A 19th Century Make-Do Alkaline Glazed Stoneware Pitcher from Edgefield, South Carolina

This is definitely a true survivor that must have one powerful story to tell! This circa 1830 alkaline glazed stoneware pitcher is marked with a prominent inscribed “X” or cross. In fact, it appears to be the same hand that applied a similar symbol on a jug that I own: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/04/a-19th-century-edgefield-south-carolina.html.

Nonetheless, this pitcher was possibly made by the enslaved African American potter Dave Drake (ca. 1800-1873) in Edgefield, South Carolina about 1830. Although, what is really fascinating about this object is that the handle broke at one point in the 1800s, and rather than discard of it, a highly unusual make-do handle was created using wire and some sort of metal part for the handle, possibly a type of machinery that came from the South Carolina and Georgia area (or perhaps somewhere else in the South).

I personally think that the flaws and ingenuity of this object and the fact that it was not thrown away during its early years of ownership make it unique and really a museum piece! You can even see the finger impressions on three parts of the base where the potter was holding the pitcher upside down while applying the glaze, and as a result, those three small areas were left unglazed.  

For more information - see a two-page article posted below that Massachusetts potter Mark Shapiro wrote about this pitcher on pages 26-27 in the spring 2023 issue of the American Ceramics Circle Newsletter, titled, A Make-Do Edgefield Pitcher. 

Note: For reference, the "X" or cross on this pitcher is not a singular characteristic used in determining a possible place of origin, seeing that this type of symbol was also used by a few potters in Bacon Level in Alabama in the 1830s and 1840s.

19th C. Make-Do Stoneware Pitcher from Edgefield, S.C.

19th Century Alkaline Glazed Stoneware Pitcher with a Make-Do Metal Handle

Possibly Made by Dave Drake in Edgefield, South Carolina

Otherwise Probably Made by Another Edgefield Potter

Inscribed with an "X" or a Cross

Circa 1830

Stands About 10" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Shapiro

A Closer View of the Inscribed "X" or Cross

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Shapiro

Another View of the Pitcher

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Shapiro

A View of the Metal Make-Do Handle

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Shapiro

Another View of the Metal Make-Do Handle

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Shapiro

A View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Mark Shapiro

Article Published About this Pitcher Written by Mark Shapiro

Published in the Spring 2023 Issue of the ACC Newsletter

Published on Pages 26-27

Article Published About this Pitcher Written by Mark Shapiro

Published in the Spring 2023 Issue of the ACC Newsletter

Published on Pages 26-27

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

A Quick Recap of Historic Eastfield Village's 2024 Ceramic Conference Known as "Dish Camp"

Historic Eastfield Village's biannual ceramic conference was held this weekend in East Nassau, New York, known as "Dish Camp," which brought together a group of professionals from a wide range of fields. This is an event that I have attended a number of times over the past decade or so, and it is something that I really encourage people to try and take part in, which draws from a strong academic, archaeology and from the potter's perspective on how to properly analyze historic pottery. 

One of the impromptu discussions that took place on the second day was how loosely the word "attributed" can be used today, whereas this ceramic conference provides a better understanding about context, historical ownership, historical records (i.e. probates, censuses, inventories, etc.) and archaeology, and why so much information needs to be taken into account before considering a conclusion on where something was made, such as a specific potter's business, a town or city, a county, a state or a region. Past information, whether it is word of mouth or even sometimes books published up to 100 or more years ago is not always necessarily correct; you want to be able to support with evidence why something is said to have been made in a certain area.

Nevertheless, the next conference will take place in June of 2026, and I highly encourage anyone with an interest to try and attend; here is a link to this year's program, although Long Island scholar and collector Anthony Butera, Jr. and New York City ceramics specialist Diana Stradling also gave talks: https://www.historiceastfield.org/workshops/p/dish-camp.

Historic Eastfield Village's 2024 Ceramic Conference

2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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2024 "Dish Camp" at Historic EastField Village in New York

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

A Rare 19th Century Stoneware Sugar Bowl from Rockingham County, Virginia Retaining a Strong History of Family Ownership that Sold Today at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

A very good example of nineteenth century stoneware from Rockingham County, Virginia sold today at Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates in Mount Crawford, Virginia. The extremely rare lidded sugar bowl was stamped on the front and back, "A.COFFMAN / ROCKIGHAM VA."

