6 - - Antiques & Auction News — August 28, 2020 antiquesandauctionnews.

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A Look At 19th-Century Red Earthenware Figures Made In Pennsylvania

By Justin W. Thomas
It is difficult to know for
sure when 19th century pot-
tery figures manufactured in
the mid-Atlantic region first
caught the attention of
American collectors and
museums, although, these
types of playful and decora-
tive objects were already pop-
ular with potteries in England,
especially in the 18th century.
This type of production
was not exclusive to the mid-
Atlantic region, as there is
some evidence of figures made
in New England, such as a red
earthenware beaver and cat
owned by the Dyer Memorial
Library in Abington, Mass.,
made by John Henry Benner
(1728-96), a German immigrant
potter, who may have worked
in Germantown in Quincy,
Mass., before he arrived in
Abington in 1765. Moravian
potters located along the East
Coast also produced figurals,
including bottles in the form of
animals made by Rudolph
Christ (1750-1833) in Salem,
N.C., ca. 1804-29.
Among the most skilled of
all the American figurals may
have been the wares made by
Cornwall (1814-90) and Wallace
Kirkpatrick (1828-96) in Anna,
Ill. For example, the most
prominent of these objects
may be a stoneware temper-
ance jug made as a thank-you
gift for caricature artist
Thomas Nast (1840-1902), who
published cartoons in Harper’s
Weekly, exposing the corrup-
tion at Tammany Hall in New
York City in the mid-1800s.
Today, the piece is on display
at the New York Historical
Society in Manhattan, N.Y.
This was a type of creative
production that went far
beyond any given potter’s
everyday household wares
and is often considered much
rarer, based on the number of
examples that survive and the
amount of time that it must
have taken to create these
objects in comparison to sim-
pler pots and pans.
This collection of 19th century red earthenware dog figures are owned by
Redware figures made in
Winterthur in Delaware. Courtesy Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library.
Pennsylvania were sought
after by major collectors, such
sold through Samuel T.
Freeman & Company in
Philadelphia on June 28, 29, 30
and July 1, 1920. The catalog
reads “The early history of the
people of Pennsylvania was the
hobby of the late Governor
Pennypacker. His collection of
rare imprints from the first
presses through eastern
Pennsylvania was just celebrat-
ed, and while that part of his
collection is better known,
especially among bibliophiles,
yet his interest as a collector
was not limited to the output of
printing presses. His accumula-
tion of Pennsylvania Dutch and
German pottery among other
areas of interest is worthy of
special attention.”
Many of these objects are
unusual, and many difficult to
attribute to a specific potter,
but there are instances where
the history of these pieces are
known. Among those names
are the Bell family of the
Shenandoah Valley; Anthony
W. Baecher (1824-89) of Adams
County, Pa., Thurmont, Md.,
and Winchester, Va.; George
Wagner (1816-1896) of Carbon
County, Pa., and even the folk-
lore of a traveling hobo potter.
Museum Collections of Red
Earthenware Figures
In my travels, I have been
lucky to see many of the coun-
try’s best museum collections
of American red earthenware
and stoneware, both on
display and in storage.
Perhaps the most
famous of all the
American figures are
the lions made by John
Bell (1800-80) in
Waynesboro, Pa. The
known lions include This is an 18th-century red earthen-
one acquired at the ware beaver and cat attributed to John
bequest of Henry This 19th-century Pennsylvania red earthen- Henry Benner in Abington, Mass., ca.
Francis du Pont at ware dog with its front paws on a tree stump 1765-95. Courtesy of the Dyer
Winterthur, a large lion (left) and 19th-century Pennsylvania bear with Memorial Library. Here is a 19th-century Pennsylvania
in the collection of the its front paws on a tree stump (right) are cour- red earthenware dog holding a basket
Renfrew Museum, and tesy of both the National Museum of American and a bottle. Courtesy Winterthur
two other lions recently History at the Smithsonian Institute and the Museum, Garden and Library.
displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Metropolitan Museum
of Art from the Robert A. used as models for paintings
Ellison Jr. collection. Bell’s between 1935-42, as part of
brother, Solomon Bell (1817- the Index of American Design.
82), also made similar lions, According to the National
such as a pair owned by the Gallery of Art at the
Renfrew Museum, and another Smithsonian Institute,
displayed in the William C. and “Conceived as an effort to This large 19th century red earthen-
Susan S. Mariner Southern identify and preserve a ware Pennsylvania dog was possibly
Ceramics Gallery at the national, ancestral aesthetic, made at the John Bell Pottery in The pair of 19th-century red earthen-
Museum of Early Southern the Index of American Design Waynesboro, Pa. Courtesy National ware dogs from Pennsylvania are
Decorative Arts in Winston- comprises 18,257 watercolor Museum of American History at the courtesy of the National Museum of
Salem, N.C. Some of these renderings of American folk Smithsonian Institute. American History at the Smithsonian
lions may have even been and decorative arts objects Institute.
inspired after decorative from the colonial period Pennsylvania red earthen-
ware in the American Wing at societies throughout
ceramic lions made in England through 1900. A Federal Art
Project (FAP) work-relief pro- the Metropolitan Museum of Pennsylvania, including the
around the same period.
Art. The MET attributes their Chester County Historical
However, one of the bet- gram during the Depression
example to Montour County, Society.
ter-kept secrets of was executed by approximate-
Pa., ca. 1850-75. Many of these figures date
Pennsylvania red earthenware ly 400 artists under the direc-
Other great figural objects between the 1850-80 period,
figures is likely the collection tion of Holger Cahill (1887-
owned by the Smithsonian and among the most prized
kept in the vaults at the 1960). Objects depicted came
Institute include some dogs are the objects that depict a
National Museum of American from a variety of sources: pub-
with baskets holding different monkey. Some are depicted
History at the Smithsonian lic institutions, local muse-
contents and a pair of dogs smoking a pipe while sitting
Institute in Washington, D.C. ums, large private collections
standing in front of a Native on a dog, drinking from a bot-
Some of these objects were and more modest homes.”
Among the best American woman holding a tle, or playing a violin. These
Pennsylvania figures owned pitcher. Dogs were certainly an are among the most desirable
by the National Museum of emphasis with potters who forms known from the
American History is a red manufactured these decorative Pennsylvania red earthen-
earthenware dog with its two pieces, especially based on the ware figural tradition. The skill
front paws placed on a tree variety of Pennsylvania dogs needed with these pieces is
stump, which is very similar to that can be found in the collec- incredible, and the lifelike
another example, but with a tion of Winterthur. Examples facial features are unique.
bear, displayed with an can also be found in small It would certainly be
Continued on page 11
astounding collection of museums and historical
AUCTION TIME BID BOARD
AUCTION OPEN 9AM UNTIL 12 NOON
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH
1506 CENTRE TURNPIKE, Orwigsburg, PA 17961
FIREARMS: Stoeger Condori 20ga Over/Under Shotgun, Hatfield SC .410 Shotgun,
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and the state’s 23rd governor,
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Pennypacker was among the Custom Guns by Sid Goodling & Alex Hoyer, Knife w/ Compass (Vietnam Era Hackman clone) TOYS: Nylint No. 1610 Bronco “Police
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MILLER & SIEGRIST AUCTIONEERS LLC Lot, (3) Nintendo NES Consoles, SNES Console, NES & SNES Games, DS Lite w/ Games,
R062366

