One of the Best Collections of New England Red Earthenware

Since the majority of this collection is now owned by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, I guess I can post this picture, showing one of the best all-time collections of New England red earthenware, assembled by Connecticut antiques dealers, Ron and Penny Dionne. They spent decades putting this collection together, eventually selling it some years ago to a private New England collector. The majority of it has since been purchased by the MFA, although this particular picture was sent to me about a decade ago by David Wheatcroft.

All areas of New England production are represented in this collection with many of the wares having been manufactured at the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Although, the majority of the production was manufactured during the circa 1780-1840 period.

I also forgot to mention recently when I wrote about a green glazed mug that I just acquired that the Dionne's also owned related examples.

One of the Best Collections of New England Red Earthenware

The Ron and Penny Dionne Collection of New England Red Earthenware

The Majority of this Collection is Now Owned by the MFA, Boston

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Photo Courtesy: David Wheatcroft

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Nineteenth Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar that Sold Yesterday in Montreal

Labeled on the base as "Pennsylvania slipware, 1820-1830," this nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware jar sold yesterday at Kavanagh Auctions in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. However, the form of the jar is very similar to a jar that sold at Crocker Farm in Sparks, Maryland in July 2015. That jar was described as having been possibly made at the Captain John Norton (1758-1828) Pottery in Bennington, Vermont in the late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century. Aside from the similar slip-decorations, both jars exhibit a very similar size, rim, shape and footed base.

According to Massachusetts author, Lura Woodside Watkins' (1897-1982) book, Early New England Potters and Their Wares, "Captain John Norton, who had attained his rank in the Revolutionary War is said to have built the first kiln in Bennington in 1793. The beginnings of Norton's enterprise were relatively small and simple. Up to 1830 and perhaps somewhat later, bricks and red earthenware were made in the Norton Pottery from clay dug on the Tudor family farm.

Several well authenticated examples of early red earthenware manufactured at Bennington have survived. One, a small lead-glazed jug ornamented with a crudely swashed design in white slip was made for Mrs. Omindia Gerry (now owned by the Bennington Museum) in 1798, when she was not quite  ten years of age. It was the work of Abel Wadsworth, an employee at the Norton Pottery, and it was handed on by Mrs. Gerry to one of her descendants. Another specimen, a handled jar, was owned by Mrs. Peter Ostrander, who died in 1827. A milk pan and vases have also been identified as examples from the Norton red earthenware kiln."

Interestingly, the "crudely swashed design" found on the jug owned by the Bennington Museum is similar to the style of the slip found on the jar that sold yesterday in Montreal, as well as the example that sold at Crocker Farm. However, this style of slip is also found on a lidded jar from my personal collection, which retains a strong history of ownership in Vermont.

But while I cannot prove with archaeology that these jars were made in Bennington, the style of the slip surrounding each object is noteworthy. It also must be taken into consideration that there is most likely surviving red earthenware from the Norton Pottery that exists today, even though this type of production has not received anywhere near the amount of attention that has been given in the past 100 years to Bennington's stoneware industry.

Two Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jars

 Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Style of the Slip is Similar to a Style Manufactured at the Norton Pottery in Bennington, VT

Stands 10" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

 View of the Interior

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Kavanagh Auctions

  Late-18th or Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Style of the Slip is Similar to a Style Manufactured at the Norton Pottery in Bennington, VT

Stands 9 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

 Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm Auctions of American Redware and Stoneware

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Pair of 19th Century Maine Red Earthenware Jars Once Owned by Gladys Hasty Carroll

According to the University of New England, "Born in 1904 in South Berwick, Maine, Gladys Hasty Carroll (1904-1999) grew up and lived most of her life in the farmhouse her grandfather built during the Civil War in Dunnybrook. She attended Bates College, earning a Bachelor's degree in English in 1925 and an honorary degree in 1945. Her husband, Herbert A. Carroll (1897-1983) was a psychologist, and  because of his work the two lived in Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Minnesota, where she began to write magazine articles and books.

Her first novel was As the Earth Turns (1933), which was a Book-of-the-Month selection, nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and made into a feature length movie in 1934. The University of New Hampshire awarded Carroll an honorary Master in Arts in 1934. She wrote 26 books over her lifetime, including fiction, nonfiction, short stories, and children's books. She is best known for her ability to capture a fading way of life among Maine's rural farm communities.

