A Stoneware Cooler Made at the Wingender Pottery in New Jersey for L.H. Parke & Co. of Pennsylvania

I think this is a really great object that was recently acquired by Virginia antiques dealer Bob Zordani of Z&K Antiques at the antiques show and artisans tent at Historic Zoar Village in Zoar, Ohio. The cooler is attributed to the Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey, where it was found about thirty years ago by an Indiana, Pennsylvania antiques picker and sold to Washington, Pennsylvania antiques dealers, Frank and Susan Swala. It had been in their personal collection since that time, although they brought it to the show in Zoar.

According to Bob Zordani, "The cooler advertises L.H. Parke & Co.'s Gold Camel Ceylon India Tea, and depicts a camel, a rare animal to find on American stoneware. I think two of these coolers may have been made — one for Parke’s warehouse in Philadelphia and one for the Pittsburgh warehouse. Parke was a wholesaler; so I think they probably served up samples of the tea to customers." However, this is the only example like this known to exist today.

L.H. Parke & Co. was formed in Philadelphia in 1888, and by 1962 it had branches in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Richmond, Virginia and Albany, New York. The company's partnership was established between proprietors Louis H. Parke and brothers John M., William P.M., and Samuel F. Irwin, where they invested in Samuel's existing small grocery pushcart business. The new company roasted, packaged and sold coffee, as well as packaged teas and spices from a five story building located at 232-234 Market Street in Philadelphia. By 1898 the firm was the largest seller of coffee in their market.

For a brief history about the Wingenders: William (1862-1915) and Charles Wingender (1856-ca. 1823) 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.

It may not be well-known today, but after William died in 1915 and Charles passed away about 1923, the stoneware and red earthenware 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.

Note: For more information about the Wingenders - see a feature story I wrote for the November 1, 2024 issue of Antiques & Auction News, titled, The Wingender Family Pottery Of Haddonfield, N.J.: http://www.earlyamericanceramics.com/2024/10/new-published-feature-story-in-antiques.html.

A Stoneware Cooler Made at the Wingender Pottery in New Jersey

Probably Late 19th Century Stoneware Cooler 

Made at the Wingender Pottery in Haddonfield, New Jersey

Made for L.H. Parke & Co. of Pennsylvania

See Article for More Information

Photo Courtesy: Z&K Antiques

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