A Beautiful 19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jug Owned by the Paul Revere House in Boston

This is a nineteenth century ovoid red earthenware jug that is owned today by the Paul Revere Memorial Association, and kept in the kitchen at the Paul Revere House (circa 1680) in Boston's North End neighborhood. It has been owned by the Paul Revere House since at least the early-twentieth century, when Paul Revere's great-grandson, Paul P. Reynolds, Jr. purchased the house in 1902 in order to preserve the building from future demolition. Money was eventually raised, the Paul Revere Memorial Association was established and the building was completely restored when the museum officially opened its doors to the public in 1908. The museum's records suggest that this jug was reportedly acquired sometime during the 1902-1908 period or the few years that followed; however, no further information was provided.

Presumably, this jug must have been found in the Boston-area, which may suggest that it also retains a local history of ownership, as well. It may have also been made somewhere along coastal Massachusetts.

Nonetheless, this jug has never been cleaned and much of it is still covered in dirt - two days ago, I examined this jug in the sunlight and it is actually decorated with a vibrant green glaze, orange halos, along with some decorative separation in the glaze.

Similar formed jugs have been linked to nineteenth century potters in Essex County, Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and southern Maine; although, Essex County red earthenware has been recovered in various archaeological contexts in the Boston-area, which does include sherds recovered from a previous archaeology dig in the backyard at the Paul Revere House. Whereas, additional archaeological contexts include Charlestown, Massachusetts, Dorchester, Massachusetts and a wonderful bowl from Peabody, Massachusetts, which was recovered a few years ago from a late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century context at Boston Common.

Note: For what it is worth: I have not seen any red earthenware associated with Maine or New Hampshire recovered (yet?) at any archaeological sites in the Boston-area.

Here is also a link to a story that I wrote last year about an Iberian storage jar that was just discovered in Amesbury, Massachusetts, which matched exactly an object that was recovered from a wooden privy in the backyard of the Paul Revere House.

Jug Owned by the Paul Revere House in Boston

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug on Display in the Kitchen in the Paul Revere House in Boston
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jug Owned by Paul Revere House in Boston

It May Retain a Local 19th Century History of Ownership

Circa 1790-1860

Stands Approximately 8 1/2" Tall
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

 Another View of the Jug
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

View of the Handle
Photo Courtesy: Paul Revere Memorial Association - Boston

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

In Search of Artifacts (and History) at the Circa 1711 Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston's North End Neighborhood

There is currently an ongoing archaeology dig happening next door to the Paul Revere House at the circa 1711 Piece-Hichborn House in Boston's North End neighborhood. The museum plans to renovate a side yard on the property later this year, which has prompted Boston City Archaeologist, Joe Bagley to conduct the dig in order to preserve any seventeenth, eighteenth or nineteenth century artifacts, which would be disturbed during the construction. These artifacts will help preserve the history of this location and the events that once happened at this site.

According to the Paul Revere Memorial Association, "The Piece-Hichborn House, built circa 1711, is one of the earliest remaining brick structures in Boston. The house is an excellent example of early Georgian architecture. Its elegant symmetrical style was a radical change from the wood-turned Tudor dwellings, such as the Paul Revere House (circa 1680), common in seventeenth century Boston. The home was built for Moses Pierce, a glazier, and later owned by Nathaniel Hichborn, a boat builder and a cousin of Paul Revere. The Hichborn family owned the house until 1864.

Like many buildings in the neighborhood, this single family home was converted into a multi-unit tenement dwelling. From about 1850 onwards, the ground floor front room was used as a shop. Known occupants include a tailor and several Italian hairdressers/barbers. By 1940, through the efforts of influential antiquarians, the home was purchased by Carleton R. Richmond, a Boston businessman, with the intention of preserving it as a historic museum.

The house was restored by the Moses Pierce Williams House Association with four period rooms furnished to the eighteenth century. Noteworthy original interior features include the central staircase, and early fireplaces and closets. The Paul Revere Memorial Association acquired the house in 1970."

Notable ceramics recovered thus far include almost entirely imported European products, such as Staffordshire, England slipware, European delftware, Westerwald, German stoneware and many broken earthenware pipes.

However, there has also been some eighteenth century domestic red earthenware sherds uncovered; these sherds seem like they can be interpreted in such a way that they were likely produced less than one mile away at the potter's industry in Charlestown, Massachusetts before 1775. It would not have taken a lot of effort for a load of red earthenware to be delivered to this part of Boston in the 1700s, where it could have been transported in a horse drawn wagon along the road or delivered to a merchant at the docks just in front of the Pierce-Hichborn House.