According to the auction house, "This sugar bowl is one of only three signed examples known by Coffman, which was recently discovered in a local estate. An old note accompany's the bowl, reading, "This sugar bowl made by Andrew Coffman, clay pottery, Rockingham, Va. (Elkton) for my Great Grandad Maiden. Momma gave to me. Hattie"

The note was written by Hattie Monger Kiblinger (1910-1977) of Ladd, Augusta County, Virginia. She received the bowl from her mother, Mary Ella Baugher Monger (1869-1956) of Elkton, Virginia, who received the bowl from her mother Virinda Jane Maiden Baugher (1838-1908) of Swift Run/Elkton, Virginia, who was the daughter of William David Maiden (1788-1875) of Elkton.

Another of William's daughters, Sarah Elizabeth Maiden (1823-1876) married Ezekial Lam (1820-1881) in 1847. Ezekiel's brother was potter Isaac D. Lam (1832-1887), who was an apprentice to Andrew Coffman and living with Andrew's son William Coffman in the 1850 Federal Census. It is possible that Isaac or Ezekial had a hand in making this sugar bowl, which would possibly account for its non-traditional Coffman form and decoration. Research is ongoing."  

Interestingly, important examples of Rockingham County stoneware continue to emerge; it was only a few months ago that a nineteenth century cobalt decorated stoneware pitcher from Rockingham County appeared at Laughlin Auctions in Virginia. That pitcher was inscribed with script, reading, "Zigler & Coffman / Thompsonville." The script was likely a reference to present-day Timberville, Virginia. Furthermore, the auction house described this object as having been "previously undiscovered:"  http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/01/ends-117-at-630pm-19th-century-cobalt.html.

Nevertheless, this sugar bowl sold today for $34,800 including the buyer's premium.

19th C. Stoneware Sugar Bowl from Rockingham County, Virginia

19th Century Stoneware Sugar Bowl with Its Original Lid

Made at the Pottery of Andrew Coffman in Rockingham County, Virginia

Stands 4 7/8" Tall

Retains a Lengthy History of Family Ownership

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

Additional Views of the Sugar Bowl

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

A Note that Came with the Sugar Bowl

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Photo Courtesy: Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates

Some of the other notable pieces of pottery that sold in today's sale --

1) Virginia or Tennessee Red Earthenware Jug - Sold for $1,700 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/179539481_valley-of-virginia-eastern-tennessee-decorated-earthenware-redware-miniature-jug

2) New Market Red Earthenware Pitcher - Sold for $4,750 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/179539475_important-new-market-shenandoah-valley-of-virginia-attributed-decorated-earthenware-redware

3) North Carolina Red Earthenware Dish - Sold for $2,300 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/179539497_salem-north-carolina-moravian-polychrome-decorated-earthenware-redware-dish-plate

4) American Red Earthenware Trivet - Sold for $650 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/179539507_mid-atlantic-polychrome-decorated-earthenware-redware-trivet

5) Coffman Family Stoneware Preserve Jar from Rockingham County, Virginia - Sold for $4,250 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/179539470_coffman-family-rockingham-co-shenandoah-valley-of-virginia-decorated-stoneware-cranberry-squat

For the rest of the pottery - see the auction catalog: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/332785_premier-americana-day-four/.

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

A Good Example of a 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Jar Probably from the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield, New York

In my most recent feature story published on pages 42-43 in the June 7, 2024 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Nathaniel Rochester's Red Earthenware Pottery, I discussed the history of this business in West Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html. 

The story covered the life and career of Colonel Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831), a veteran of the American Revolution, who owned a pottery business in West Bloomfield, New York, circa 1818-1831. Although, part of the story also covered Rochester's 1831 will that I recently came across while going through some archives owned in New York. But he was also instrumental in the early development in part of the Western New York region, most notably founding the settlement that would become Rochester, New York, as well as playing a role in the development and implementation of the Erie Canal.

Rochester established his pottery business about 1818 in a field in West Bloomfield, while all of this was happening at the same time; i.e. planning the Erie Canal, founding of city Rochester, among other business dealings. He even appears to have been involved with some baptisms in Rochester in the 1820s.

