Upcoming Talk at The Bidwell House Museum in the Berkshires in Massachusetts

FYI - for anyone interested, I will be speaking at the Bidwell House Museum in the Berkshires in Massachusetts in a few weeks. The talk will be available in-person and virtually. Members are free - I believe the cost to attend if not a member is $25 and I believe it is $15 virtually for nonmembers.

For more information: https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/events/

Upcoming Talk at the Bidwell House Museum in the Berkshires in Mass.

See Above for More Information

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

Some Examples of Circa 1816-1883 Red Earthenware Made at the Snowden Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

After I posted an article to this website last week, titled, Some Interesting Facts About the Late 19th and 20th Century Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey, it was said by a small group of people that they were surprised to learn that this business existed during the circa 1890-1945 or so period. This was because some twentieth century publications had stated that the Wingender Pottery ceased production with the death of William Wingender (1862-1915) in 1915. 

However, after William died in 1915 and Charles Wingender (1856-ca. 1823) passed away about 1923, the pottery factory continued to operate through family ownership. For instance, William's son, William O. Wingender (1901-1955), who was born in New Jersey in 1901 is first listed as a 19-year-old potter in the 1920 United States Federal Census. He is eventually listed as the proprietor of the Haddonfield company, which was still manufacturing stoneware and red earthenware, as late as 1945.

Interestingly, very little is known about this post-1915 production, although there are some signed ornamental red earthenware urns known today that were owned by the Wingender family until the latter part of the twentieth century. These objects are now privately owned. 

But while researching this subject online recently, I learned about a collection of red earthenware and stoneware all made at the various potteries in Haddonfield during the circa 1816-1950 period. These objects are owned today by the Historical Society of Haddonfield, and they include slip-decorated red earthenware reportedly made at the circa 1816-1883 Snowden family pottery, as well as stoneware from the Wingender Pottery, which the museum says operated until 1950. As I suspected, the red earthenware that the museum says was made at the Snowden Pottery appears to be Philadelphia or southeastern Pennsylvania influenced in form and decoration. 

According to the historical society, "The collection of redware and stoneware represents pottery production in Haddonfield from the 1816-1950 period."

The original Snowden Pottery family member was Richard Snowden (d. 1868), who trained under John Thompson in Haddonfield; Thompson purchased the property in which he established his pottery on April 30, 1805 from Charles French and John Brick, executors of the estate of Elizabeth Hinchman. After about a decade of existence of the Thompson Pottery, the company was sold a few times before it was acquired by Snowden. However, it is not immediately known where Thompson trained to be a potter, but he may have come from Philadelphia or southeastern Pennsylvania, which was only a few miles away, located on the other side of the Delaware River.

For more information about the potteries that preceded the establishment of the Wingenders business in 1890 - see an article that I posted to this website yesterday, titled, A First-Hand Account Published in 1910 About Production and Some Distribution from the Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/a-first-hand-account-published-in-1910.html.

Note: The Historical Society of Haddonfield also owns a good amount of paperwork related to the Wingenders, including William and Charles' wills, as well as some original photographic images.

Red Earthenware Reportedly Made at the Snowden Pottery in Haddonfield, N.J.

All of the Red Earthenware was Reportedly Made in Haddonfield, New Jersey

All Reportedly Made During the Circa 1816-1883 Period at the Snowden Pottery

The Stoneware was Made at the Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

The Wingender Pottery Operated Circa 1890-1950

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Haddonfield

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

A Good Example of a 20th Century Stoneware Vase Made at the Roadside Craftsmen in East Bloomfield, New York

While walking around the antique fields last week in Brimfield, Massachusetts, I learned about this large twentieth century stoneware vase that was found in one of the fields, which was made at the Roadside Craftsmen in East Bloomfield, New York, circa 1930s-1940s. In fact, this is the largest vase that I have seen from this business, whereas the base is stamped with the company's circular ink stamp. The vase is also decorated with a color of glaze that was popular with some Western New York red earthenware potters in the 1800s.

According to New York archaeologist and museum specialist George Hamell, "There was a southern potter, Guy Daugherty (1879-1958), an itinerant potter from Denton Texas, having started his pottery career in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and later worked in the summer months during the Great Depression and in the early years after World Word II in making pottery in East Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York. He and other craftspeople - such as weavers and tinsmiths worked at the Roadside Craftsmen along Routes 5 and 20 just west of the village selling to tourists. 

