A Wonderful 19th Century Ring Flask or Bottle Recently Found at the Hollis, New Hampshire Flea Market

Next time we will remember the sunglasses, I promise! This is the best nineteenth century New England red earthenware ring flask (or bottle) that I have ever handled. It's big too, measuring twelve inches from top to bottom, and a form rarely found in New England, whereas the shape is more often found with surviving pottery made in the Mid-Atlantic region and in the Southern states.

Interestingly, it was just discovered two days ago by Mark Newton at the flea market in Hollis, New Hampshire. It was probably made in northern New England about 1840-1860 or thereabouts - I also suspect that it was made in Maine, possibly Days Ferry, based on the ring around the neck which is very similar to the rims on jugs manufactured at the John Corliss (1799-1892) Pottery in the Days Ferry section of Woolwich, Maine.

Furthermore, I posted an article on this website a few months ago that discusses the use of ring bottles in northern New England in the nineteenth and twentieth century, which was based on information published in a book from 1941.

A Wonderful 19th Century Ring Flask or Bottle

19th Century New England Red Earthenware Ring Flask (or Bottle)

Probably Made in Northern New England

Possibly Made in Maine

Probably Circa 1840-1860

Measures 12" From Top to Bottom

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Another View of the Ring Flask (or Bottle)

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Another View of the Ring Flask (or Bottle)

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

Rare Inscribed Red Earthenware Vase Made by Jacob Medinger in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

The nineteenth and twentieth century red earthenware and sgraffito manufactured by Pennsylvania German potter, Jacob Medinger (1856-1932) in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania is rather well-documented today. He was the son of William Medinger (d. 1903) who migrated to Pennsylvania in 1854 from Wurttemberg, Germany, establishing his own pottery about 1855. Jacob learned how to manufacture red earthenware from his father, and some of the forms he is best known for today include sgraffito plates, as well and double-handled jars and pitchers, also often decorated with sgaffito and incised designs. He is also known to have produced slipware and manufactured pottery in a wide variety of glaze colors. 

Nonetheless, I have handled a number of examples of wares manufactured by Jacob Medinger through the years, but I cannot recall having seen many vases like this before, with the inscription, "This vase was made / Jacob Medinger / Feb 10th 1931 / at the Limerick Pottery." This was also among the last group of wares made by Medinger considering he died in 1932. The jar sold reasonably two days ago on eBay for $811.99. 

There are related pieces known: 1)  A jug made by Medinger sold at Pook & Pook in Downington, Pennsylvania in 2013 for $2,800 plus the auction premium, with the inscription, "June 15 1931 / made by Jacob Medinger / for Henry Titlow while here at Limerick Pottery." 2) A double-handled vase made by Medinger also sold at Pook & Pook in 2011 for $2,400 plus the auction premium, with the inscription, "This vase was made / by Jacob Medinger / Feb 15th 1931 / at the Limerick Pottery." There are also other examples known, some that have sold more recently for a little less, although, collectively each example is a great piece of pottery to own.

Interestingly, I also posted an article to this website a few years ago showing a group of photos illustrating Medinger and his wares that were taken by Cornelius Weygandt (1871-1957), an English Literature professor at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and a leading authority on all things Pennsylvania Dutch

Inscribed Red Earthenware Vase Made by Jacob Medinger in Montgomery County, PA

20th Century Red Earthenware Vase

Made by Jacob Medinger in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, PA

Inscribed "This vase was made / Jacob Medinger / Feb 10th 1931 / at the Limerick Pottery."

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

Another View of the Vase

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

Another View of the Vase

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

Another View of the Vase

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

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Red Earthenware Lion Sells in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

The Renfrew Museum & Park in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania owns the most important collection of locally made pottery in the country from the 1800s. It is a must see exhibit, which I actually wrote a three-page article about for the December 7, 2018 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Bell Pottery Collection at the Renfrew Museum in Waynesboro, Pa. Among the objects displayed at the museum are three outstanding large lions that are unquestionably included in the discussion of the most iconic folk pottery made by a traditional potter in America before 1900.

Interestingly, a small red earthenware lion sold over the weekend at Locatti LLC in Pineville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, which in some ways is similar to one of the Bell family lions displayed at the Renfrew Museum. 

