised lines that surround the shoulder.

Unfortunately, there is no archaeological evidence (known to me) that survives from the Dodge Pottery today, but I feel there is an argument that these jars could be related. The Dodges certainly made a lot of pottery even though most of it is not really understood today.

Note: Here is a link to an article that I posted in 2015, which further discusses the history of the Dodge Pottery.

5 Gallon Red Earthenware Butter Churn

19th Century 5 Gallon Red Earthenware Butter Churn

Appears Related to the Two Smaller Jars that are also Discussed

Purchased from a Prominent Collection in Blue Hill, ME

Circa 1820-1860

See Article for More Information

View of the Stamped "5"

See Article for More Information

The Manufacture of these Three Bases on These Jars All Appear Related

See Article for More Information

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Found in Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Found Yesterday in Maine

Marked with a Vertical "12""

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 7 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

View of the Stamped "12"

See Article for More Information

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Purchased from Skinner in Boston

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Purchased from Skinner in Boston

Marked with a Vertical "14"

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 6 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

View of the Stamped "14"

See Article for More Information

19th Century Jar Attributed to the Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to the Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

The Stenciling is Also Proof that this Potter's Business Used Slip-Decoration

Circa 1820-1840

Stands 5 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information
This Link Further Discusses the History of these Style of Jars

View of the Stamp Number Used at the Dodge Pottery

This Style of Stamp May Have Come from a Local Printer

See Article for More Information

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

An Early 19th Century Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware Jug Recently Discovered by an Antiques Picker in Massachusetts

This is another nineteenth-century red earthenware jug that I acquired last weekend from a private New Hampshire collection; although, I was told that this black glazed jug was recently discovered by an antiques picker, who reportedly just found the jug in Massachusetts. This jug is attributed to the potter's industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts, circa 1790-1830 (possibly a little bit earlier).

I have also shown a comparable formed jug that is owned by the Little Compton, Rhode Island Historical Society - the museum's jug also retains an early-to-mid twentieth century history of ownership in the Little Compton-area

Rhode Island was actually a major marketplace for the potter's businesses in the southeastern Massachusetts industry, where there have been a countless number of Bristol County-made objects discovered in early contexts of ownership. But there has also been a number of artifacts from this industry that have been collected through archaeology in various eighteenth and nineteenth century contexts in Rhode Island.

Nevertheless, this is a nice Bristol County example in a desirable form that stands about six-inches tall. These double-lipped jugs from southeastern Massachusetts are also rather difficult to find today. But then, again any kind of jug from Bristol County is equally as difficult to find today.

Note: Here is a link to a similar formed Bristol County, Massachusetts jug with a beautiful, but unusual glaze for this industry, which is owned by the New York Historical Society in New York City. Albeit, no attribution is specified, the museum did acquire their jug in 1952 and they attribute it to the circa 1800-1840 period. Although, the only real difference found with this jug versus the jug that I have shown below is that the New York Historical Society's jug was not manufactured with a double-lip.

SE Mass. Red Earthenware Jug Recently Found in Mass.

 Small Early 19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Bristol County, Mass.

Recently Discovered by a Picker in Massachusetts

Circa 1790-1830
Stands About 6" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Jug

 View of the Handle

 View of the Double-Lip Around the Rim

View of the Footed Base

SE Mass. Red Earthenware Jug Owned by the Little Compton, RI Historical Society

Small Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to Bristol County, Mass.

Retains an Early-to-Mid 20th Century History of Ownership in the Little Compton, RI Area

Circa 1790-1830
Stands Approximately 6-7" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Little Compton, RI Historical Society

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

Two Potential Examples of 19th Century Red Earthenware Produced in Galena, Illinois

Update: There has been much debate over this jug whether it was made in Illinois versus New England. I will continue to research this form and report back at a later time. I will also continue to research the jar.

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Facebook can be a wonderful resource for help with properly identifying antiques; although, I mostly use it for red earthenware. Earlier today, I posted pictures of this jug that I recently acquired from a private collection in New Hampshire, where this object also retained a history of ownership in northern New England. It was presumed that this jug was manufactured in Maine - and, I thought that it could have been made in southern Maine based on some of the key characteristics that it exhibits.

However, it was quickly brought to my attention through Facebook by Milwaukee, Wisconsin collector, Jim Bagley that the form and glaze found on this jug is a known style that is properly attributed to Galena, Illinois today. I was actually excited to learn this information since this jug fills an important area in my collection that had not really been represented. But I am also not that surprised to find this jug in northern New England since I have just recently discovered examples of nineteenth century Georgia and Alabama (or Edgefield, South Carolina) stoneware in various parts of Maine. This type of domestic utilitarian pottery has traveled since it was created - it traveled when it was used in the 1800s, but it has also traveled in the past 50 to 100 years as part of the antique industry. It is often difficult to explain why certain objects are found where they are discovered today without a strong context of family ownership.