Daughterty's southern pottery heritage is reflected in some of the small tourist pieces he made in Western New York, although he did produce some larger pitchers and vases, among other forms. He also fired his wares in a groundhog kiln. Interestingly, he perhaps knew of the earlier red earthenware heritage in the Town of Bloomfield - he used a red-firing clay, and much of his production is covered in a glaze strikingly similar to that found on a lot of the wares made in West Bloomfield around the mid-1800s (as well as some of the wares made in Morganville, New York).

The wares were sometimes stamped "Roadside Craftsmen" and adhesive labels were also sometimes used. He also made larger wares marked "Bloomfield Art Pottery." He even occasionally incised objects with his initials "GD," and the last two digits of the year that the piece was made, such as "48" or "49." The shop closed in 1953." 

For more information - see a feature story I wrote that was published on page 45 in the June 30, 2023 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Guy Daugherty: A Roadside Craftsmen Potter: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2023/06/new-published-story-in-antiques-and.html.

Also, for those interested - I also want to note that Bruce Austin, a professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology in New York has written a more comprehensive history of this business in his book that was recently published last year by the State University of New York Press, titled, Tourists and Trade: Roadside Craftsmen and the Highway Transforming Craft.

Link to buy book: https://sunypress.edu/Books/T/Tourists-and-Trade

Note: This type of pottery was also produced by Guy Daugherty at the Hillside Pottery and Smithfield Art Pottery in North Carolina in the 1920s.

Roadside Craftsmen Pottery from East Bloomfield, New York

20th Century Roadside Craftsmen Stoneware Vase from East Bloomfield, N.Y.

Found Last Week in Brimfield, Mass.

Circa 1930s-1940s

Stands About 8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Gene Pratt

A View of the Base and the Circular Ink Stamp

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Gene Pratt

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

A First-Hand Account Published in 1910 About Production and Some Distribution from the Wingender Family Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

After posting a story to this website last week about the late nineteenth and twentieth century Wingender family pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey, where I also referenced some of the potteries that predated this circa 1890-1945 or so business, I learned about some of the history of this area's production that was published in 1910 in a booklet written by Sarah Crawford Hillman, titled, Historical Sketch of Potter Street in Haddonfield, New Jersey. 

Aside from some great factual information, the booklet also included an image of the "The Old Haddonfield Pottery, Circa 1805-1905," which largely preceded the Wingender Pottery. This image was also used on a postcard that was published in 1906, with a caption that read, "Snowden Pottery. Haddonfield, N.J. Established 1805." The postcard was likely published, as a result of this pottery site ceasing production in 1904 and the Wingenders moving the business to another location in Haddonfield.

Interestingly, there was some first-hand information published in the booklet about the Wingender family's production and distribution, a subject that was also partly discussed in a first-hand account published by Edwin Atlee Barber (1851-1916) of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in 1896. However, Hillman's information greatly expands upon what Barber had already stated.

The Old Haddonfield Pottery, Circa 1805-1905

Published in the 1910 Book Historical Sketch of Potters Street in Haddonfield, New Jersey

See Article for More Information

Snowden Pottery. Haddonfield, N.J. Established 1805.

This Postcard was Published in 1906

See Article for More Information

A View of the Back of the Postcard

See Article for More Information

According to Hillman's booklet, "Richard W. Snowden had learned the trade of a Potter from John Thompson (in Haddonfield). Mr. Snowden here engaged in this business for over half a century, from 1816 until his death on October 20th, 1868. The Richard Snowden dwelling was erected later, of material, it is said, that formerly constituted a Chair Factory. The bricks from the old Market House on Main Street, that was suddenly demolished, one night in 1840, were purchased by Mr. Snowden and economically bestowed about the pottery and the dwelling.

William H. Snowden, son of the late Richard Sr., who claims to be the oldest resident now living in Haddonfield, who was born in the place, enjoys to tell that he was but one year old, when his parents moved into their new home, next to the pottery. Mr. Snowden makes no pretensions to having been as precocious as many youngsters of that age at the present day, and, therefore, fails to be able to recall any of the incidents attending the event.

Richard Snowden, Sr., died in 1868, and the pottery business was continued by his son, Richard, until his death, in 1883, when the pottery was leased by Barton Rixon, who had long been in the employ of Mr. Snowden. At this time a lathe was used to form the red earthenware vessels, and a horse to grind the clay. Many recall the lathe which was a machine consisting of a framework, bearing an adjustable center, between which a cutting tool is thrust against the work, shaping or turning it down, usually to some circular form.