Inspired by her life at the farmhouse, Carroll also wrote Dunnybrook (1934), a fictional history and genealogy of South Berwick. Other notable works include To Remember Forever 1922-1923 (1963), Only Fifty Years Ago (1962), and The Light Here Kindled (1967). She was on the Breadloaf staff; she took courses at Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Chicago. Westbrook College honored her with the Deborah Morton Award for Distinguished Maine Women in 1987. In her later years, Carroll founded the Dunnybrook Historical Foundation of South Berwick. She  died on April 1, 1999."

Carroll's work is represented today in the Maine Historical Society in Portland, Maine, among other institutions and museums. Interestingly, when the television show, As the World Turns debuted in 1956 it was originally supposed to be called As the Earth Turns, but Carroll would not give permission for use of the title.

Nevertheless, after writing about two great nineteenth century Maine red earthenware jars yesterday that I just acquired from a dealer in central Maine, I learned that the jars were originally owned by Carroll. The dealer told me that she regularly collected antiques from the 1940s to the 1960s, and because of antiques he knew her well. He said he purchased the jars directly from her collection in the early-1990s, and has owned them ever since.

Yesterday, I wrote, "This is a great pair of nineteenth century red earthenware jars that I just acquired with their original lids, which were most likely made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine. The jars have also been slip-decorated with household ingredients.  Very few of these jars are known to exist today; although, Boston antiques dealer, Stephen Score is said to have owned an entire set of about a dozen at one time. The jars and lids are also stamped with matching numbers.

These particular jars were sold out of Skowhegan, Maine, and the production was possibly inspired from somewhat similar made wares in places like Sussex, England in the early-nineteenth century.

I will eventually post better pictures, but in the meantime, I wrote about this type of production in a research story that was published in the February 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Dodges and Their Potteries."

Pair of Red Earthenware Jars Once Owned by Gladys Hasty Carroll

Gladys Hasty Carroll (1904-1999) in South Berwick, Maine in 1937
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Photo Courtesy: Maine Historical Society

19th Century Red Earthenware Jars Previously Owned by Gladys Hasty Carroll

Labeled with Ingredients in Slip-Decoration

Very Likely Made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

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

Wonderful Pair of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars from Maine

This is a great pair of nineteenth century red earthenware jars that I just acquired with their original lids, which were most likely made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, Maine. The jars have also been slip-decorated with household ingredients.  Very few of these jars are known to exist today; although, Boston antiques dealer, Stephen Score is said to have owned an entire set of about a dozen at one time. The jars and lids are also stamped with matching numbers.

These particular jars were sold out of Skowhegan, Maine, and the production was possibly inspired from somewhat similar made wares in places like Sussex, England in the early-nineteenth century.

I will eventually post better pictures, but in the meantime, I wrote about this type of production in a research story that was published in the February 2018 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Dodges and Their Potteries."

Wonderful Pair of 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars from Maine

19th Century Red Earthenware Jars with Slip-Decorated Ingredients

Very Likely Made at the Benjamin Dodge Pottery in Portland, ME

See Article for More Information

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

Sharing Some of My Pottery Collection on Facebook and Instagram

Seeing that so many people are out of work under precautions caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, I have decided to share some pieces from my private pottery collection on my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. My Facebook account can be found under my name Justin Thomas, while my Instagram username is justin_wthomas. I am hoping this can be fun as some of these pieces I have never shown publicly before.

I began posting pictures last weekend, and along with each piece comes a story of past ownership, any related archaeology, and whatever information I can share about the origin. For example, I posted this large pitcher yesterday, writing, "Discovered on a house call a few years ago in Vermont by Michael Seward, this great pitcher was purchased by Lew Scranton and put aside for me to see at the opening of the New Hampshire Antiques Dealers Association Show in Manchester, New Hampshire. I jumped at the opportunity to acquire it. It was likely made in southeastern Massachusetts (Bristol County), circa 1770-1810 or so. 

