A Dated 19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Teapot Made by Sanford S. Perry in Whately, Massachusetts

This is an exceptional nineteenth century double-spouted and double-handled black glazed red earthenware teapot that is attributed to Whately, Massachusetts, although it predates the circa 1822-1833 Thomas Crafts (1781-1861) Pottery, seeing that it is inscribed on the base with the year of manufacture, "1817." It was actually made by Sanford S. Perry, who was the first Whately potter to produce black-glazed red earthenware teapots, but he left Whately about 1821, possibly after selling his glaze formulas to Crafts, and was in Troy, New York, about 1823 where he worked with both red earthenware and stoneware. Although the influential potter also worked at other locations in the north and south during the span of his career.

According to the Whately Historical Society, "The red clay was likely dug from the banks of the Mill River in Whately or in our Great Swamp. The glaze includes lead (there was a galena mine in Whately) and manganese, which persists in the aquifer that supplies the Town's water to this day."

This teapot was recently published in an article written by Sylvia Lovegren-Petras for the 2021 issue of Ceramics in America, titled, The Invisible American Potter: Potter: Justus Morton of Brantford, Ontario: https://chipstone.org/article.php/871/Ceramics-in-America-2021/The-Invisible-American-Potter:-Potter:-Justus-Morton-of-Brantford,-Ontario.

I believe the teapot was also published in Curtis Rice's book, James River Stoneware and The S.S. Perry Connection: A Collector's Guide: How One New York Potter Influenced a Half-Century of Virginia Stoneware Production: https://www.thriftbooks.com/w/james-river-stoneware-and-the-ss-perry-connection-a-collectors-guide-how-one-new-york-potter-influenced-a-half-century-of-virginia-stoneware-production/25434173/?srsltid=AfmBOorSosr89g8ueQdxJeC4Iq19DxBYU4uHM1n1VkyrGrQKom8PJjuT#edition=54499783.

However, this teapot will also be published in Chapter 6 of my forthcoming eleventh book, titled, A Monumental History: Stories of Red Earthenware Production in Western Massachusetts and the Berkshires.

Note: Massachusetts potter Rick Hamelin suggests that this could also be a punch pot. For more information about teapots made in Whately, Massachusetts - see an article that I posted last month to this website, titled, Some Information About 19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Teapots Made in Whately, Massachusetts and Long Island, New York: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2025/06/some-information-about-19th-century.html.

Teapot Made by Sanford S. Perry in Whately, Massachusetts

19th Century Black Glazed Red Earthenware Teapot Made in Whately, Mass.

The Teapot Has Two Handles and Two Spouts

Attributed to Sanford S. Perry

The Base is Dated "1817"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Whately, Mass. Historical Society

A View of the Base

The Base is Inscribed with the Year "1817"

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Whately, Mass. Historical Society

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