A few years later, Charles Wingender & Bro. leased the factory. Under the enterprising management of these two brothers, who learned their trade in Germany, the business, along the lines of improved quality and methods of workmanship so developed, that, in 1904, they abandoned the old pottery and erected one of their own.

The new building is situated on Lake Street, near the western limits of the borough, and is an up-to-date, and commodious structure. They are here operating a prosperous business, and are never without plenty of orders in advance. They manufacture Plain and Ornamental Stoneware, and Red Earthenware, and are importers of High Grade Ivory-glazed Mugs and Tankards.

Of the Salt-glazed Blue Stoneware, the articles made include butter-pots, jars, jugs, pitchers, water-coolers, vases, etc. 

Of the Red Earthenware, are made pipkins, bean-pots, stove-pipe collars, pie-plates, hanging baskets, flowerpots, garden vases, etc., and casseroles, the stew pans, seen at Wanamaker's (department stores in Philadelphia and two located in New York City in the early 1900s). Metallic cooking vessels being no longer used by hotels and restaurants, there is a great demand for casseroles. These are sauce-pan-shaped red earthenware vessels, varying in size, from three to eleven inches in diameter, with a simple glass glaze on the inside. So increasing is the demand for this specialty, that it is difficult to keep the trade supplied.

This firm now manufacture flowerpots by machinery, which enables them to turn out hundreds more in the same time, than could possibly be done by the hand moulding process.

Red Earthenware Pipkins and Flowerpots Outside the Wingender Pottery

Circa 1890-1904

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Haddonfield, New Jersey

The Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

Circa 1905-1945 or so

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Historical Society of Haddonfield, New Jersey

The Haddonfield Pottery sells to all the Department Stores in Philadelphia and New York, and also sends orders to Chicago.

The Wingenders formerly lived on the corner of Fowler Avenue, where they also conducted a store for the display and sale of their wares: this method of advertising added immensely to their trade.

Returning to Potter Street and the Pottery, behold what changes time has wrought! The building erected by Mr. Thompson in 1805, has proven itself an institution of wonderful possibilities. After fulfilling all the purposes for which it was designed, including an entire century of active operation, in 1905 there is beheld a complete metamorphosis of the structure; and, from the dingy, somber old pottery, has evolved a neat and artistic cottage. Instead of clays and kilns, now are seen hedges of evergreen, clustering vines, and masses of floral beauty, that impart a peculiar charm to this romantic home. 

This is How the House Appears Today

This was Once of the Site of the Circa 1805-1904 Haddonfield Pottery

The House was Built in 1805 and Restored in 1905

See Article for More Information

The first tenant of this fascinating retreat (around 1905) was Mr. George Sinnickson, who, for pastime, indulged in the culture of bees; and, in place of the familiar steady-going old pottery wagon, seen for ages, a great tooting automobile now sported, at random, in and out the old drive. One day, the auto sped off with a bound, and returned with a bride from Boston town. 

William H. S. Alexander, a great-grandson of the late Richard Snowden, Sr., next appeared on the scene, and, as seemed both wise and meet, this gallant young Illustrator brought a Haddonfield bride to Potter Street. The dwelling that stood beside the pottery, has also been remodeled, and with its many improvements, is now one of the most comfortable homes on this street."

Furthermore, a history of this property in Haddonfield reveals a wider range of pottery businesss; the original pottery was built in 1805, and owned by John Thompson, who purchased the property on April 30th of that year from Charles French and John Brick, executors of the estate of Elizabeth Hinchman. On January 4th, 1816, John Thompson sold the place to Thomas Redman, Jr. The third owners of the business were two brothers, Jacob and David Roberts, who purchased the property from Thomas Redman, Jr.

Upon the death of Jacob Roberts, Thomas Redman and John Gill, his executors, jointly with David Roberts, sold the estate to Richard W. Snowden before 1820, who had originally worked and learned the pottery trade from John Thompson. The Snowden family then produced red earthenware and possibly some stoneware until 1883 when the business was leased to Barton Rixon. Rixon's company did not last long, and the Wingenders then used the property from about 1890-1904.

With all of this said - is there any red earthenware (or stoneware) that can be associated with production at this site before 1890? I suspect that some of the red earthenware may appear to be Pennsylvania or Philadelphia influenced, seeing that Haddonfield is located only a few miles from Philadelphia across the Delaware River.