I have posted one of the domestic artifacts below, a black glazed handle from likely a chamber pot. This style of ribbed handle is commonly found throughout the Charlestown Archaeology Collection at the Boston Archaeology Department in West Roxbury, Massachusetts. It is also believed that this sherd probably dates prior to 1750.

Note: I tried something a little different today: I have posted two videos from yesterday at the archaeology dig at the Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston -- Boston City Archaeologist, Joe Bagley is shown in one of these videos, whereas the other video shows two of the volunteers hard at work.

For more information about the potter's industry in Charlestown, I suggest searching this website for a number of articles that I have previously posted, which include a series that I wrote earlier this year. I have also had two articles published in the New England Antiques Journal that touched upon this industry, as well.

1) NEAJ - A Charlestown Sugar Bowl: The Rediscovery of a Redware Masterpiece

2) NEAJ - A Pioneering Potter: Samuel Marshall of Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Circa 1711 Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston's North End Neighborhood

Circa 1711 Pierce Hichborn House in Boston's North End Neighborhood

The Paul Revere House is Located Next Door

There is Currently an Ongoing Archaeology Dig Happening at this Location

See Article for More Information

 A Volunteer Hard at Work Carefully Digging for Artifacts at the Pierce-Hichborn House

 A Volunteer Hard at Work Carefully Digging for Artifacts at the Pierce-Hichborn House

A College Student and Volunteers Screening Dirt for Artifacts at the Pierce-Hichborn House

Sherds Recovered at the Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston

18th Century Red Earthenware Handle Sherd Recovered at the Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston

Likely Made Less than One Mile Away in Charlestown, Mass. Before 1775

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Handle Sherd

Staffordshire, England Slipware Recovered at the Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston

This is a Popular Style of Ceramic Found in Colonial American Archaeological Contexts

See Article for More Information

Videos from the Archaeology Dig at the Pierce-Hichborn House in Boston

Boston City Archaeologist, Joe Bagley Digging for Artifacts at the Pierce-Hichborn House

Volunteers Carefully Digging for Artifacts at the Pierce-Hichborn House

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

A Red Earthenware Jug that was Recently Discovered in a Small Shop in Central New Hampshire

I have always found it fascinating to see the similarities between some of the red earthenware jugs, which were produced by the Clark family, primarily by Peter Clark (1743-1826) in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire in the late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century when compared to most of the jugs that were produced at the William Pecker Pottery in Merrimacport, Massachusetts during the same period. I suspect that it was a result of both potters having originally trained in Essex County, Massachusetts in the 1700s. But the similarities can be uncanny with the only major differences found in some of the jugs being the two distinct handles from each potter's business and a slight variation in the rims. I also suspect that there may be more to this story, but I have, yet to determine that connection.

Nevertheless, the following green-glazed jug that is decorated with specks of manganese and orange halos is an excellent example of the similarities that I just described; although, this jug is likely an example of the Clark family's production in the Lyndeborough, New Hampshire-area in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century. I also believe that this jug may have actually been made by Peter Clark.

I found this jug last weekend with my niece, Alexis inside a small shop in central New Hampshire - the jug's form, especially the handle is very-similar to a double-handled jug that is owned by Old Sturbridge Village in Sturbridge, Massachusetts that is believed to have been made by Peter Clark, circa 1786.

Old Sturbridge Vilage's jug is inscribed "OLIVER LAURENCE / LYNDEBOROUGH / OCTOBER 18, 1786." This may have been the same Oliver Laurence (1728-1797), who was a Revolutionary War soldier and town selectman, who lived nearby in Hollis, New Hampshire with his wife, Mary Cummings (1733/34-1799) and 11 children.

Note: For more information about the Clark family, I suggest this link, which will redirect you to an article that I wrote, titled, 'A Pottery Moves to New Hampshire: Peter Clark and His Family in Lyndeborough,' which was published last summer in the New England Antiques Journal.

Jug Recently Found in Central New Hampshire

 Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Jug

Attributed to the Clark Family Likely in Lyndeborough, NH
Possibly Made by Peter Clark, 1743-1826

Recently Found in a Small Shop in New Hampshire

Circa 1780-1830

Stands 8 3/4" Tall

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jug 

 View of the Handle
See Article for More Information

 View of the Rim
See Article for More Information

 View of the Foot at the Base

View of the Base

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

A 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Acquired Yesterday that Matches an Object Owned by Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This is a nineteenth century red earthenware jar that I acquired yesterday in a trade, where I gave up a few pieces of glass from a small collection that I had accumulated over the years. The jar had previously been owned in a longtime New Hampshire collection.

