New Book: The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts

Good news! The proof copy of my forthcoming book, The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts is back from the printer! I am expecting a few late additions, although, the book should be available later this summer through Historic Beverly in Beverly, Massachusetts. The book is also being promoted by the Charlestown Historical Society and the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce.

The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Mass.

The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Mass.

Forthcoming Book Through Historic Beverly in Beverly, Mass.

See Article for More Information

The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Mass.

Forthcoming Book Through Historic Beverly in Beverly, Mass.

See Article for More Information

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

A Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher from the Collection of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

A story I wrote about Albert Hastings Pitkin (1852-1917) and his collection of red earthenware owned by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut was published in the April 12, 2019 issue of Antiques & Auction News. Illustrated in the story were a number of objects from the Pitkin Collection, some of which had never been published and were not widely known outside of the museum.

This nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware pitcher with its original lid was not included in the story, but I still think it is a noteworthy object, seeing that the manner of the slip is comparable to styles recovered from late-eighteenth and early-nineteenth century archaeological contexts in Baltimore and Richmond, Virginia, as well as known wares produced in Pennsylvania.

The reason I brought this pitcher up today is because while the wares made with this type of slip in Pennsylvania are recognized today, the pottery made in Baltimore and especially Richmond are lesser known.

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Pitcher

Style of the Slip is Comparable to Styles Produced in Baltimore, Pennsylvania and Richmond, VA

Albert Hastings Pitkin Collection

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art

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

New Published Story: Thrown Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond

A feature story I wrote about the pottery exhibit at the Landis Valley Village & Farm Museum in Lancaster, Pennsylvania has just been published as the cover story for the current July 31, 2020 issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly, titled, "Thrown Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond."

Here is a link to the online version of the story - below are pictures that show how the story appears in print.

Thrown Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond

"Thrown Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond"

Published as the Cover Story to the July 31, 2020 Issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly

See Article for More Information

"Thrown Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond"

Published as the Cover Story to the July 31, 2020 Issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly

See Article for More Information

"Thrown Fired and Glazed: The Redware Tradition From Pennsylvania and Beyond"

Published as the Cover Story to the July 31, 2020 Issue of Antiques & the Arts Weekly

See Article for More Information

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

Remarkable 19th Century Slipware Recovered in New Harmony, Indiana

Last week, I wrote about a wonderful early-nineteenth century slipware bowl that was recovered in Lexington, Kentucky, and I also said that if it had not been for the context that the bowl could have been viewed as an object manufactured in Pennsylvania. A similar scenario could be interpreted for these objects, as well, although, they were recovered in New  Harmony, Indiana.

According to Michael Strezewski, who is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Southern Indiana, "The Harmonists were a millennial and utopian religious group founded in Iptingen, Germany in the late eighteenth century. The spiritual leader of the group was George Rapp (1757-1847), who believed that the second coming of Christ was near, and that all Christians must make preparations to lead a model life for his return. 

Due to their unorthodox ideas (for example, celibacy and communal living), the Harmonists were persecuted in their homeland, and they immigrated to the United States in 1805. They settled in Pennsylvania, but in 1814, Rapp moved the entire community to present day Posey County, Indiana, and built a new town, New Harmony, adjacent to the Wabash River. New Harmony was home to the Harmony Society from 1814 to 1824 and consisted of 180 buildings with a maximum population of about 750 residents.

The Harmonist potter, Christopher Weber, lived adjacent to his shop and kiln, and worked full-time manufacturing red earthenware for the residents of the town, as well as the non-Harmonist settlers in the area. Weber's production included storage jars, jugs, plates, mugs, serving bowls and pitchers."

Remarkable 19th Century Slipware Recovered in New Harmony, Indiana

 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware

Recovered in New Harmony, Indiana

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski

 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware

Recovered in New Harmony, Indiana

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware

Recovered in New Harmony, Indiana

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Michael Strezewski

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

New Acquisition: A Spectacular New England Red Earthenware Jar

This is a late-eighteenth or early-nineteenth century red earthenware jar that I acquired yesterday from Sheffield, Massachusetts antiques dealer Sam Herrup, which he just purchased from a long-standing private collection in Connecticut.

This jar does exhibit characteristics of wares made in coastal Massachusetts and by the Clark family in New Hampshire, circa 1775-1825 - although, I believe the highly unusual impressed decoration is related to archaeology that I have studied from the Bradford family pottery in Kingston, Massachusetts kept at the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.,  as well as Plimouth Plantation in Plymouth, Massachusetts. To see what I mean, check out a research story I wrote for the May 2019 issue of  Maine Antique Digest, titled, "The Bradford Family Potteries in Massachusetts."

A Spectacular New England Red Earthenware Jar Probably from Kingston, Mass.

 Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Probably from the Bradford Family Pottery in Kingston, Mass.

Stands About 10" Tall

See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sam Herrup

 Another View of the  Jar

See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sam Herrup

  Another View of the  Jar

See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sam Herrup

View of the Base

See Article for More Information
Photo Courtesy: Sam Herrup

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

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate that is Similar to Objects Recovered in New York City

Some of you reading this post may recognize this nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware plate that is currently listed on eBay from an antiques dealer in Maryland. The dish was likely made at either the Absalom Day (1770-1843) Pottery or the Asa E. Smith (1798-1880) Pottery in Norwalk, Connecticut, circa 1820s or 1830s, seeing that it closely resembles similar plates from this time period, which have been recovered from various contexts in New York City, especially in Manhattan. The New York City marketplace was a major consumer of the wares made in Norwalk, as well as red earthenware made on Long Island and in River Edge, Bergen County, New Jersey.

Norwalk slipware can be found in major museums around the country, including the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan and Historic New England. Although, the largest collection may be owned by the Wilton, Connecticut Historical Society.

For more information about this type of pottery recovered in New York City, I suggest a story I wrote that was just published in April 2020 for Untapped New York, titled, "A Look Inside the NYC Archaeological Repository for City's Earliest Pottery."

Here is a link to the eBay listing.

Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate Similar to Objects Recovered in New York City

19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Plate

Likely Made at Either the Days Pottery or Smith Pottery in Norwalk, CT

Similar Plates Have Been Recovered from Various Archaeological Contexts in New York City

Probably Circa 1820s or 1830s

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

View of the Back

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

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

Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl Recovered in Lexington, Kentucky

Outside of an archaeological context, this nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware bowl would probably be interpreted as being from Pennsylvania, although it was recovered by archaeologists from an antebellum period privy found on property once owned by Henry Clay (1777-1852) in Lexington, Kentucky. The privy is associated with the slave quarters that were once located on the property, and in this case, likely dating from the early-nineteenth century.

Overall, a wide variety of locally made ceramics and imported Chinese and European wares were found in the privies on the property associated with Clay's occupancy. Forms included serving platters, compote dishes and a wide range of stoneware and red earthenware storage jars (most of which were locally made).

To my knowledge, the origin of this bowl has not been identified, but this type of slipware was manufactured in Kentucky, such as a circa 1803-1837 red earthenware business known as the Conrad Pottery located just outside Louisville in Jefferstown, Kentucky.

Early-19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl Recovered in Lexington, Kentucky

Early 19th Century Slip-Decorated Red Earthenware Bowl

Recovered from a Privy on Property Owned by Henry Clay in Lexington, Kentucky

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Janice Tomes

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