However, it should also be noted that like many businesses from this period, the Wingenders advertised and promoted themselves in 1910 (the year the booklet was published) as having been a continuation of previous potteries in Haddonfield, which they cited began in 1750. This eighteenth century production was likely red earthenware and there may have been a Philadelphia influence or similarity with some of the production. 

Circa 1895-1905 Stoneware Pitcher Decorated with a Spread Winged Eagle and a Shield

Possibly Made by Charles Wingender (1856-ca. 1823) in Haddonfield, N.J.

Otherwise Made by Another Mid-Atlantic Potter

Stands 9 5/8" Tall

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Winterthur Museum

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

A Stoneware Jug that Retains a History of Ownership with the Conover Family in New Jersey

The history of the Conover surname in New Jersey dates back to the seventeenth century, where Wolfert Garretse Van Couwenhoven immigrated from Holland to New Amsterdam (located in present-day Manhattan in New York City), New York in 1624, and his family joined him in 1630, moving to Flatbush, Long Island, New York in 1637. Peter Cowenover (1669-1704), a grandson, moved to Atlantic County, New Jersey in 1695. The surname changed with Micah Conover (d.1797), a direct descendant who married Deborah Stanton and served in the Revolutionary War. Descendants listed through 1920 lived chiefly in Atlantic County, New Jersey, although the "Conover" name is also found in other parts of New Jersey in the 1800s.

For instance, while walking around the antique shows this week in Brimfield, Massachusetts, I came across this stoneware jug that I believe dates from the eighteenth century. I was told it retains a lengthy history of ownership with the "Conover" family in Hightstown, Mercer County, New Jersey and elsewhere in the central part of the state. It was acquired years ago directly out of the estate of a Conover family member by the person who I purchased the jug from.

My initial reaction was that I thought this jug may have been made at either the circa 1746-1790s Kemple Pottery in Ringoes, New Jersey or at the circa 1770s-1780s pottery of Captain James Morgan (1734-1784) in Middlesex County, New Jersey. I was hoping to find this exact decoration in the archaeology from either of these potter's sites, but I have not been able to find an exact match based on the archaeology publications that I cite below.

However, after I posted this jug to my Instagram and Facebook accounts, it was suggested that the jug also shared some characteristics with some jugs produced by David Morgan in Manhattan in the late 1700s and early 1800s, although there is a lot yet to be learned about Morgan's production and career. According to the National Museum of American History at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., "David Morgan worked for New York City potter John Crolius Jr., beginning in 1795. In 1798 he temporarily took over Thomas H. Commeraw’s kiln on Cherry Street near Corlear’s Hook in Manhattan. The mark “CORLEARS HOOK” can be found on many of the well-formed jars, jugs and pitchers attributed to Morgan."

Some notable characteristics about this jug that really stood out to me is the color of the cobalt, which I do not believe is over-fired and rather took on an unusual shade of blue in the kiln. The cobalt is also raised unlike a lot of nineteenth century cobalt decorated stoneware that feels entirely smooth on the surface. This raised appearance is something that I have also seen more with slip-decorated red earthenware from the 1700s, as opposed to the 1800s. Another characteristic that I immediately noticed is the amount of fingerprints that cover the jug (see pictures below), where there is even two lines on the jug that appear to have been caused by two fingers (see pictures below). These marks really give this jug a lot of personality!

Note: For more information - see Arthur F. Goldberg, Peter Warwick and Leslie Warwick's article published in the 2008 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Eighteenth Century New Jersey Stoneware Potteries of Captain James Morgan and the Kemple Family: https://chipstone.org/article.php/411/Ceramics-in-America-2008/The-Eighteenth-Century-New-Jersey-Stoneware-Potteries-of-Captain-James-Morgan-and-the-Kemple-Family.

Also see Johanna R. Bernstein, Arthur F. Goldberg and Jennifer Mass' article published in the 2016 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, A Comparative Scientific Study of James Morgan and the Kemple Family Stoneware: https://chipstone.org/article.php/748/Ceramics-in-America-2016/A-ComparativeScientific-Study-of-James-Morgan-and-the-Kemple-Family-Stoneware.

Also see Brenda Lockhart Springsted's article in Volume 6 from 1977 in Northeast Historical Archaeology, titled, Ringoes: An Eighteenth Century Pottery Site: https://orb.binghamton.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1321&context=neha.

