Made from Clay

George G. Williams

George G. Williams joined the Fremont Street Pottery in 1847 when he bought a one-half interst in the business from Warren Cole. Williams previously worked at the N. Clark Pottery in Mt. Morris NY.

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Colgate – August Henschel Pottery

Potteries / By Made from Clay .

August Henschel was a redware potter who operated in Colgate, Waukesha County, Wisconsin from about 1856 to 1900. His work is known from eleven small pieces with strong provenance that were passed down in the Connell family.

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Mineral Point Pottery

Pieces, Potteries, Uncategorized / By Made from Clay .

Bernard Klais operated an earthenware pottery between 1858 and 1880 in Mineral Point Wisconsin. His wares are somehat distinctive. The handles are mostly attached at the ends only - they are free standing. ALthough his pottery was ofter made with and orange glaze, a common glaze is very dark, almost black. Capacity marks are stamped with hand-carved wood stamps or hand-incised. The clay body is always red. Fortunately, sherds were recovered from the pottery site which helps us identify the colors and forms that Klais produced.

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Klais' most noted characteristic was handles attached at the ends only, leaving 1/8-to-1/4-inch distance from the handle to the side of the vessel (another characteristic of pottery from the Cologne area) as opposed to continuous ear handles found on most other Wisconsin pottery. There is a scratched "5" near the right handle. Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database object 71-92. This piece is the the collection of the Kenosha museum.

Mineral Point earthenware cheese curd strainer with holes pierced in the wet clay. Lead glaze was applied to the interior but much of it leaked through holes and coated part of the exterior. Below it are sherds recovered from the Klais waster dump.

Mineral Point pitcher with pouring spout, dark glaze on the exterior and a red/tan glaze inside.

Cylindrical earthenware flowerpot with slanted sides. Exterior glazed yellow with brown marks; interior unglazed. 5"H x 5 ½" diam. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. From the Pendarvis collection.https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/2176/rec/21 object 1981.402.434

wheel-thrown cake mold or bundt pan with cone-shaped central feature to form hollow core to cake

Cylindrical earthenware jar. Thick lead-based glaze tinted black with manganese. Unglazed lip. The thick, slightly undercut "tie-down" rim indicates that this food-storage jar was not made with a lid, but was instead designed to be covered with a cloth and secured with a string. Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. Object 1981.401.484 https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/331/rec/18

Slightly ovoid earthenware chamber pot with flat rim. Handle missing. Lead-based glaze tinted black with manganese on exterior; large areas of glaze loss. Clear lead glaze on interior. Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. Object 73-101 https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1268/rec/7

Earthenware urn or jar with black glaze and free standing strap handles attributed to Klais.

Cylindrical earthenware jar with slightly bulging walls and rolled rim. Interior and exterior coated with lead glaze tinted black with manganese. As is characteristic of this potter's work, the handles are attached at only two points (open loop lug handles), rather than flush with the vessel. Impressed two-gallon capacity mark near each handle. Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. Object 73-102. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1143/rec/20

Earthenware urn or jar with a dark glaze and no handles. Attributed to the Mineral Point Pottery.

Mineral Point unglazed flowerpot with ruffled rim and stamped "1 1/2" gallon capacity.

Earthenware food or preserve jar with a dark glaze attributed to the Mineral Point Pottery.

Footed earthenware milk pan with almost black glaze. From the collection of the Kenosha Museum.

Earthenware bowl with black glaze, loop handles and old painted decoration of flowers over a gold background attributed to Klais. Missing cover. Black glaze inside and upper exterior, lower exterior not dipped in glaze

Mineral Point earthenware roofing tiles formerly found on the Klais home

T-shaped ridge tile used to close roof peak of clay tile roofs at Klais pottery site

S-shaped roof tile or pantile formerly found on the Klsid pottery building

Unglazed earthenware flowerpot with rims flattened and formed into waves (known as a scalloped or "pie crust" edge)". Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/318/rec/16 Object 1981-401-491

Unglazed earthenware flowerpot with rims flattened and formed into waves (known as a scalloped or "pie crust" edge)" This one features a band of ornament impressed with a coggle wheel. Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/319/rec/16

Unglazed Mineral Point hanging flowerpot with ruffled rim and four holes made when the clay was wet for a chain for hanging the pot.

