An Excellent Slip-Decorated and Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar From Bristol County, Massachusetts

While looking through some of the archives earlier this year from New York City ceramic specialists Garrison and Diana Stradling, I came across these pictures of this wonderful late eighteenth or early nineteenth century slip-decorated red earthenware jar with a mottled green glaze from Bristol County, Massachusetts, circa 1780-1830. This is an incredibly rare object because of the slip decorated flower that adorns both sides, which is typically only seen today from this area on marriage jars and presentation pieces.

Furthermore, this object was published in my fifth book, as part of my pottery book series published by Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod. However, it will also be included in one of the end chapters in my forthcoming New Hampshire book, whereas this is where I explain that a mottled green glaze is not an attributable characteristic to certain areas in New Hampshire, and this is illustrated by showing mottled green glazed red earthenware that was manufactured in many areas in America and Canada.

Nevertheless, this jar was previously owned as part of the Howard Gilman Foundation, which was displayed in the company’s office in Manhattan, alongside the remainder of the Gilman red earthenware collection, as well as decoys and early photography. 

The red earthenware portion of this collection sold through Christie’s in New York City in January 2003 and June 2004. It was a heavily contested sale, where a large selection of great objects were sold in group lots. Many prominent names were also involved with the sale; however, I was rather excited to see these pictures while I was in Manhattan because I have always wondered where this jar ended up.

For more information about the Gilman Collection - here is a link to a story that I posted about it on this website in 2018: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2018/05/the-howard-gilman-foundation-collection.html.

Note: Here is also a link to buy the Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod book: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/.

Slip-Decorated and Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar

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

Attributed to Bristol County, Mass.

Circa 1780-1830

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy Garrison & Diana Stradling

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

A Look At A 19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug From Western New York

Earlier this year, I visited the archives of New York City ceramic specialists Garrison and Diana Stradling in Manhattan, in order to gather information for future books and articles. Although, the main reason why I was there was to learn more about certain objects that they had owned through the years that were previously owned as part of New York museum specialist and archaeologist George Hamell's Collection.

In fact, I was thrilled to see the original proof copy of this advertisement that ran in various publications, whereas the ad highlighted this brightly glazed nineteenth century Western New York red earthenware field jug or harvest jug, which is an incredibly rare object and thought to represent early production for this region in New York. Additionally, I was also able to handle this great object while I was in New York City.

According to the advertisement, "We sent a query to a friend (Hamell) who is an avid New York pottery collector and a former curator at the New York State Museum (in Albany) - he sent us an image of a jug he had purchased in Wyoming County, New York with the same neck and foot rim and handle; he believes it is earlier than either Alvin Wilcox (who made red earthenware in West Bloomfield, New York as early as 1830) or Lorenzo Johnson who worked in Newstead, New York from 1850 on."

Furthermore, as I posted earlier this week, archaeological evidence and Hamell's notes also indicate that Lorenzo Johnson had some involvement with a business in Mill Grove, New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/10/the-19th-century-case-suess-johnson.html.

Note: My forthcoming Western New York book will run 700-800 pages and is due out in 2024, whereas it is titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York. This will mark my ninth book in my pottery book series from my publisher Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, although my eighth book will be out sometime soon and it covers red earthenware production in parts of New Hampshire and related businesses elsewhere in northern New England; it runs about 600 pages.

19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest Jug From Western New York

This is a Proof Copy for an Ad that was Published About this Jug

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Photo Courtesy: Garrison & Diana Stradling

19th Century Red Earthenware Harvest or Field Jug From Western New York

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Photo Courtesy: Garrison & Diana Stradling

Another View of the Jug

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Photo Courtesy: Garrison & Diana Stradling

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

Flea Market Find: A Late 19th Century Cabinet Card Showing the Exterior Image of an American Saloon

While out and about last weekend in New England, I stopped at a weekly Sunday morning flea market that I often go to in Massachusetts, where I picked up this circa 1870s-1890s cabinet card, which I found in a box full of various nineteenth and twentieth century documents and photography. The subject of the picture is what really caught my attention, seeing that the sign hanging on the building reads, "Glass Station Saloon." 

As a result, I had to imagine while looking at this picture that there was some type of stoneware in this building at sometime; however, I also suspect that this is either a Midwestern or Western saloon, since the photographer's name, H.W. MACDONALD was printed on the back of the card as working on Kearney Street in San Francisco. 

Furthermore, the image also includes three men, one woman, one conestoga wagon, one dog and some horses. This is certainly a really cool image, nonetheless!

Does anyone recognize where this saloon may have been located?

Cabinet Card Showing the Exterior Image of an American Saloon

Circa 1870s-1890s Cabinet Card of a Saloon Probably in the Midwest of West

Measures 8 1/2" Long and 5 1/4" Tall

The Sign on the Building Reads "Glass House Saloon"

See Above for More Information

A Closer Look at the Sign on the Building

The Sign on the Building Reads "Glass House Saloon"

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An Even Closer Look at the Sign on the Building

The Sign on the Building Reads "Glass House Saloon"

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A View of the Back of the Cabinet Card

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A Closer Look at the Back of the Cabinet Card

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

The 19th Century Case-Suess-Johnson Pottery in Mill Grove, New York

This is among my favorite nineteenth century archaeological artifacts (although there are many favorites!) that will be included in my forthcoming 700-800 page Western New York book, due out in 2024. This nineteenth century red earthenware kiln waster and brick was recovered at the site of the Case-Suess-Johnson Pottery in Mill Grove, New York, a company that not a lot is documented about today. And yes the Johnson is Lorenzo Johnson, who had some involvement with this business, as well as the one he is much better known for that he operated in Newstead, New York.