There is also a very good archaeological example of stoneware made at the Captain John Morgan Pottery owned by the Staten Island Historical Society in New York City, which was published in a feature story I wrote for the January 31, 2020 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Early Red Earthenware & Stoneware Found on Staten Island: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2020/01/early-red-earthenware-and-stoneware.html.

And here is a link to a story that I posted to this website in February of this year that explains some more information about the Morgan family's relationship with other potters in New Jersey in the 1800s: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/02/an-important-signed-19th-century.html.

Jug that Retains a History of Ownership with the Conover Family in N.J.

My Niece Alexis Holding the Cobalt Decorated Stoneware Jug

Retains a History of Ownership with the Conover Family in New Jersey

Most Likely Made in New Jersey, Otherwise Possibly Made in New York City

Probably Dates from the 1700s

Stands 15" Tall

See Article for More Information

The Cobalt is Not Over-Fired and it is Raised Off the Surface of the Jug

See Article for More Information

Another View of the Cobalt

See Article for More Information

These Two Lines were Likely Caused by Fingers

See Article for More Information

A View of the Handle

See Article for More Information

This Part of the Jug is Covered with Fingerprints

See Article for More Information

A View of the Base

See Article for More Information

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

Some Interesting Facts About the Late 19th and 20th Century Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

I was recently conducting some archival research about the Wingender family pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey, which is a business that deserves more attention today, and I came across some information that I found surprising. It was about 1890 that William (1862-1915) and Charles Wingender (1856-ca. 1823), who migrated to America from Germany had rebuilt a stoneware pottery in Haddenfield that was previously occupied by Richard Snowden, who produced stoneware, as early as 1869, and before that John Thompson had utilized the site, in order to manufacture red earthenware since 1805. Although, like many businesses from this period, the Wingenders advertised and promoted themselves in 1910 as having been a continuation of previous Haddonfield potteries, which they cited began in 1750.

Both brothers were German trained stoneware potters; William migrated to the United States in 1880, while Charles arrived in 1881. They initially sought out employment and worked at Richard C. Remmey's (1835-1904) pottery in Philadelphia in the 1880s, before establishing their own business in Haddonfield, located a few miles from Philadelphia across the Delaware River. Some accounts suggest that they established their company because they wanted creative freedom in what they produced.

However, the Haddonfield business was really a throwback to potters migrating to America in the seventeenth and eighteenth century, where they brought with them the potter's craft that they learned in their home countries. It was no different with the Wingenders, who may have also been influenced by Remmey, or vice versa, and they may have been influential to Remmey.

The largest museum collection of Wingender stoneware is owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, such as a mug that was designed on the exterior by Edwin Atlee Barber (1851-1916). The museum and Barber had a very interesting relationship with this business in the late 1800s, where the museum was able to acquire some great stoneware immediately after it was made, along with some special production requests. There are also a number of objects and artifacts known today in a private collection that descended through Wingender family ownership until the latter part of the 1900s.

But one fact that caught me by surprise was found in the 1910 United States Federal Census, where Charles' wife, Frances Wingender (b. 1864) was listed as a pottery decorator at the business. Other records revealed that some other unrelated migrant German potters had come to America and were working for the Wingenders. This business was essentially entirely made up of migrant German potters and their families. 

Another fact that I already knew, but I was surprised to see regularly advertised was that the Wingenders not only produced stoneware in the German style, but they also consistently advertised that they manufactured household and decorative red earthenware. Although, they did state that the "bulk of their production was stoneware."

Furthermore, it may not be well-known today, but after William died in 1915 and Charles passed away about 1923, the stoneware factory continued to operate through family ownership. For instance, William's son, William O. Wingender (1901-1955), who was born in New Jersey in 1901 is first listed as a 19-year-old potter in the 1920 United States Federal Census. He is eventually listed as the proprietor of the Haddonfield company, which was still manufacturing stoneware and red earthenware, as late as 1945.