The lion sold for $1,100 plus the auction premium.

(Left) Large 19th Century Red Earthenware Lion

Made by the Bell Family in the Shenandoah Valley

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Photo Courtesy: Renfrew Museum & Park

(Right) Small Red Earthenware Lion

Stands 5" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Locatti LLC

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19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Pot from the John Bell Pottery Sells at Horst Auctions in Pennsylvania

Among the most accomplished glaze colors manufactured at the John Bell (1800-1880) Pottery in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania in the 1800s are the greens, which unquestionably rival any green glaze manufactured in America or Canada in the nineteenth century. The color green really is a special glaze to find on early pottery today.

In fact, of all the forms made at the Bell Pottery, it is the green glazed flowerpots that are included with the company's best known forms today, although there were other green glazed shapes manufactured, as well. It should also be taken into consideration that like the green glazes manufactured elsewhere in America, some of the greens produced in Waynesboro are much more vibrant than others, which is sometimes a result of how they were fired in the kiln. 

For instance, my new book, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod discusses green glazes in the beginning - I explain how this color was not a monopoly for any business, and among the objects illustrated is what I consider to be one of the most vibrant green glazed red earthenware flowerpots known from the Bell Pottery today. This flowerpot is shown beside other accomplished green glazes from Chicago, Ontario, Portland, Maine, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, along with other areas.

Nevertheless, this good green glazed circa 1840 red earthenware handled pot stamped "J. BELL" sold over the weekend at Horst Auction in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The piece sold for $2,600.

For more information about the John Bell Pottery, I suggest a three-page story I wrote for the December 7, 2018 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Bell Pottery Collection At The Renfrew Museum In Waynesboro, Pa.

1) John Bell Story Page 1

2) John Bell Story Page 2

3) John Bell Story Page 3

19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Pot from the John Bell Pottery

19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Handled Pot

Made at the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro, PA

Stamped "J. BELL"

Circa 1840

Stands 6 3/4" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Horst Auction

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Two 19th Century Moravian Earthenware Figural Bottles from North Carolina that Recently Sold

It's not everyday that Moravian pottery from North Carolina is found outside of a museum or major private collection. The best examples of this type of pottery can most likely be found in the Art Museums at Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, as well as the William C. and Susan S. Mariner Gallery at the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, along with the museum's exhibit of locally made objects. And among the most prized wares made by the Moravians in North Carolina are figural bottles in form of animals and other creatures 

According to the book, Art in Clay: Masterworks of North Carolina Earthenware, "Moravian potters in North Carolina made press-molded earthenware for more than one hundred twenty-five years. The range of forms documented by surviving objects, molds, and references in pottery inventories is far greater than that of any contemporary American ceramic tradition. From smoking pipes to stove tiles, the Moravian potters in Bethabara (historic area in Salem-Winston, North Carolina) and Salem, North Carolina expanded the production of press-molded earthenware to include figural bottles and castors, non-figural bottles, and toys. Rudolph Christ (1750-1833) can be credited for the successful production and marketing of press-molded figural wares during his tenure as master of pottery at Salem (1789-1821).

Of all the figural bottles produced in Salem, fish survive in the greatest number. Most are glazed green on the outside but examples decorated in tortoiseshell colors are known. Fish appear in the April 30, 1801 inventory of the Salem pottery valued at 1 shilling 6 pence each. Three sizes were available the following year, and by 1806 the pottery was producing four patterns - the number represented by surviving molds listed in the 1828 inventory."

Furthermore, according to MESDA, "Christ apprenticed under Gottfried Aust (1722-1788) in Salem. He established his own pottery in Bethabara in 1786 and worked there until 1789. He succeeded Aust as master potter in Salem from 1789 to 1821. The production of press-molded wares also continued through the tenure of John Holland, who apprenticed under Rudolph Christ and as noted in Moravian records, inherited molds used in Christ’s shop. Rudolph Christ retired in 1821 and John Holland took over as Salem’s third master potter. Although the pottery ceased to operate as a congregational business in 1829, production of press-molded wares continued in the shop of Holland and another Salem potter, Heinrich Schaffner until at least the middle of the nineteenth century."