But among the reasons Rochester is so well known today is partially credited to his pottery business, where he employed an incredibly skilled unnamed potter or potters. These wares were often very colorfully glazed with a variety of slip colors. I have always suspected in theory that there is a Hagerstown, Maryland connection with this pottery business, seeing that Rochester was also tied to that community, serving one term in the Maryland General Assembly and two years as the postmaster of Hagerstown.

Interestingly, among the objects owned by the Rochester Museum & Science Center that are unrelated to Rochester's pottery business, but still significant is a 1780s embroidered silk waistcoast that belonged to Nathaniel Rochester, along with an original 1820 letter from Nathaniel Rochester to Henry Clay (1777-1852) describing the ruin that would result in the Genesee region if the bill to prohibit exportation of produce to British possessions on the American continent is passed.

Rochester was born in Westmoreland County, Virginia; he was the son of John and Hester Thrift Rochester. His siblings were William, John, Ann, Phillis and Esther (or Hester). The Virginia farm had been the American home of the family since 1689, when Nathaniel's forebear, Nicholas Rochester, migrated from his English home in the county of Kent. It was located near the birthplaces of both George Washington and James Monroe, and later developments in Nathaniel's career indicate a possibility that he may have been acquainted with Monroe during his boyhood.

Nonetheless, while going through some old photo files yesterday on my computer, I came across pictures of this jar that were sent to me by Ohio antiques dealer and show promoter Steve Sherhag. I have no idea when the photos were sent to me, although this is a very nice jar probably made at the Rochester Pottery in West Bloomfield in the 1820s.

Note: Here is a link to a preview of the feature story that I posted on this website last month: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/a-preview-of-my-next-feature-story-that.html

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware from Western New York

19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Jar

Probably Made in West Bloomfield, New York

Probably Made at the Nathaniel Rochester Pottery

Circa 1820s

Stands About 7" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Steve Sherhag

Another View of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Steve Sherhag

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

A Good 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely from the Mid-Atlantic Region Found at a Yard Sale in Winchester, Virginia

According to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, Virginia, "A member of the Bell family—one of the most well-known groups of early Valley potters—Samuel Bell (1811-1891) was thirteen years old when he moved to Winchester with his family. His father, potter Peter Bell Jr. (1775-1847), began producing pottery in Hagerstown, Maryland, and then moved to Winchester in 1824 with his sons John (1800-1880), Samuel, and Solomon Bell (1817-1882.) John Bell was already working as a potter then, and his brothers soon followed suit. Though few examples have survived, the Bell whippet was a popular decorative form made by several members of the Bell family during the nineteenth century, and was a type produced by Samuel Bell while he was working at his father’s Winchester shop. In 1843 Samuel Bell moved to Strasburg, Virginia, and established a prolific shop that would operate for the next 70 years."

Nevertheless, a few weeks ago, I posted a story to this website about a rare marked red earthenware flowerpot that was made by Solomon Bell in Strasburg, which is owned privately today in New York City: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/06/a-good-19th-century-red-earthenware.html.

Furthermore, this wonderfully glazed large nineteenth century red earthenware jar with two handles was found about ten years ago at a yard sale in Winchester, whereas I suspect it could be from Virginia. Could this be a product of the Bell family? I do not recognize the form, although this glaze is a certainly a type produced by at least John Bell in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania.

Note: For more information about the John Bell Pottery in Waynesboro - see a cover story that I wrote for the December 7, 2018 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Bell Pottery Collection At The Renfrew Museum in Waynesboro, Pa: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2018/12/feature-story-published-in-antiques-and.html.

19th C. Red Earthenware Jar Likely from the Mid-Atlantic Region

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Likely Mid-Atlantic in Origin

Found About 10 Years Ago at a Yard Sale in Winchester, Virginia

Stans 12" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

Additional Views of the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

The Jar is Also Decorated with Some Inscribed Lines

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Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

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

A Good 19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar that Sold Today at Miller & Miller in New Hamburg, Ontario

A little over one month ago, I posted a story to this website about a nineteenth century green glazed red earthenware jar that was recently found in a circa 1860s house in Dundas, a town and urban district near the port city of Hamilton, Ontario, which is located on the western tip of Lake Ontario. The jar's history really seemed to speak to me because of the industrial history that this area retained from around the turn of the nineteenth century through part of the twentieth century: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/05/an-early-green-glazed-red-earthenware.html.