Nevertheless, for more information about this business - see a first-hand account written by Edwin Atlee Barber after he visited the pottery and spoke with the Wingenders - it was published on pages 125-126 in the February 1896 issue of The Clay-Worker, where Barber wrote, "The Wingenders were in the process of manufacturing some of the finest stoneware ever produced in America:" https://books.google.com/books?id=lj9PAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA125&lpg=PA125&dq=Barber,+Edwin+Atlee.+“Some+Recent+German-American+Stoneware.”+The+Clay-Worker,+February+1896.&source=bl&ots=kutJstsx90&sig=ACfU3U304Xba7LgT5YV5gAiEu_rTV5TabQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjPvr-_q4mGAxUjk4kEHf7oALUQ6AF6BAgJEAM#v=onepage&q=Barber%2C%20Edwin%20Atlee.%20“Some%20Recent%20German-American%20Stoneware.”%20The%20Clay-Worker%2C%20February%201896.&f=false. Part of this article was later published in 1906 in a book Barber wrote, titled, Salt Glazed Stoneware: https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/Salt-Glazed-Stoneware-Germany-Flanders-England/31625356072/bd.

Note: There are two late-nineteenth century stoneware Toby jugs made at the Wingender Pottery illustrated in Barber's article from 1896, one of which is very similar to an example that sold at Crocker Farm in Maryland in the fall of 2022 for $8,400, including the buyer's premium: https://www.crockerfarm.com/stoneware-auction/2022-11-18/lot-124/Extremely-Rare-and-Fine-Molded-Stoneware-Toby-Pitcher-attrib-Wingender-Pottery-Haddonfield-New-Jersey/.

The Wingender Pottery of Haddonfield, New Jersey

Circa 1890-1910 Stoneware Jardiniere and Pedestal

Made by Charles Wingender (1856-ca. 1823) in Haddonfield, New Jersey

Stands 31" Tall

Charles Arrived in America in 1881

He Initially Worked for Richard C. Remmey in Philadelphia

The Wingender Pottery Operated Circa 1890-1945 or so

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Charles Wingender's Wife, Frances Wingender (b. 1864) is Listed as a Pottery Decorator

This is From the 1910 United States Federal Census

See Article for More Information

William O. Wingender (1901-1955)

Son of William Wingender (1862-1915)

This is From the 1920 United States Federal Census

Listed as a Potter at a Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

See Article for More Information

William O. Wingender (1901-1955)

Son of William Wingender (1862-1915)

This is From the 1930 United States Federal Census

Listed as a Potter at a Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

See Article for More Information

William O. Wingender (1901-1955)

Son of William Wingender (1862-1915)

This is From the 1940 United States Federal Census

Listed as a Proprietor of a Pottery Business in Haddonfield, New Jersey

See Article for More Information

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

Two Related 19th Century Stoneware Pitchers and a Jug Owned by the Munson Williams Art Institute in Utica, New York

A few summers ago, I found this nineteenth century stoneware pitcher with its original lid that is heavily decorated with sprig molds inside of a vintage type shop in Newburyport, Massachusetts, although it came from a dealer's space who is based in Vermont. I have no idea where it was previously found, but I do not believe it was discovered anywhere locally in coastal Massachusetts. 

When I originally found this pitcher, I had wondered if it was made at the White's Pottery in Utica, New York in the late 1800s; however, I can not find anything that resembles it, which includes a wide selection of locally made objects that are owned today by the Munson Williams Art Institute in Utica. The form of the pitcher and the type of sprig molds do not match anything in the museum's collection. 

But I also considered the Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey, as a source of origin, which is located a few miles across the Delaware River from Philadelphia; about 1890, William (1862-1915) and Charles Wingender (1856-ca. 1823), who migrated from Germany had rebuilt a stoneware pottery in Haddenfield that was previously occupied by Richard Snowden, who produced stoneware, as early as 1869, and before that John Thomas had utilized the site, in order to manufacture red earthenware since 1805. 

The largest museum collection of Wingender stoneware is likely that owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, such as a mug that was designed on the exterior by Edwin Atlee Barber (1851-1916). But it seems to be the same result, where none of this material appears to be related to this pitcher, including some objects and potter's tools that are currently privately owned in Pennsylvania that descended through Wingender family ownership. 

Another potter who is also known to have used sprig molds with some stoneware production was Justus Morton (b. 1801) in New York and Ontario, Canada, a subject that Sylvia Lovegren-Petras wrote a research story about for the 2021 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Invisible American Potter: Potter, Justin Morton of Brantford, Ontario: https://chipstone.org/article.php/871/Ceramics-in-America-2021/The-Invisible-American-Potter:-Potter:-Justus-Morton-of-Brantford,-Ontario.

