New Published Feature Story in Antiques & Auction News: Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

My latest two-page feature story is published on the cover and page 8 in the August 23, 2024 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine.

Here is a PDF of the cover page: https://www.scribd.com/document/759701335/ant-001-082324-Mercer-pt-1.

Here is a PDF of page 8: https://www.scribd.com/document/759701721/ant-006-082324-Mercer-pt2.

Here is also a link to the online version of the story: https://antiquesandauctionnews.net/articles/Tiles-Made-At-The-Moravian-Tile-Works-In-Doylestown%2C-Pa~%2C-That-Adorn-Fireplace-Surrounds-In-York%2C-Maine/. 

For more information about Mercer tiles found in New England - see two stories that I posted to this website over the last few weeks --

1) Tiles Made at the Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania That Adorn a Fireplace Surround in Dedham, Massachusetts: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/08/tiles-made-at-moravian-tile-works-in.html

2) Tiles Made at Henry Chapman Mercer's Tile Works in Pennsylvania that were Used at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (and How Those Tiles Influenced Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island): http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/08/tiles-made-at-henry-chapman-mercers.html

New Published Feature Story in Antiques & Auction News

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is the Cover Page

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is the Cover Page

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is the Cover Page

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is the Cover Page

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is Page 8

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is Page 8

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

This is Page 8

See Above for More Information

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

A Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Dish Recently Found in Ohio and the Use of a Slip Decorated Triangle on Some Red Earthenware Made in Bristol County, Massachusetts

I acquired this eighteenth or early nineteenth century slip decorated red earthenware dish last night on eBay, a type of production often associated with the industry in Bristol County, Massachusetts. Although, what really stood out to me about this object was the slip decorated triangle found in the center, which is a symbol found on other slip decorated plates and pans made in Bristol County. This object is further embellished with three sets of crossing slip decorated lines. I was also told that the dish came out of a private collection in Ohio, although it was previously found at a farm sale in Kutztown, Pennsylvania.

But this type of triangle decoration is also found on a slip decorated red earthenware jar that sold in lot number 36 at Crocker Farm's autumn 2023 sale in Sparks, Maryland. The triangle design was placed on that jar four different times, which was likely made at the Purinton Pottery for a member of the Purinton family in Somerset, Bristol County, Massachusetts, probably in the early nineteenth century. The jar is also inscribed in slip twice with the initials "LP." The exact history behind the jar is not known, whether it was a presentation object, a marriage jar or having possessed some other significant meaning; however, whoever applied the slip on the jar appears to be the exact same hand that applied the slip decoration on two important Bristol County marriage jars that are displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan from the Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection. 

Interestingly, it is unclear to me if this triangle decoration means anything more that just merely being a decorative motif, although the majority of the potters who were working in Bristol County during this period were Quakers. The triangle also symbolizes many different things, including the concept of feet on the earth heart in heaven, ancient wisdom, mysticness, an energetic gateway, the holy trinity spirit, along with different types of energies, etc.

For more information - see my fifth published 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/.

Slip Decorated Triangle Used on Some Pottery Made in Bristol County, Mass.

18th or Early 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Probably Made in Bristol County, Mass.

Decorated in the Center with a Triangle Type Design in Slip

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

A View of the Back

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: eBay

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

Likely Made at the Puritan Pottery in Somerset, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Decorated with Four Triangle Type Designs in Slip

Circa 1790-1815

Stands 12 1/4" Tall

Directly Related to Two Bristol County Marriage Jars at the MET in NYC

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

The Circles Show the Triangles

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Crocker Farm

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

Two Possible Related 19th Century Red Earthenware Rooster Whistles Found in Western New York with Slip Decoration

According to an article written by author Ada Walker Camehl for the September 1922 issue of The Magazine Antiques, titled, Mehwaldt, a Pioneer American Potter, "Carl Mehwaldt produced quantities of chimney crocks, red earthenware crocks of all sizes, butter-crocks with handles to be hung in wells to keep butter cool; cooking utensils, candlesticks, all manners of tableware - platters, plates, sauce-dishes, cups and saucers, mugs, pitchers, sugar bowls, vegetable dishes, teapots and teakettles. He also produced finer products like inkstands and tile stoves.

At Christmas-time, he usually turned out many little dinner-sets for children, and toys made in the form of pigs, owls, roosters, and birds with whistles in their tails. When these figures were filled with water the whistles gave out a variety of tones."

Interestingly, a few years ago, my nephew Jason and myself found a nineteenth century black glazed red earthenware rooster whistle while in Western New York that was adorned with some slip decoration. I always felt that there was a chance that this was an example of the rooster whistles made by Carl Mehwaldt (1808-1887) in the village of Bergholz in Niagara County, New York. However, I learned about a second rooster whistle with a green glaze yesterday from Ron Korman of Muleskinner Antiques in Cheektowaga, New York, which is produced in a similar style and decorated with the same type of slip decoration. These both may represent the types of rooster whistles that Camehl documented in the article she wrote for The Magazine Antiques in 1922.