Interestingly, I have also shown pictures of a similar glazed red earthenware jar that I bought when I first began regularly collecting redware about 15 years ago. I bought the jar from a single owner collection of folk art that had sold at Skinner in Boston.

The jar is marked with a stamped "1/4" mark. It appears that the mark was applied with individual stamps.

Skinner did not provide an attribution for this jar, but I now suspect that it could be a Midwestern-made object. The collection of folk art included a few dozen pieces of nineteenth century American red earthenware, which spanned makers from Maine, to Virginia, Ohio and a number of places in between. I should also mention that I have seen a few matching formed jars attributed to Maine before, but I have never been convinced of that attribution.

Note: Here is a link to an article that I posted at the beginning of May that further discusses pottery produced in Galena, Illinois. Although, I also mentioned a slip-decorated milk pan that was found on a shipwreck that was discovered on the shore of the Ohio River in Illinois. This article also shows three jugs from Galena, which reveal a similar double-lip as seen on the jug that is shown below.

Red Earthenware Jar

(Left) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in the Midwest

Possibly Made in Galena, IL or in that Vicinity

But Also Possibly Made Elsewhere

Stands 6 3/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Red Earthenware Jug

19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Possibly Made in Galena, Illinois
But Also Possibly Made in New England

Stands 8 7/8" Tall

Recently Acquired from a Private Collection in New Hampshire

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jug

View of the Double-Lip Around the Rim
See Article for More Information About this Type of Rim

View of the Handle

View of the Base

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

Two Newly Acquired 19th Century Red Earthenware Jugs, Circa 1820-1860

Last weekend, I was able to acquire two colorful nineteenth century red earthenware jugs from a private New Hampshire collection that I believe were made in southern Maine, circa 1820-1860. Both of these jugs can be considered rare today for their own reasons, which include glaze, maker and/or region.

1) The first jug is decorated with a spectacular variegated orange glaze and covered with black or dark brown dots - this ovoid jug was also manufactured with a rare double lip that the potter created by adding an incised line around the rim.

I am not 100 percent convinced at where this jug was made, but similar handles are found on jugs that are attributed to the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, Maine today. I would not be surprised to learn that this jug was produced in Buxton, which is a potter's business that is known to have produced a variety of jug forms throughout the lifespan of the family-operated business, which remained relevant in the local red earthenware industry circa 1825-1880.

However, this jug could also be from Galena, Illinois, where similar styled jugs were also manufactured in the 1800s. The glaze color is also a style of glaze that is known from Galena. I will write more about this jug later this week.

2) I believe the second jug can be attributed to Hollis Centre, Maine, as a result of the distinct handle. I have seen this type of handle attributed to Hollis before on jugs that are usually somewhat more ovoid and squat. Although, the overall form of this jug is also comparable to known jugs from Hollis, where this jug exhibits a slightly longer neck than what is typically seen from this desired location.

1) Southern Maine Red Earthenware Jug

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southern Maine or Illinois

Possibly Made at the Bickford Pottery in Buxton, ME
But Also Possibly Made in Galena, IL

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 8 7/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Jug

View of the Handle

2) Southern Maine Red Earthenware Jug

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Likely Made in Southern Maine

Similar Shaped Jugs and Handles Are Attributed to Hollis, ME

Circa 1820-1860

Stands 7 3/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Jug

View of the Handle

Similar Handles Are Attributed to Hollis, ME

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

A Remarkable Black Glazed Red Earthenware Pot that Recently Appeared at an Antique Show in New Hampshire

This large, monumental barrel-formed black glazed red earthenware pot was recently acquired by a friend at an antique show in New Hampshire; although, the pot was reportedly discovered years ago in southeastern Massachusetts. The form is reminiscent to some small rundlets that were produced in the southeastern Massachusetts potter's industry in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries; however, I am not convinced that is where this pot was manufactured since barrel-formed objects are known to have been produced elsewhere in coastal Massachusetts in the eighteenth century.

For example, the Bayley family (circa 1715-1799) in Newburyport and Rowley, Massachusetts is known to have regularly produced black glazed barrel-formed mugs in the 1700s; as a result, I feel this pot could have been made in southeastern Massachusetts, but it could have also been produced at many other locations along coastal Massachusetts, as well. I have also seen a similar style of interior decoration attributed to the Southwick Pottery in Peabody, Massachusetts, but I suspect that this style could have also been created elsewhere.