To my knowledge: there are only two pitchers in this form, glaze and decoration known today; the other is in the William T. Brandon Memorial Collection at Historic Deerfield in Deerfield, Massachusetts. Although, there are some related pieces that survive, including a pitcher from the Charles D. Collection that was featured in The Magazine Antiques in the 1930s, now owned by prominent collectors in New York City. Interestingly, the pitcher owned by Historic Deerfield retains an old tag saying it was made in Barnstable, Massachusetts, likely indicating the Bradford Pottery, a  subject I wrote a research story about for the May 2019 issue of Maine Antique Digest,. Although, archaeology has also proven that Cape Cod was included as part of the exports of the industry in Bristol County."

These pictures will likely not be posted on this website; however, as I have already noted, they can be found on my personal Facebook and Instagram accounts. My niece Alexis will also be showing each piece. I cannot guarantee I will post a picture everyday, but I will do so at least a few times a week.

Sharing Some of My Pottery Collection on Facebook and Instagram

My Niece Alexis Holding a Great Southeastern Mass. Red Earthenware Pitcher

Likely Circa 1770-1810 or so

Stands 10" Tall

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The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

While spending the last decade or so researching the life of Charles Albert (Solares) Lawrence (1829-1904) and the history of his pottery business in Beverly, Massachusetts, I was very surprised to learn that Lawrence's origin has been misidentified in some previous publications. Some of those publications indicate that Lawrence was a Portuguese immigrant, but I learned that is not the case.

In fact, his father, Frances Solares (1794-1865) was actually the immigrant, arriving in the Beverly and South Danvers area sometime before 1818. I discovered this information partially thanks to Lawrence's parents record of marriage at City Hall in Beverly.

Frances was born in the city of Bilboa along the coast of northern Spain to Portuguese parents. He married Nancy Friend (1798-1873) of Beverly on December 3, 1818. Family history says he was a stowaway on a ship owned by the Putnam family in Danvers, Massachusetts, but I have not  been able to confirm what family member captained the ship. The Putnam family was heavily involved with the American Revolution, taking part in the Battle of Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts on June 17, 1775, among other historical events in the transformation of this country.

Aside from the marriage record, I have also posted a great pitcher that I purchased a few years ago from Jeff & Holly Noordsy in Springfield, Massachusetts, which has since been illustrated along with two other objects on the cover of the Beverly book I wrote, titled, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence, which can be purchased through Historic Beverly's online shop.

The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

 My Niece Alexis with a Great Beverly Pitcher

This was Taken Moments After We Purchased it from Jeff & Holly Noordsy in Springfield, Mass.

This Pitcher Has Since Been Used as One of the Three  Objects Illustrated on the Cover of the Beverly Book I Wrote, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

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19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher

Made at the Charles A. Lawrence Pottery in Beverly, Mass.

Previously Found in a House in Lunenburg, Mass.

Made After 1865

Stands 5 1/4" Tall

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Marriage Record for Francis Solaris (1794-1865) and Nancy Friend (1798-1873), both of Beverly, December 3, 1818.

Courtesy: City of Beverly, Mass.

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Forthcoming Peabody Pottery Book and Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston

Thanks to Connecticut potter, Guy Wolff I was able to include a great early photo of Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston in my forthcoming book, The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries. Historic Beverly in Massachusetts is publishing the book and it coincides with another book I wrote that was published last year, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence.

This early photo shows how Isabella Stewart Gardner (1840-1924) purchased a number of flowerpots made at the Paige Pottery that were used when Fenway Court opened in 1903. While another photo from around the same time period, also included in the book, reveals another context of ownership within Gardner's family, although, I am not going to reveal the details of that image until after the book has been published. Both pictures are wonderful demonstrating original contexts of ownership.

This photo is not included in the book, but it was taken among a group of pictures of Fenway Court in 1902 and 1903 by photographer, Thomas E. Marr (1850-1910). The Paige Pottery flowerpots were used throughout the garden for plants and shrubs, and some may even be illustrated in this photo. I cannot tell for sure, but the unglazed pots shown to the left with planted shrubs may have also been made at the Paige Pottery.

Born in Nova Scotia, Marr's photography is considered quite collectible today; he is best known for photographing Boston in the nineteenth and early-twentieth century. In fact, five of his original signed negatives from Fenway Court were consigned to Skinner in Boston in 2016.

Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Fenway Court at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

Flowerpots Made at the Paige Pottery were Used in Fenway Court When it Opened in 1903

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Photo Courtesy: Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum

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