For more information about Mehwaldt, see a feature story I wrote for the October 15, 2021 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Carl Mehwaldt: A Pioneer German-American Potter And 19th-Century Immigrant - Redware From Western New York State: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2021/10/print-version-of-new-published-research.html.

Also, see another feature story I wrote for the December 16, 2022 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Unique Red Earthenware Rediscovered In Western New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/12/new-published-story-unique-red.html.

19th C. Red Earthenware Rooster Whistles Found in Western New York

19th Century Green Glazed and Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Rooster Whistle

Found in Western New York

This Type of Whistle was Made by Carl Mehwaldt in Niagara County, New York

Appears to be Possibly the Same Manufacturer as the Example Shown Below

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Ron Korman

19th Century Green Glazed and Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Rooster Whistle

Found in Western New York

This Type of Whistle was Made by Carl Mehwaldt in Niagara County, New York

Appears to be Possibly the Same Manufacturer as the Example Shown Below

See Article for More Information

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

Some 19th Century Red Earthenware Candlesticks Found in Western New York Through the Years

A form that is rarely seen with American red earthenware production is a candlestick, whereas the most prominent example is likely one that was made about 1880 by Anthony Baecher (1824-1889) in Winchester, Virginia. That candlestick sold for $60,000 plus the auction premium at Pook & Pook Inc. in Downington, Pennsylvania in 2014. The reason it commanded such a strong price was a result of it being stamped three times on the underside "Baecher Winchester VA," as well as being regarded as the only known example of the hand-crafted form made by Baecher.

However, three nineteenth century red earthenware candlesticks have also been found in Western New York through the years, and perhaps they may have all been made in that region. The most recent identified example is an object that I learned about a few days ago from Ron Korman of Muleskinner Antiques in Cheektowaga, New York, which was found about twenty years ago in Western New York. 

Furthermore, two of the candlesticks are hand-thrown, while the third is molded. The molded example was possibly made by Carl Mehwaldt (1808-1887) in the village of Bergholz in Niagara County, New York; although, archaeological evidence recovered at the site of the Mehwaldt Pottery that is owned by the Das Haus Museum reveals that Mehwaldt also appears to have manufactured hand-thrown candlesticks.

Furthermore, author Ada Walker Camehl noted the production of candlesticks in an article she wrote for the September 1922 issue of The Magazine Antiques, titled, Mehwaldt, a Pioneer American Potter, "Carl Mehwaldt produced quantities of chimney crocks, red earthenware crocks of all sizes, butter-crocks with handles to be hung in wells to keep butter cool; cooking utensils, candlesticks, all manners of tableware - platters, plates, sauce-dishes, cups and saucers, mugs, pitchers, sugar bowls, vegetable dishes, teapots and teakettles. He also produced finer products like inkstands and tile stoves."

For more information about Mehwaldt, see a feature story I wrote for the October 15, 2021 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Carl Mehwaldt: A Pioneer German-American Potter And 19th-Century Immigrant - Redware From Western New York State: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2021/10/print-version-of-new-published-research.html.

Also, see another feature story I wrote for the December 16, 2022 issue of Antiques And The Arts Weekly, titled, Unique Red Earthenware Rediscovered In Western New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2022/12/new-published-story-unique-red.html.

19th Century Red Earthenware Candlesticks Found in Western New York

Candlestick No. 1

19th Century Hand-Thrown Red Earthenware Candlestick

Found About 20 Years Ago in Western New York

This Type of Glaze Also Found on Pottery Made in the U.K. and Canada

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Ron Korman

Candlestick No. 2

19th Century Red Earthenware Candlestick

Found in Western New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Ron Korman

Candlestick No. 3

19th Century Molded Red Earthenware Candlestick

Possibly Made at the Carl Mehwaldt Pottery in Niagara County, New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Gene and Nancy Pratt

Archaeological Evidence Recovered in WNY

Remains of a 19th Century Hand-Thrown Red Earthenware Candlestick

Recovered at the Site of the Carl Mehwaldt Pottery in Bergholz, New York

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Das Haus Museum

Another View of the Remains of the Red Earthenware Candlestick

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Das Haus Museum

Another View of the Remains of the Red Earthenware Candlestick

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Das Haus Museum

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

Tiles Made at the Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania That Adorn a Fireplace Surround in Dedham, Massachusetts

My latest two-page feature story is published on the cover and page 8 in the current August 23, 2024 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine.

Here is a PDF of the cover page: https://www.scribd.com/document/759701335/ant-001-082324-Mercer-pt-1.

Here is a PDF of page 8: https://www.scribd.com/document/759701721/ant-006-082324-Mercer-pt2.

Here is also a link to the online version of the story: https://antiquesandauctionnews.net/articles/Tiles-Made-At-The-Moravian-Tile-Works-In-Doylestown%2C-Pa~%2C-That-Adorn-Fireplace-Surrounds-In-York%2C-Maine/.