However, what archaeologists from the Rochester Museum & Science Center, along with museum specialist and archaeologist George Hamell found on this privately owned property, as part of an archaeological survey, was a wide variety of kiln evidence, whereas the actual glazing millstones were still there leaning up against the original barn that went with the property. 

Furthermore, inside the house was a large selection of colorfully glazed pieces of red earthenware that were made at the Sues Pottery, which had descended through family ownership to the current owner, now owned by the Alden, New York Historical Society.

For more information about my forthcoming Western New York book -- see this link: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/09/a-preview-of-forthcoming-western-new.html.

19th Century Case-Suess-Johnson Pottery in Mill Grove, N.Y.

19th Century Red Earthenware Kiln Waster and Brick

Recovered at the Site of the Case-Suess-Johnson Pottery in Mill Grove, N.Y.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Rochester Museum & Science Center

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

A 19th Century Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar Possibly Made By Heber Kimball in Mendon, New York

To continue with my recent posts about the Mormon leader Heber Kimball (1801-1868) and his red earthenware production in Mendon, New York in the 1820s and early 1830s -- the two double-handled mottled green glazed red earthenware jars shown here on the top row were reportedly purchased directly from Kimball in Mendon in the 1820s, whereas they are owned today by the Museum of Church History in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Furthermore, I acquired the large double-handled mottled green glazed red earthenware jar shown on the bottom row this past spring, which retains a history of ownership in Western New York, and I suspect it was made by Kimball in Mendon. Furthermore, I actually acquired the jar from Victor, New York antiques dealer Gene Pratt; he got it from a longtime collection in the area, whereas many of the objects in the collection originated in Western New York in the nineteenth century.

For more information -- see a four-page feature story that I wrote for the April 2022 issue of Maine Antique Digest, titled, Heber C. Kimball: A Mormon Potter from Western New York. Additionally, there will be an entire chapter devoted to Kimball in my forthcoming 700-800 page Western New York book, due out in 2024: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/09/a-preview-of-forthcoming-western-new.html.

Three 19th Century Mottled Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jars

Top) Both Jars Reportedly Purchased from Heber Kimball in Mendon, NY in the 1820s

Bottom) 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Retains History of Ownership in WNY

Possibly Made by Heber Kimball in Mendon, New York

Stands 12" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Museum of Church History

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

New Published Story in Antiques & Auction News: A Look At 19th-Century Red Earthenware And Stoneware Buildings, Houses And Log Cabins

I will post the print version next week, although my latest story is published in the current October 20, 2023 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, A Look At 19th-Century Red Earthenware And Stoneware Buildings, Houses And Log Cabins.

Link to the online version of the story: https://antiquesandauctionnews.net/articles/A-Look-At-19th–Century-Red-Earthenware-And-Stoneware-Buildings%2C-Houses-And-Log-Cabins/

New Published Story in Antiques & Auction News

New Published Story in the Oct. 20, 2023 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

A Look At 19th-Century Red Earthenware And Stoneware Buildings, Houses And Log Cabins

See Above for More Information

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

A Good Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher from Bristol County, Massachusetts

A good large late eighteenth or early nineteenth century red earthenware pitcher from the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts recently sold in a group lot as part of the collection of Lincoln and Jean Sander from Connecticut at New England Auctions in Brantford, Connecticut. Interestingly though, that pitcher reappeared on eBay, whereas it sold yesterday afternoon for a little over $2,200. 

This is certainly a desirable form, seeing that the bottom-half or so of the pitcher is actually the shape of some popular jars that were made in Bristol County, where the potter then turned the jar into a handled pitcher by adding some extra features. This is often a type of production that happened with blown utilitarian glass during this period, where the usual form of a bottle was altered in production to make a pitcher or another form. But it is fascinating to see this with utilitarian pottery in New England.

In fact, the pitcher may have even sold stronger if it were not for a repaired pouring spout and some glaze loss along the body, although a rare form, nonetheless, seeing there are only a small group of Bristol County pitchers known in this shape in different sizes today.

Furthermore, this form of pitcher is discussed in my fifth book in my pottery book series published by Historic Beverly in Massachusetts, titled, A Celebrated Industry: The Historic Wares of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County and Cape Cod: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-celebrated-industry-the-historic-wares-of-southeastern-massachusetts-bristol-county-and-cape-cod/.

Note: Here is the article that I originally posted about this pitcher when it sold last month at New England Auctions: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/09/a-good-early-massachusetts-red.html.

Early Red Earthenware Pitcher from Bristol County, Mass.

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher 

Attributed to the Industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts

Circa 1780-1830

Stands 10 1/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

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