Personally, I find the interior on this pot to be remarkable, where it has been entirely decorated with a coating of slip-decoration. This characteristic is what ultimately leads me to believe that this pot was manufactured in the eighteenth century, which is when slip was regularly applied by many potters employed along coastal Massachusetts. The use of slip in this region began to decline dramatically after the American Revolution, especially as the nineteenth century approached.

Note: To my knowledge: this is the only pot like this that survives today - I do not know of any museum or private collection, where a comparable object is owned. This pot would have also originally been produced with a matching black glazed lid.

Monumental Red Earthenware Pot

Monumental 18th/19th Century Barrel-Formed Red Earthenware Pot 

This Pot was Likely Made Along Coastal, Mass.

Reportedly Found Years Ago in Southeastern Mass.
The Entire Interior Has Been Decorated with a Coating of Slip Decoration
This Pot Would Have Also Been Originally Made with a Lid

Likely 18th Century in Origin
Stands Approximately 15" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private New England Collection

 Another View of the Pot

Photo Courtesy: Private New England Collection

 Another View of the Pot

Photo Courtesy: Private New England Collection

 Another View of the Pot

Photo Courtesy: Private New England Collection

 View of the Interior
See Article for More Information About the Interior

Photo Courtesy: Private New England Collection

Another View of the Interior

Photo Courtesy: Private New England Collection

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

A Newly Acquired 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug that was Found a Few Years Ago in Knoxville, Tennessee

A similar shaped and size red earthenware jug was illustrated in the book 'Great Road Style: The Decorative Arts Legacy of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee,' which was published by the University of Virginia Press in 2006. According to the book's author, Betsy K. White, "The jug (pictured in the book) is covered with a lead glaze standing 15 1/2 inches tall having been made in the third quarter of the nineteenth century (post American Civil War). The jug is also incised at the base of the handle, 'M A CAIN Jug Maid by A B CAIN 1869.' 

Also according to White, "The large jug has a triple thumbprint at the handle base and sine waves incised between two rings at the shoulder. Though a significant amount of glaze has been lost, it is an important piece because the inscription documents it as Cain pottery, referring to Abraham B. Cain, who made the jug for his nephew, Martin, at the family pottery in Sullivan County, Tennessee."

With that said, I posted an article about the following jug last week, where I wrote that I had just acquired it through eBay from an antiques dealer in Arkansas; although, I also wrote that I would post a followup article once it arrived in the mail.

I had originally speculated that this jug was recently found in Arkansas; however, I actually misinterpreted that information, and the dealer told me that this jug was actually found a few years ago in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The rim, the handle, the incised lines, the three finger/thumb impressions at the base of the handle terminal, the glaze and the round footed base are all characteristics that I have seen on red earthenware that was reportedly manufactured in Northeast Tennessee in the nineteenth century. Although, it has also been suggested to me that this jug may be a very rare example of pottery from southwest Virginia.

I have also seen very similar formed jugs sell at Case Antiques in Knoxville, Tennessee, which have been attributed to the Cain Pottery - and, one of those jugs is also included in the article that I posted last week.

Note: Here is a link to an article that shows another rare example of 19th century Great Road red earthenware that I acquired in 2015, which was also made in Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia; although, I suspect that it is more likely from East Tennessee. There was also a very similar example that sold at Crocker Farm in July 2015 with the same attribution.

Here is also a link to Betsy K. White's most recent book, 'Backcountry Makers: An Artisan History of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee,' which was published in 2013 through the University of Tennessee Press - this book also examines utilitarian pottery that was produced in the Great Road region in the nineteenth century.

Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to the Great Road, East Tennessee

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Attributed to the Great Road, East Tennessee

Attributed to Either East Tennessee or Southwest Virginia
Likely Manufactured Around the American Civil War Period
Circa 1850-1875

Stands 11 1/2" Tall

Reportedly Found a Few Years Ago in Knoxville, TN
Recently Purchased from an Antiques Dealer in Arkansas
See Article for More Information

 View of the Glaze

 Another View of the Glaze

 Another View of the Glaze

Another View of the Glaze

 View of the Two Incised Lines that Surround the Jug

View of the Rim

A Matching/Similar Rim Style is Attributed to the Cain Pottery in Sullivan County, TN

 View of the Handle

 Another View of the Handle

 View of the Three Finger/Thumb Impressions Found on the Handle Terminal

Matching/Similar Finger/Thumb Impressions Are Attributed to the Cain Pottery in East TN

 Another View of the Three Finger/Thumb Impressions Found on the Handle Terminal

Matching/Similar Finger/Thumb Impressions Are Attributed to the Cain Pottery in East TN

View of the Rounded Foot and the Base

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