Interestingly, the museum owns what I consider to be perhaps the most significant piece of Colonial American slipware in existence today - the actual slip decorated red earthenware store sign made by Aust that is dated 1773.

Nevertheless, both of these figurals recently sold, and while the squirrel did sustain some damage through the years, the glaze is spectacular and it is also possibly the most iconic form of all the Moravian figurals. In fact, this figural can be attributed to Salem, North Carolina, where a matching formed green glazed example is displayed at MESDA. Variations of squirrel formed bottles were produced in North Carolina in the 1800s. This bottle sold reasonably on eBay for $2,278.

The second figural is in the shape of a fish, and it sold in Skinner's American Furniture & Decorative Arts sale in Marlborough, Massachusetts on April 23, 2022. This object is also attributed to the press molded figural production in North Carolina selling for $9,375 including the buyer's premium.

Two 19th Century Moravian Earthenware Figural Bottles from North Carolina

19th Century Earthenware Figural Bottle in the Form of a Squirrel

Attributed to Salem, North Carolina

Attributed to Either Rudolph Christ or John Holland

Circa 1804-1829

Stands 8" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

Another View of the Squirrel Figural

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Photo Courtesy: eBay

19th Century Earthenware Figural Bottle in the Form of a Fish

Attributed to Winston, Salem, North Carolina

Circa 1800-1860

Measures 4" Long

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Photo Courtesy: Skinner

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

An Etruscan Shaped Red Earthenware Urn Made by an American Potter Recently Found in Columbia, Pennsylvania

While visiting Washington, D.C. and Pennsylvania earlier this month, I checked out some of the antique shops in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, which is where I found this late nineteenth century painted red earthenware Etruscan revival formed vase with a lead glazed interior. The Victorian decoration was most likely added by an early owner, although it is well done, further embellishing the object. 

I have always been drawn to this type of Grecian production with American potters, seeing that it was a large part of my research with my first book, titled, The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence. In fact, I think this type of production may have been more widespread in the late 1800s than what is realized today with utilitarian potters from the Mid-Atlantic region right up through New England, circa 1872-1910.

Nonetheless, this pot is American made, but I am not sure whether it was made in the Mid Atlantic region or in New England. Although, I did ask the people in the shop if they knew anything about it's history; they said they did not other than it having been in a dealer's space for sometime.

An Etruscan Shaped Red Earthenware Urn Made by an American Potter

Bootleg Antiques in Columbia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

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Late 19th Century Etruscan Formed Red Earthenware Urn

Made by an American Potter Who Most Likely also Made Utilitarian Wares

Recently Found in Columbia, Lancaster County, PA

Circa 1875-1900

Stands 9 1/8" Tall

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Another View of the Urn

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View of the Lead Glazed Interior

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

My Five Volume New England Pottery Book Series Can Now Be Purchased As a Set

Just a FYI - aside from my most recent book that was just published by Historic Beverly in Massachusetts - my entire five volume New England pottery book series can now be purchased as a set for $100 plus shipping. See the link below for more information.

The set includes these titles --

1) The Beverly Pottery: The Wares of Charles A. Lawrence

2) The Moses B. Paige Company: The Last of the Peabody Potteries

3) The Dawn of Independence, the Death of an Industry: The Pottery of Charlestown, Massachusetts

4) South Amesbury's Red Earthenware & Stoneware: The 1791-1820 William Pecker Pottery

5) A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod

Link to purchase books: https://historicbeverly.net/product/pottery-book-collection/

Note: I also have an exhibit catalog that I guest curated at the Custom House Maritime Museum in Newburyport, Mass., titled, Potters on the Merrimac: A Century of New England Ceramics, which is available on Amazon.

Link to purchase exhibit catalog: https://www.amazon.com/Potters-Merrimac-Century-England-Ceramics/dp/1694078531/ref=sr_1_1?crid=X7MG9LVQMI1B&keywords=potters+on+the+merrimac&qid=1652350411&s=books&sprefix=potters+on+the+merrimac%2Cstripbooks%2C54&sr=1-1

My Current Five Volume New England Pottery Book Series

(Left) A Catalog from an Exhibit I Guest Curated

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