I have not been able to determine a maker for this object; although, I do feel it is special. I have only seen this exact form and decoration on a few objects, all of which have been attributed to Connecticut.

I would say that the first time I saw this form was when I first read Cape Cod antique dealer, Brian Cullity's 1991 exhibit catalog from the Heritage Plantation of Sandwich, Massachusetts, titled, 'Slipped and Glazed: Regional American Redware.'

A matching object is pictured in the catalog that is undoubtedly from the same potter's business, which is attributed to Connecticut. It was also loaned to the exhibit by Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where it was originally acquired by Strawbery Banke from renowned New Hampshire antiques dealer, Roger Bacon in the early-1970s.

According to Cullity, "The spectacular nature of this form and decoration would imply that it was a special piece. The decoration has been applied with extra care and the glaze is especially thick - yielding a high gloss finish. The yellow spots appear to be accidental splashes of slip."

Note: The jar that I acquired yesterday also exhibits accidental splashes of slip, which suggest that this jar was manufactured at a potter's business that regularly worked with slip. I also want to mention that the clay, glaze and footed base also remind me of objects that were produced in Peabody, Massachusetts in the nineteenth century.

Jar Acquired Yesterday

 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made in Connecticut

A Matching Example is Owned by Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH (See Below)

This Jar was Previously Owned in a Longtime New Hampshire Collection
Also Reminds Me About Objects that were Produced in Peabody, Mass. in the 1800s

Circa 1820-1880

Stands 8 1/2" Tall

See Article for More Information

 Another View of the Jar

 View of One Handle

 View of the Other Handle

 Slip Accidentally Splashed onto the Jar

View of the Base

Jar Owned by Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH

(Bottom Left) Matching Jar that is Owned by Strawbery Banke in Portsmouth, NH

This Image is Taken from When this Jar was on Exhibit in Sandwich, Mass. in 1991

 See Article for More Information

Description of the Jar in the Exhibit Catalog from 1991

See Article for More Information

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

A 19th Century East Tennessee Red Earthenware Jar Recently Discovered in an Old Barn in Bristol, Tennessee

A few days ago, I arrived home from the antique shows in Brimfield, Massachusetts to find a large cardboard box that had been left on my front porch with my name attached to it. Inside the box was a nineteenth century red earthenware jar, which I had just purchased from an antiques picker in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was also a box that I had been anticipating for its arrival since last week.

This wonderful jar was recently found inside a nineteenth century barn in Bristol, Tennessee, which is also located in Sullivan County, Tennessee, a county, where an important family's potter's business once operated in the 1800s. It has been suggested that this jar may have been manufactured at the Cain Pottery in East Tennessee since the unusual glaze color, clay, rounded foot and form is similar to some known objects that are reportedly attributed to the Cain Pottery today. But I also suspect that this jar could have been made at another East Tennessee potter's business, as well.

According to Knoxville antiques dealer, Carole Wahler, "Pottery attributed to the Cains is found in a variety of colors and shows a wide range of potting skills. Some pieces are very thick and heavy to both the eye and the hand. Others are delicate and skillfully potted. These differences, one would assume, were due to a variety of men actually doing the work over the years. 

The glazes are as varied as the skill of potting. A range of surface colors from the transparent lead glaze over the red clay body to opaque orange, yellows, olives, browns and black are all due to the presence of various oxides in the glaze. 

The decoration of straight and wavy incised lines is relatively common. However, the most desirable pieces and almost a Cain trademark are those which show a decorative use of manganese splotches."

Note: For more information about the Cain Pottery: I suggest this link, which will redirect you to an online version of the book, 'Tennessee Potteries, Pots and Potters: 1790s to 1950;' the Cain family (as well as Sullivan County) is discussed on pages 248-255.

Red Earthenware Jar Recently Found in an Old Barn in East Tennessee

My Niece, Alexis Holding the East Tennessee Jar

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to East Tennessee

Possibly Made at the Cain Pottery in Sullivan County, TN
But Could Have also Been Made at Another East TN Potter's Business

Recently Found in a 19th Century Barn in Bristol, Tennessee

Bristol is also Located in Sullivan County, TN

Circa 1820-1880

Stands 9 3/8" Tall
See Article for More Information

View of the Interior Glaze

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

The History of 18th Century Red Earthenware Sugar or Syrup Jars in York, Maine and Portsmouth, New Hampshire

According to an article written by Barbara H. Magid for the 2005 edition of 'Ceramics in America,' titled, 'Sugar Refining Pottery from Alexandria and Baltimore,' "From at least the Middle Ages until the nineteenth century the sugar refining industry used two unique forms of industrial pottery: thick rimmed syrup jars (pots) and conical sugar molds. These distinctive forms have been found at archaeological sites in Cyprus, England (Southampton, Exeter, York and Bristol), France (Sadirac, Rouen and Bourdeaux), the West Indies, Faneuil Hall in Boston, the Lambert-Douglas Plantation site in Trenton, New Jersey, and the Metropolitan Detention Center site in Philadelphia. They were also used for nineteenth century sugar refineries in Alexandria, Virginia and Baltimore, Maryland."