Furthermore, I also posted a story to this website last week, titled, Tiles Made at Henry Chapman Mercer's Tile Works in Pennsylvania that were Used at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston (and How Those Tiles Influenced Harbour Court in Newport, Rhode Island): http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/08/tiles-made-at-henry-chapman-mercers.html.

Nevertheless, I was also curious to learn where else in New England that Mercer's tiles were used before his death in 1930, whereas I just learned about these tiles from Jim Kaufman, who wrote a research story for the 2023 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, A Chelsea Keramic Art Works Vase with a Portrait of William Lloyd Garrison: https://chipstone.org/article.php/892/Ceramics-in-America-2023/A-Chelsea-Keramic-Art-Works-Vase-with-a-Portrait-of-William-Lloyd-Garrison.

These tiles are included as part of a fireplace surround in a house in Dedham, Massachusetts; the house is older than the tiles, although the tiles were added when one of the fireplaces was redone in the twentieth century. The current homeowners have lived in the house for many years, and they recently learned that these tiles are from Doylestown, Pennsylvania. I believe these are period tiles, and if so, then it makes me wonder if Isabella Steward Gardner was an influence for these to be used in this home, or perhaps Mercer may have visited Dedham and possibly Hugh Robertson's Dedham Pottery.

Tiles Made at the Moravian Tile Works in Doylestown, Pennsylvania

20th Century Moravian Tiles from Doylestown, PA in a House in Dedham, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Owner

20th Century Moravian Tiles from Doylestown, PA in a House in Dedham, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Owner

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

A 19th Century Stoneware Crock and Jug Found Years Ago in the West Bloomfield Area in Ontario County, New York

Western New York collector, author and historian Vince Martonis recently published the book, The Caleb Matthews Pottery of Gerry, Chautauqua County, New York 1821-c.1860. The book takes a look at some of the red earthenware and stoneware made by Matthews, which is not very well today, as well as archaeological evidence. Nevertheless, after handling some of the objects published in this book last fall, I thought these two objects would be worth sharing, which I learned about while working on the forthcoming two-volume Western New York books last year near Buffalo, New York. 

This nineteenth century stoneware crock and jug were found years ago in the West Bloomfield, Ontario County, New York area. The manufacturer is unknown to me, although both objects must be from the same potter's business; each is made from the same type of clay with the same exterior salt-glazed surface, and both are also adorned in a cobalt decoration that almost appears like a pretzel. There also does not appear to be any sort of slip applied on the interior.

The conversation I had about these objects was that in consideration of the amount of red earthenware potters located in West Bloomfield, especially in the 1840s and 1850s, whether there could have been any attempted stoneware produced there. I do not have an answer for that, seeing that there does not appear to be any supporting documentation, published information or archaeological evidence. But one aspect that I did notice about these objects is the color of the clay; it almost appears like it was underfired with a pinkish color in some areas or perhaps a mixture of clays. I had also noticed that this was the color of the clay with some of the objects produced by Caleb Matthews in Gerry, New York. 

According to the research of Vince Martonis, “Caleb Mathews learned the potting trade at Paul Cushman’s factory in Albany, New York, 1815-1820. Although, he relocated to Gerry afterwards, where he started working with the local red earthenware clay, so his early pieces are made from that type of pottery. After the Erie Canal reached Buffalo in 1825, it was much easier to obtain stoneware clay. It seems though that Mathews may have experimented sometimes with an admixture of red earthenware and stoneware clays.”

Furthermore - Are there any other objects known like these pieces today? Are there any thoughts about the origin of this crock and jug?

Stoneware Crock and Jug Found Years Ago in the West Bloomfield, N.Y. Area

19th Century Stoneware Crock Decorated with Cobalt

Found Years Ago in the West Bloomfield, New York Area

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Ron and Sheila Korman

Another View of the Crock

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Ron and Sheila Korman

19th Century Stoneware Jug Decorated with Cobalt

Found Years Ago in the West Bloomfield, New York Area

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Ron and Sheila Korman

Another View of the Jug

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Ron and Sheila Korman

A View of the Handle

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Personal Collection of Ron and Sheila Korman

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

New Published Feature Story in Antiques & Auction News: Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

My latest two-page feature story is published today on the cover and page 8 in the August 23, 2024 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine.

Here is a PDF of the cover page: https://www.scribd.com/document/759701335/ant-001-082324-Mercer-pt-1.

Here is a PDF of page 8: https://www.scribd.com/document/759701721/ant-006-082324-Mercer-pt2.

Here is also a link to the online version of the story: https://antiquesandauctionnews.net/articles/Tiles-Made-At-The-Moravian-Tile-Works-In-Doylestown%2C-Pa~%2C-That-Adorn-Fireplace-Surrounds-In-York%2C-Maine/.

New Published Feature Story in Antiques & Auction News

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

See Above for More Information

New Published Feature Story

August 23, 2024 Issue of Antiques & Auction News

Tiles Made At The Moravian Tile Works In Doylestown, Pa., That Adorn Fireplace Surrounds In York, Maine

See Above for More Information

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