The Pennypacker collection 
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t AY002150 N Gauge Train Layout, Lionel 6-31960 Polar Express Set, Bachmann Spectrum Acela Amtrak
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Self Winding Clock Co. Clock, Stetson Silk Plush Top Hat, “The Packard Hat” Straw Boater,

PUBLIC AUCTION
SAT., SEPT. 12TH @ 8:30 A.M.
299 Coffee Street, MILLERSVILLE, PA 17551
AUCTION OF PERSONAL PROPERTY OPENS AT 8:30 AM
Norbeck & Miley Builders, Lancaster, PA Sleigh, (this cutter is in very nice
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stands; Lionel train set from 50’s, Tonka Toys, Ertl Precision toys, 30 + Hess
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in good condition; Tin Litho Childrens tea set w/box L.S. & Co.Inc. very nice
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also some gold and silver jewelry. Hunting supplies & guns.
Several Griswold cast-iron skillets & pots, Griswold Crispy Corn Stick pan,
Erie, PA. Wagner Waffle Maker; 10+ Crocks; Comic Books, Pocket Knives,
Sting ray bicycle’s; Western Flyer ladies’ bike, several snow sleds various
sizes; BB guns, Daisy BB and a 760 BB / pellet gun. McCormick grocery store
display rack, wash tubs, Eastlake dresser, oak dressers with mirror, Keystone
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glassware, 2) pedal powered sharpening stone, blue mason jars, strawberry
baskets, Tobacco Shears & Spears, 6+ snow sleds, Buggy Seat, traps, Disney
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LEAMAN AUCTIONS LTD. AY002063
R062701
Bell Candlestick Telephone, Mid-Century Spaghetti Globe Floor Lamp, Schwinn Stingray
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329 Brenneman Rd., Willow Street, PA 17584 AY002311 AUCTIONEER: TOM HENDRICKS AU005754 OWNER: CAROLYN FRY AA019615
717-464-1128 office or E/MAIL ed@Leamanauctions.com
Ed’s cell 610-662-8149 AU 002034L R062723