Nevertheless, that jar was consigned to Miller & Miller in New Hamburg, Ontario, where it sold today as part of a larger sale of advertising, pottery and historical objects: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/178724094_early-american-semi-ovoid-redware-jar. 

The auction house described the jar as "American, likely New York State, circa 1820s-1840s. An exciting recent discovery of this early American double-handled red earthenware jar in an 1860s homestead in southern Ontario. Noted Massachusetts-based researcher and author Justin Thomas advises that several aspects of this jar share characteristics from archaeological discoveries from multiple potters' sites in western New York state, more specifically the West Bloomfield area. A lovely green glaze with features including a tooled rim, beefy high-arched lug handles and five incised lines around the shoulder."

Interestingly, among the potters which very little is known about today who operated in West Bloomfield was Wheeler Griffin (1784-1851); he ran a red earthenware business from about 1812-1825. Alvin Wilcox (1801-1862) trained under Griffin in the 1820s, eventually acquiring the business in 1825, which he then operated until around the time he died in the early 1860s. 

The reason that I suggest Griffin's name is because I studied the archaeology that was collected in the 1970s at the site of the Wheeler Griffin and Alvin Wilcox Pottery business in June of 2023, which is kept today in a storage building, as part of the Rochester Museum & Science Center in Rochester, New York. In theory, Wilcox must have learned some forms and glazes from Griffin, whereas this seems to be somewhat of an unusual glaze color for Western New York. However, the color of the green glaze on this jar was recovered on various forms at the site the Griffin and Wilcox Pottery. The form does not seem refined enough for Wilcox's production, although it is somewhat similar to some jars made at the nearby Nathaniel Rochester (1752-1831) Pottery in West Bloomfield, which makes me wonder if this is a product of Griffin's production, seeing that he was in business at the same time as Rochester.

Furthermore, the jar sold reasonably for $225 plus the buyer's premium. This jar will also be published in my forthcoming two-volume Western New York book, titled, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York.

Note: For the rest of the pottery in today's sale - see the auction catalog: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/331363_advertising-pottery-and-historic-objects/.

19th Century Green Glazed Red Earthenware Jar Found in Ontario

19th Century Red Earthenware Jar Probably Made in Western New York

Recently Found in an 1860s Homestead in Southern Ontario

Probably Circa 1820s-1840s

Stands 13 1/2" Tall

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Photo Courtesy: Miller & Miller

A View of One of the Handles

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Photo Courtesy: Miller & Miller

A View of the Intentionally Unglazed Rim

This Jar Would Have Originally Had a Lid

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Photo Courtesy: Miller & Miller

A View of the Base

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Photo Courtesy: Miller & Miller

Archaeology from the Site of the Circa 1812-1860s Wheeler Griffin and Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, N.Y.

Archaeology from the Wheeler Griffin and Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, N.Y.

The Color is Very Similar to the Glaze on the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Rochester Museum and Science Center

Archaeology from the Wheeler Griffin and Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, N.Y.

The Color is Similar to the Glaze on the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Rochester Museum and Science Center

Archaeology from the Wheeler Griffin and Alvin Wilcox Pottery in West Bloomfield, N.Y.

The Color is Similar to the Glaze on the Jar

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Photo Courtesy: Rochester Museum and Science Center

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

A Very Good 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher with a Striped Glaze from New England

I had never visited the Walker Homestead Antiques and Primitive Goods Show in Brookfield, Massachusetts before, although I decided to finally check it out today. This is where I came across this outstanding likely unintentionally striped glazed red earthenware pitcher that was brought to the show by antiques dealer Ian McKelvey. I asked him if it retained any type of history, but none that he could recall other than he just pulled it out of storage in New England earlier this week.

I suspect the pitcher was made in Vermont, circa 1800-1840, but the stripes also remind me of some red earthenware pitchers that were manufactured by the Bradford family in Kingston, Massachusetts in the 1800s. A variety of these types of pitchers are also illustrated in my fifth book, 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/.

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher with a Striped Glaze

19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher with a Striped Glaze

Probably Made in Vermont

Circa 1800-1840

Stands 9" Tall

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A View of the Handle

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A View of the Base

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