However, the only comparable object that I have been able to find so far is a related pitcher that is privately owned, although it was found some years ago in a shop in Newark, Wayne County, New York. Newark is located between Syracuse and Rochester, New York. Among the decorations found on both of these pitchers is Boreas: The North Wind on the spout. Boreas was the Greek god of winter and ice, as well as the god of the north wind. There are also a small group of nineteenth century red earthenware pitchers known from the American Northeast that also appear to be adorned with Boreas on the spout. Additionally, there is no evidence that I can see, but it was said in the twentieth century that these red earthenware pitchers were made in New Jersey, including the red earthenware pitcher that I show in this post, which retains an old note adhered to the base that reads "New Jersey Redware."

Large 19th Century American Stoneware Pitcher Retaining It's Original Lid

Heavily Decorated with Sprig Molds

Probably Made in New York or New Jersey

Found a Few Years Ago in Newburyport, Mass

Stands 9 1/2" Tall and Measures 12" Across

See Article for More Information

Large 19th Century American Stoneware Pitcher Retaining It's Original Lid

Heavily Decorated with Sprig Molds

Probably Made in New York or New Jersey

Found Some Time Ago in Newark, New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Tom Gehrig

(Right) Nineteenth Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Made Somewhere in the American Northeast

Some 20th Century Info Suggests it was Made in New Jersey

Spout Appears to be Adorned with Boreas: The God of the North Wind

Stands 7 3/4" Tall

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Another View of the Pitcher

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A View of the Base

The Old Label Suggests the Pitcher was Made in New Jersey

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Interestingly, though, a notable object in the collection of the Munson Williams Art Institute is this heavily incised and cobalt decorated double-handled stoneware jug. The jug is inscribed "Made by George Jones at / N & A Seymours Factory in Rome / July 29th 1830."

Perhaps more research is available about this jug, although I can find very little published information about it or even Weeks cited as a potter in Oneida County, New York. But the inscription certainly piqued my interest, seeing that there had to have been a specific reason for the manufacture of this jug. This jug was also published on page 279 in William C. Ketchum Jr.'s book, Potters and Potteries of New York State, 1650-1900: Second Edition, where it was written, "No further trace of the craftsman George Jones has been found (outside of this jug)."

Nonetheless, there is a 59-year-old potter with this name listed in the 1870 United States Federal Census as working in Westmoreland, Oneida County, New York; this Jones was born in New York in 1811 and he was married to a woman named Sarah. He may have been employed at Dwight W. Graves' (1822-1889) stoneware factory in Westmoreland, which operated circa 1855-1875. Westmoreland is located about ten miles south of Rome and Graves was previously a red earthenware potter in Clinton, New York.

Furthermore, this same George Jones is listed in the 1900 Census, but he is now working as a potter in Utica, Oneida County, where the census also indicates that he married his wife Sarah (b. 1824 in New York) in 1843. Her father was born in Connecticut, while her mother was born in New York. The couple had ten children. The census indicates that Jones' parents migrated from Wales in Great Britain to America sometime before 1811. 

Jones is also listed as a potter in the 1900-1903 Utica City Directories, where he may have been employed at the White's Pottery. During the 1890s and early 1900s, the company employed upwards of a few dozen potters; the company ceased production in 1910 after 71 years of uninterrupted stoneware manufacture.

Furthermore, Norman (1782-1859) and Ardon Seymour (1790-1870) were the sons of Norman Seymour (1752-1796), who was a second cousin to Nathaniel Seymour (1763-1849), the West Hartford, Connecticut potter. Between 1824 and 1848, Norman and Arden were making stoneware in Rome (they previously produced red earthenware before 1824), about twenty miles northwest of Utica, whereas Jones may have been an apprentice at their business. If this is the same George Jones, then he would have been about 19-years-old the year that this jug was made.

Note: For more information about the Seymour family's production in Hartford - see my sixth book, titled, A City on the River: The Early Red Earthenware of the Hartford, Connecticut Area: https://historicbeverly.net/product/a-city-on-the-river-the-early-red-earthenware-of-the-hartford-connecticut-area/.

19th Century Incised and Cobalt Decorated Double-Handled Stoneware Jug

Inscribed "Made by George Jones at / N & A Seymours Factory in Rome / July 29th 1830"

Stands 17 1/8" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Munson Williams Art Institute

George Jones Listed as a "Potter" in Westmoreland, New York in the 1870 Federal Census

This Jones is 59-Years-Old and was Born in 1811

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George Jones Listed as a "Potter" in Utica, New York in the 1900 Federal Census

This Jones is 89-Years-Old and was Born in 1811

His Parents Migrated from Wales in Great Britain to America Before He was Born

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