Remarkably, eighteenth century thick rimmed red earthenware molasses jars have also been recovered in a few different archaeological contexts in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that include the Piscataqua River, which likely proves the route that some of these jars traveled when they arrived in the city before the American Revolution.

Nevertheless, similar whole jars have been discovered in early-contexts of ownership only a few miles to the north in York, Maine. A jar that was likely Caribbean-made was discovered a few years ago inside an eighteenth century home (see below) in Old York Village when York auctioneer, Hap Moore sold the contents of the home; although, the contents and the home had previously descended in the family since the nineteenth century. The jar is said to have been discovered in a closet inside the house, but I also assume that this jar may have originated in the York or Portsmouth-area in the eighteenth century. It is also important to note that this jar appears like it has been marked either by the maker or a previous owner or business.

Another jar that could arguably have been manufactured in New England (otherwise likely England, possibly Buckley, England) in the eighteenth century is listed in the Old York Historical Society's inventory, as early as circa 1900, where it is listed as part of the antique collection that was kept in the Old York Gaol.

According to the Old York Museums, "The Old York Gaol is one of the oldest standing colonial prisons in America dating to about 1719 or 1720, which was built over the original jail that was constructed in 1656. The jail was turned into a schoolhouse around 1879 before it was turned into a museum for colonial relics in 1900." 

Reportedly, many of the relics obtained for the original museum in 1900 were either collected or acquired locally, and the York-area is also very-likely where this red earthenware syrup jar was originally discovered before it was owned by the museum.

Note: Here is a link to an image and a brief description on the Smithsonian's website that better demonstrates (and explains) how these jars and funnels were used for the production of sugar.

18th Century Jar Found in an Early House in Old York Village in Maine

18th Century Maple Syrup Jar Found in a Closet in this House in Old York Village in Maine

See Article fore More Information

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

Large 18th Century Red Earthenware Molasses Jar Likely Manufactured in the Caribbean

A Funnel Used for Sugar Production Would Have Sat On Top of this Jar

Retains a Local History of Ownership in York, ME

The Jar was Found in a Closet in the House Shown Above

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

This Jar Has Been Inscribed with a Mark that Graded the Molasses

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

View of the Interior of the Jar

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

View of the Base

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

18th Century Jar Found in Old York Gaol Inventory in Maine, Circa 1900

Large 18th Century Red Earthenware Syrup Jar Likely Made in New England or England

A Funnel Used for Sugar Production Would Have Sat On Top of this Jar

Retains a Local History of Ownership in York, ME

Found in Inventory for Museum at Old York Gaol, Circa 1900

But Likely Found in the York, Maine-Area with an Earlier History of Ownership

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

View of the Glazed Interior

Photo Courtesy: Old York Museums - York, ME

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

A Wonderful Southeastern Massachusetts Red Earthenware Jar Found Yesterday in Brimfield, Massachusetts

Yesterday was also a good day in Brimfield, Massachusetts, where I found a wonderfully glazed southeastern Massachusetts red earthenware jar in an unusual size. This is also a rare glaze to find on this type of form from this industry today - whereas, I can only speak for myself, but I do not believe I have seen this combination of glaze colors before along with crawling or separation in the glaze.

This is really a beautiful jar with a combination of orange, green and black in the glaze. The size is also rare standing only 7 1/8 inches tall. It was previously owned in New Hampshire.

Note: For more information about the eighteenth and nineteenth century potter's industry in southeastern Massachusetts -- I suggest these articles that I have previously posted.

1) SE Mass. Red Earthenware Found in Rhode Island
2) Pair of SE Mass. Marriage Jars
3) Important SE Mass. Jug from the Nolan Collection
4) SE Mass. Inkwell from the Nolan Collection

Southeastern Mass. Red Earthenware Jar

18th/19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Attributed to Southeastern Massachusetts
Purchased Yesterday in Brimfield, Mass.
Previously Owned in New Hampshire
Circa 1780-1820
Stands 7 1/8" Tall
See Article for More Information

Another View of the Jar

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