Two Early 19th-Century Red Earthenware Pitchers with Slip-Decorated Monograms

Following yesterday's discussion of the eighteenth or early nineteenth century slip decorated red earthenware mug monogrammed "MB," here are two additional American examples featuring similar decoration and glaze: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2026/06/the-presentation-piece-uncovering.html.

These large red earthenware pitchers were likely created as special commemorative gifts in the early 1820s, both of which are adorned with monogram initials in slip. The first pitcher was crafted in 1821 and showcases the initials "JB" prominently displayed inside an oval-flourished frame. The second pitcher was made the following year and is personalized with the initials "ML" right above the words “America & Liberty” and marked with the date "Nov. 13. 1822."

These objects were previously published alongside the mug discussed yesterday in my eighth book, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses, though they will receive further discussion in my forthcoming two-volume, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/.

Large Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Adorned with the Initials "JB" in the Monogram on the Front

Also Dated "1821"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Metropolitan Museum of Art

Large Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher

Adorned with the Initials "ML" in the Monogram on the Front

Also Inscribed with Slip "America & Liberty"

Also Dated "Nov. 13 1822"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

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

Redware Event Happening in Western New York Later This Month!

Later this month, I will be speaking in Western New York about my new two-volume book, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York. Co-sponsored by the Genesee County Antiques Dealers Association, the event is hosted by the LeRoy Historical Society. Please contact them directly for event details and registration.

This information is from the LeRoy Historical Society: "On June 26th, come learn about 19th-Century redware pottery! We are excited to co-sponsor an event with the Genesee Country Antique Dealers Association to bring this presentation to LeRoy!

Presenters Justin Thomas and Gene Pratt will discuss 19th-century redware pottery! Various examples from the LeRoy Historical Society pottery collection and other pieces will be on display to accompany the presentation!"

Link to Book: https://historicbeverly.net/product/americas-great-awakening-and-migration-the-red-earthenware-of-western-new-york/

This is Part of the Presentation Later this Month in Western New York

See Above for More Information

Redware Event Happening in Western New York in June!

See Above for More Information

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

The Presentation Piece: Uncovering the Identity Behind the 'MB' Monogram

A few of the red earthenware pieces from Phase II of the Matt King Estate (Massachusetts) that just sold in New Hampshire are documented in my upcoming tenth book, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts.

The first object is an early nineteenth century red earthenware jar, likely made by the Clark family of New Hampshire. The family's roots trace to Reverend Peter Clark (1693-1768) of Salem Village (now Danvers), where his grandson Peter Clark (1743-1826) trained before moving to New Hampshire in 1775: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/232885240_antique-redware-jar-w-cover-8-12-tall-westmoreland-nh. 

Another standout item was a n eighteenth century slip decorated red earthenware mug. Likely a presentation piece, it is completely unlike any other example of Massachusetts red earthenware I have encountered. Here is that story.

"...This eighteenth or early nineteenth century, barrel-shaped red earthenware mug reflects a shape commonly associated with the Bayley family (active ca. 1764-1799) of Newburyport, Massachusetts, though similar forms may have been also produced in the Danvers and Salem area. What distinguishes this piece is its profuse slip decoration and the prominent monogram on the front, which mirrors eighteenth century silver engravings. This style of monogramming is seen in the work of various red earthenware potters, as well as the 1793–1797 Boston stoneware of Jonathan Fenton (1766-1851). 

Likely a presentation piece—akin to the Quaker-related objects discussed in Chapter 2—the mug features initials that appear to read "MB." While the specific recipient remains unidentified, several prominent families with these initials resided in Newburyport and the Danvers/Salem area between 1760 and 1790. These families include the Bartletts, Boardmans and Browns, among others, who were deeply entrenched in the civic and maritime life of Newburyport and Salem during the Revolutionary War era. Furthermore, given that Daniel Bayley’s pottery was renowned for such refined work, it remains possible that the piece was created for a member of the potter's own family, such as his daughter, Mary Bayley (1768-1846). Regardless of the specific identity of "MB," the mug stands as a significant historical artifact, representing the vital intersection of domestic life and the craftsmanship of red earthenware in early Massachusetts."

