The North Yarmouth Maine, Pottery Industry, 1791-1890

For anyone who has not read the research article I wrote about the 1791-1890 red earthenware industry in North Yarmouth, Maine (and would like to), which was just published in the November 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest - I have uploaded the story to my Scribd account. And it is also available on Maine Antique Digest's website.

This story would not have been possible without Chris Havey, who saved so much of the archaeology from this industry when the area was being developed in the 1990s. I truly believe that more pottery was produced in North Yarmouth than any other location in the state, and much of this production has been overlooked, especially in publication. However, the preservation efforts of Chris have really created a story about this industry that was not previously possible to write, and this may account for why some past authors only included a small amount of information about this industry in their publications.

I am really excited to see this story in print since it is a subject that I have worked on with Chris for about four years; there is a lot of archaeology included in this story, as well as surviving wares. This is a story about the North Yarmouth industry like none other previously published. There was also a preview story written about this article published in the Yarmouth, Maine Historical Society's fall 2019 newsletter.

The North Yarmouth Maine, Pottery Industry, 1791-1890

Beginning of the North Yarmouth Research Article

Published in the November 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

See Article for More Information

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

A Wonderful Slipware Hanukkah Lamp in the Collection of The Jewish Museum in Manhattan

While visiting the newly installed Edith Halpert and Rise of American Art exhibit last week at The Jewish Museum in Manhattan, I decided to see the rest of the museum's collection. I found this early-nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware Hanukkah lamp mixed in with the museum's collection of related material.

The lamp is dated 1807, and the script reads "Anno," which is the Latin word for "year." The museum also suggests a possible Munster, Germany origin, and the manner of some of the slip, such as the stripes found on the handle was also used by German potters employed in Pennsylvania in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The lamp is also supposedly marked with the maker's initials, "C.K." Similar slip-decorated red earthenware lamps may have been made in England about the same period.

However, this type of object could have been used in America, as well seeing that Jewish Americans were present in the thirteenth colonies as early as the mid-seventeenth century. The religion really began to spread to America under the English Plantation Act in 1740, and a large scale Jewish immigration began in the nineteenth century when German Jews began to arrive.

This particular example is not American made, but something like it could certainly have been used to celebrate Hanukkah in America in the early-nineteenth century. I would also not be surprised to learn if a similar object were made in this country in the nineteenth century, although it may not survive today.

Early-19th Century Slipware Hanukkah Lamp

Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Hanukkah Lamp

The Lamp is Inscribed in Slip "Anno 1807," which Translates to "Year 1807"
Probably Made in Munster, Germany, Although Similar Lamps May have Been Made in England

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Photo Courtesy: The Jewish Museum

Another View of the Lamp

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Photo Courtesy: The Jewish Museum

Another View of the Lamp

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Photo Courtesy: The Jewish Museum

Information on Display with the Lamp

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Photo Courtesy: The Jewish Museum

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

Late-18th or Early-19th Century Beautifully Glazed Red Earthenware Pot

This is a wonderful late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century red earthenware pot that I believe was manufactured in Pennsylvania, although the form was made elsewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well. I acquired this pot because of the beautiful glaze, which is so unusual. I have never seen a glaze produced exactly like this incorporating the use of three different glaze colors.

The lid is missing, but I cannot recall having ever seen an original surviving lid from this type of form before. I have viewed this form at the Philadelphia Museum of Art as well as the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and I do not remember seeing a lid on any of those objects, either. I personally view this as a great piece of early American pottery.

Beautifully Glazed Red Earthenware Pot

 Late-18th or Early-19th Century Red Earthenware Pot

Probably Made in Pennsylvania, Otherwise Somewhere Else in the Mid-Atlantic Region

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 Another View of the Pot and One of the Handles

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Another View of the Pot and the Other Handle

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

Enos Smedley's Pottery in Chester County, Pennsylvania and a Candle Mold Marked "Smedley & Co."

This nineteenth century twenty-four tube red earthenware candle mold set inside a pine frame may come as a surprise to some reading this article, where this type of production is typically associated with Alvin Wilcox's (1801-62) pottery business in West Bloomfield, New York, circa 1825-60. However, these tubes are actually marked with a different name, possibly representing a potter in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

I saw this mold last week, while visiting Robesonia, Pennsylvania antiques dealer, Greg Kramer. I commented about the mold, and he told me to take a closer look at the tubes. I was very surprised to see they were marked "SMEDLEY & CO.," possibly representing the work of Enos Smedley (1805-92).

Thanks to Gary Dean Dexter, I learned this information about Smedley: "Enos Smedley learned the trade of a potter with Aaron James, a neighbor in Westtown, Pennsylvania, being his last apprentice. This was an important industry in that day, when but little tinware was used, and his master, who died about 1822, left a valuable estate. He had learned the business with one Curtis, near Front and Walnut Streets, Philadelphia, and always used Philadelphia clay."

Furthermore, it was published in an article written by James Jones in 2011, titled, West Chester's First Factory Still Stands, "Although the existence of West Chester's first factory was no secret, its location was something of a mystery and everyone with an interest had assumed that it was demolished in the nineteenth century. As it turns out, the factory was preserved and remodeled into a row of houses that still stand today.

The historic factory was Enos Smedley's pottery. Smedley moved his pottery-making business to the Burough from Downington in 1831, and created a successful business that used clay imported from Philadelphia by wagon and railroad to produced dishes, pots and other utensils that he sold locally.

Smedley continued the business until 1852, when he was succeeded by James P. Donnelly, who was one of his employees. Donnelly operated the pottery until 1863."

The best known example of Smedley's production may be a sgraffito red earthenware flowerpot with attached saucer in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which he made during the early years of his career in Westtown. Although, the candle mold is certainly fascinating since it very much resembles production from the Wilcox Pottery based on the pine frame, as well as archaeological evidence found in the manufacture of the tubes and the interior glaze. The "Smedley & Company" may represent the period after Donnelly succeeded Smedley in ownership.

Nevertheless, knowing that I have seen many unsigned examples of these exact candle molds through the years, I now must possibly consider a Chester County attribution, along with the longstanding attribution to the Alvin Wilcox Pottery in western New York.

Enos Smedley's Pottery in Chester County, Pennsylvania

The Site of Enos Smedley's Pottery in Chester County, PA

A Row of Houses was Built at the Site of the Pottery

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19th Century Sgraffito Red Earthenware Flowerpot

Made by Enos Smedley in Westtown, PA

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Photo Courtesy: Philadelphia Museum of Art

19th Century 24-Tube Red Earthenware Candle Mold Set Inside a Pine Frame

The Tubes are Marked "SMEDLEY & CO."

Probably Circa 1840s-1850s

This Type of Production is Commonly Associated with Alvin Wilcox in W. New York

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Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer

View of One of the Tubes Marked "SMEDLEY & CO."

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Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer

View of One of the Tubes Marked "SMEDLEY & CO."

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Photo Courtesy: Greg Kramer

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

Three Great Objects from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection Now on Display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City

While visiting New York City yesterday, I made it a point to stop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan last night in order to see the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection of American art pottery and utilitarian red earthenware.  I visit this collection three or four times a year to study the forms, the glazes and the different aesthetic styles. However, I was surprised when walking around the American Wing to see three objects that I knew were owned by Ellison finally displayed in the museum.

This first object is a late-eighteenth century patriotic water cooler attributed to Jonathan Fenton (1766-1835) in Boston, circa 1793-96. It is considered by many to be among the best examples of domestic stoneware manufactured anywhere in America. It has also been published in Ceramics in America.

The second pair of objects are lions made by John Bell (1800-80) in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. The cobalt decorated stoneware example is especially great since it is currently the only lion like this known from John Bell or the Bell family decorated in this style. These objects have also previously been published in Ceramics in America.

If you have never visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art or if you have not been since the Ellison Collection went on display, then I would highly recommend making the trip. The selection of wares, especially the art pottery is really unlike any other collection in America. There is not a lot of utilitarian pottery when compared to the art pottery collection, but the quality of the utilitarian wares are some of the best objects made in America in the eighteenth and nineteenth century, including two highly significant marriage jars from southeastern Massachusetts.

Jonathan Fenton Attributed Patriotic Water Cooler

 Late-18th Century Patriotic Stoneware Water Cooler

Attributed to Jonathan Fenton in Boston

Circa 1793-96

Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection

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 Another View of the Cooler

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  Another View of the Cooler

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  Another View of the Cooler

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  Another View of the Cooler

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  Another View of the Cooler

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  Another View of the Cooler

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 Another View of the Cooler

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View of the Information Displayed with the Water Cooler

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John Bell Attributed Lions

 19th Century Red Earthenware Lions

Attributed to John Bell in Waynesboro, PA

Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection

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 Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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  Another View of the Lions

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View of the Information Displayed with the Lions

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

New Published Research Story in the November 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest - The 1791-1890 Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine

For those of you who do not already know, a research story I wrote about the 1791-1890 red earthenware industry in North Yarmouth, Maine is now available in the November 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest. This story would not have been possible without Chris Havey, who saved so much of the archaeology from this industry when the area was being developed in the 1990s. I truly believe that more pottery was produced in North Yarmouth than any other location in the state, and much of this production has been overlooked, especially in publication. However, the preservation efforts of Chris have really created a story about this industry that was not previously possible to write, and this may account for why some past authors only included a small amount of information about this industry in their publications.

I am really excited to see this story in print since it is a subject that I have worked on with Chris for about four years; there is a lot of archaeology included in this story, as well as surviving wares. This is a story about the North Yarmouth industry like none other previously published. There was also a preview story written about this article published in the Yarmouth, Maine Historical Society's fall 2019 newsletter.

The 1791-1890 Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine Research Story

The 1791-1890 Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine Research Story

Published in the November 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

See Article for More Information

The 1791-1890 Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine Research Story

Published in the November 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

See Article for More Information

The 1791-1890 Industry in North Yarmouth, Maine Research Story

Published in the November 2019 Issue of Maine Antique Digest

See Article for More Information

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

Great 19th Century Water Coolers from Ohio

I have never visited so I can only begin to imagine the pottery treasures hidden behind of the walls of the Ohio State Museum, now known as the Ohio History Connection in Columbus, Ohio. While reading through some early-to-mid twentieth century books this week, I came across this great red earthenware water cooler attributed to Ohio, circa 1830-40.

Described in the caption as having been decorated in a light brown glaze, the cooler is also decorated with applied hearts below the rim and the handle bases, as well as a variety of incised decoration. The lid features a finial in the shape of a small jug.

Interestingly, the manufacture of the overall form (not the lid) and the bunghole are reminiscent to stoneware water coolers manufactured in Ohio about the same period. The applied heart decoration is also an applied style found on some known red earthenware manufactured in Ohio.

I have also posted a second picture showing a nineteenth century stoneware water cooler made by Harker, Taylor and Company in East Liverpool, Ohio, circa 1846-51, also in the collection of the Ohio History Connection. This company was largely known for its Rockingham glazed wares during this period.

19th Century Ohio Water Coolers

19th Century Red Earthenware Water Cooler Attributed to Ohio

From the Collection of the Ohio History Connection

Circa 1830-40

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19th Century Stoneware Water Cooler

Made by Harker, Taylor and Company in East Liverpool, Ohio

Circa 1846-51

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Photo Courtesy: Ohio History Connection

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