Also featured in the new book is a small eighteenth century slip decorated red earthenware pitcher from Phase 1 of the Matt King Estate. It was likely made in the Danvers and Salem area, otherwise a Charlestown or another Essex County potter. To find out the full history of this object, you will have to wait for the book's publication.

Note: In the meantime - see my eighth book, An Influential Family of Early Potters: The Clarks of New Hampshire and Related Businesses: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/

18th or Early 19th Century Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Presentation Mug

This Shape of Mug is a Type Associated with Production in Newburyport, Mass.

But the Shape May Have Also Been Made Elsewhere in Essex County

The Front Appears to be Adorned with a Monogram with Initials "MB"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt King Collection

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

Part Two of the Matt King Estate of Massachusetts

The anticipated phase II three-day auction of the Matthew J. King estate from Massachusetts concluded yesterday, which was hosted by Flying Pig Auctions in New Hampshire. Among the standout red earthenware highlights were several exceptional jars made in Middlebury, Vermont, circa 1820s-1830s, where both jars were decorated with vibrant glaze variations. Related objects are owned by the Vermont Historical Society and the Henry Sheldon Museum in Vermont.

Bidders also competed aggressively for a spectacular smaller sized marbled slip decorated red earthenware dish from the American Northeast. This oval shaped-dish was adorned in a variety of bold colors, including an usual use of a black glaze. In fact, this is one of the few known dishes of this type in a smaller size. This type of production is also discussed in my latest two-volume ninth book, America's Great Awakening and Migration: The Red Earthenware of Western New York: https://historicbeverly.net/product/americas-great-awakening-and-migration-the-red-earthenware-of-western-new-york/.

There was also a small colorfully glazed late eighteenth or early nineteenth century red earthenware jar probably from southeastern Massachusetts. The jar might be related to a small group of large pitchers known today, one of which is owned by Historic Deerfield in Massachusetts.

Rounding out the red earthenware highlights was a late eighteenth or early nineteenth century red earthenware mug-shaped pitcher from Bristol County, Massachusetts. The shape of this mug may have been inspired after similar shaped eighteenth century salt-glazed stoneware pitchers made in England. Although this type of converted mug was also produced in South Danvers (now Peabody), Massachusetts, and will be discussed in detail in my forthcoming two-volume, 1,900+ page, tenth book, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts.

*** The auction results for these items are provided in the captions below ***

I also want to note that the sale included a number of good pieces of stoneware, such as a damaged early nineteenth century stoneware jar made at the William Pecker (1757-1820) Pottery in South Amesbury (Merrimacport), Massachusetts. The jar sold for $650 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/232650752_antique-wm-pecker-stoneware-2-gal-ovoid-jar-w-incised-bid-on-branch-and-flower-dec-12-12-tall-westmoreland-nh.

Another notable stoneware object was an early nineteenth century jug marked "BOSTON" with a highly unusual ochre decorated tulip, which sold for $4,750 plus the buyer's premium: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/232650781_antique-boston-stoneware-ovoid-jug-w-ochre-tulip-decoration-12-12-tall-westmoreland-nh.

Note: For the rest of the pottery in the sale - see the auction catalogs that are posted on LiveAuctioneers: https://www.liveauctioneers.com/auctioneer/867/flying-pig-auctions/?srsltid=AfmBOopmib_8Uixs5-i5D0rHgbAvlTF7x6_0l4TdvLO1xlq86mdTgKtY.

Smaller Size Early 19th Century Marbled Slip Decorated Red Earthenware Dish

Made in the American Northeast

Sold for $3,250 Plus the Buyer's Premium

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt King Collection

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jar

Probably Made in Southeastern Massachusetts

Sold for $2,500 Plus the Buyer's Premium

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt King Collection

Circa 1820s-30s Red Earthenware Jar from Middlebury, Vermont

Sold for $2,000 Plus the Buyer's Premium

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt King Collection

Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Pitcher Made in Bristol County, Mass.

Form Might Be Inspired After a British Stoneware Form

Sold in a Group Lot that Also Included a Jar from P.E.I. in Canada

Sold for $3,250 Plus the Buyer's Premium

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt King Collection

Circa 1820s-30s Red Earthenware Jar from Middlebury, Vermont

Sold for $9,000 Plus the Buyer's Premium

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Matt King Collection

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

Talk Last Night in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

It was a good audience and fun time last night speaking at the Piscataqua River Decorative Arts Trust at Strawberry Banke Museum in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Tonight’s presentation explored Portsmouth’s rich tradition of red earthenware production from 1736 through the 1880s, highlighting the work of Samuel Marshall before 1750, John Shillaber during the 1760s and 1770s, and later the pottery enterprises of Winthrop Bennett and the Dodge family after 1790.

For more information: https://historicbeverly.net/product/an-influential-family-of-early-potters-the-clarks-of-new-hampshire-and-related-businesses/

Talk Last Night in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Discussed History of Red Earthenware in Portsmouth, 1736-1880s

See Above for More Information

Talk Last Night in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Discussed History of Red Earthenware in Portsmouth, 1736-1880s

See Above for More Information

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

Salem and Marblehead Provenance: An Analysis of Three Essex County Jars

This is another preview of my forthcoming two-volume, 1,900+ page, tenth book, titled, An Early Industry of Household Wares: The Red Earthenware of Salem Village, Danvers, Peabody, Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts.

While researching this book, I traced the family lineages of three related large heavily incised red earthenware jars, which strongly points to a local Salem manufacturer rather than neighboring South Danvers (now Peabody). Here is that story.

"...These three jars shown in Figure 8.31 each hold a distinct provenance rooted in regional history. The jar on the left was discovered in Salem by Lura Woodside Watkins (1897-1982) and is formally published in Figure 15 in Early New England Potters and Their Wares. The middle example, which retains its original lid, has a documented nineteenth century history of family ownership in Salem and is currently held in the collection of the Peabody Essex Museum. Finally, the jar on the right possesses a direct lineage, having descended through the Brown family of Marblehead (see Volume II of this book for more information about the Browns).   

While there is no archaeological evidence to prove the exact business where these jars originated, the fact that two of the examples descended through prominent families in Salem and Marblehead may suggest a local manufacturer in Salem rather than in neighboring South Danvers, now known as Peabody. Furthermore, while Watkins published her jar as an "Early Essex County type Found in Salem," her specific context was not cited in the book or within the records at the Smithsonian. However, it is certain that she found the jar in Salem prior to the publication of her book in 1950. 

Each of these jars is heavily thrown and features relatively straight sides with no foot at the base, and each is adorned with two handles and extensive incised decoration. Furthermore, each jar likely originally included a lid similar to the lone surviving example, which rests inside the jar and features similarly heavy incised decoration..."

Related Late 18th or Early 19th Century Red Earthenware Jars

All Heavily Decorated with Incised Lines

All Retain Family Histories in Salem and Marblehead, Mass.

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Smithsonian Institute and Peabody Essex Museum

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

ID Help: Large 48" Earthenware Amphora with Oral History (Hingham, MA Auction)

This is a fascinating object, and I am curious if anyone reading this might recognize it. While it features a classic European shape, it carries a unique oral history regarding its manufacture and use. This large, partially glazed earthenware amphora was acquired at an auction in Hingham, Massachusetts, approximately 35 years ago. According to the seller, it originally served as a studio pottery sign mounted to the front of a building. The piece stands roughly 48 inches high by 30 inches wide at its widest point. The exterior features decorative straight and wavy incised lines encircling the glazed section. While it bears no maker's mark, a distinct hole in the back suggests it may have been used for pouring liquids, or perhaps secured to a wall with a mounting rod. 

Any thoughts on its origin? Does anyone remember seeing this used as a store sign?

Large Earthenware Amphora Acquired About 35 Years Ago in Hingham, Mass.

Oral History Says it was a Studio Pottery Store Sign

Stands 48" Tall

There is a Hole on the Front of It Near the Bottom

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

Another View of the Large Amphora

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Private Collection

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