Unglazed earthenware flower pot saucer or under plate with frilled edges attributed to the Klais Pottery.

These Mineral Point hanging flowerpot sherds were recovered from the Mineral Point pottery site reminds us that potters made diverse form and colors, not just stereotypical production pieces.

Sherds from an decorated Mineral Point piece

Sherds from a decorated Mineral Point piece of unknown size and form. Decorated Klais earthenware is virtually unknown but these sherds prove that he did make some.

Few Midwestern potters made handles that are attached at the ends with a thumbpress at the attachment. This feature on virtually all of his smaller handled pieces make them easy to identify.

Mineral Point rims with scratched capacities. One is a "2" and the other a "21" which is a large size for earthenware.

Klais numeral 4 capacity with fragment of attached handle found at the pottery site. It appears that the capacity was stamped using a crudely carved wooden stamp.

Klais numeral 5 capacity with fragment of attached handle found at the pottery site. It appears that the capacity is a crudely carved stamp.

Klais numeral 4 adjacent to typical handle, double incised ring on this vessel

Klais roof tiles fused together in overheated kiln

Klais jar rim, ovoid shape, dark almost black glaze.

Klais jar cover shards from waster dump.

Jug tops and handles found at the Mineral Point Pottery site.

Klais hanging basket or flower pot with matching shards from his waster dump.

Fragment of an earthenware bean pot with most of the glaze missing possibly due to excessive heat. It includes the full handle and part of the rim. It was found at the Klais pottery site.

Earthenware shard from the Mineral Point Pottery with a black glaze over a deep red clay body. It appears to be a bowl.

Mineral Point Pottery shard found at the pottery site. The glaze is a mottled deep brown color. It appears to be part of a jar or pitcher, very thin in cross-section suggesting better quality tableware

Knob from some sort of cover with a vent hold. Found at the pottery site.

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New Berlin – Henry Kern Pottery

Potteries / By Made from Clay .

The Henry Kern Pottery was a small and obscure business that operated for over ten years starting in 1850. It was still operating in 1860 based on Census records but gone by 1870. We were fortunate to learn that a piece was donated to the Waukesha Historical Museum by a family member in 1929. It is the only pottery attributable to the pottery we are aware of.

Read the article: Henry Kern Pottery 4-23-2023

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Menasha Pottery 1850 – 1866

Pieces, Potteries / By Made from Clay .

The Menasha Pottery was started by Luther Bachelder and his sons Carlton and Cleveland. They initially made earthenware but soon converted to making stoneware using clay imported from Ohio. The pottery operated until 1866 when Carlton went into pottery wholesaling.

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Menasha Pottery Examples

The Menasha Pottery made high quality stoneware mostly from Ohio clay in the early years then sometimes from New Jersey clay starting in the late 1850's. Most of the pots one-gallon or more in capacity were decorated. Of those, less than one-quarter were also stamped. The decoration varied somewhat, but it appears that just a couple of potters apparently decorated the majority of them, probably Carlton and Cleveland. Consequently, unmarked stoneware made at the Menasha Pottery can be attributed based on the decoration alone. The Bachelder's also had some distinctive features in their turnings that can also help identify unmarked pieces.

Luther Bachelder earthenware two handled jar scratch marked on the bottom "Oct 29 1837 / Luther C. Bachelder". Luther was the father of the Bachleder brothers who operated the pottery in Menasha.

Wheel-thrown earthenware spittoon with lead glaze attributed to Bachelder, ca. 1850. It was found in a basement in Menasha. This is the earliest piece known from the Menasha Pottery.

The Menasha Pottery apparently used same stamp for all of its marked stoneware. It appears that the stamps were often usually dipped in cobalt to enhance readability, but sometimes, like in this case, it it appears to be brushed over with cobalt. The “OHIO STONE” brand name suggests that they planned to use only Ohio Clay exclusively. However, they later also used clay from New Jersey and possibly other sources as well.

Salt-glazed stoneware two-gallon butter churn with ear handles, Bachelder stamp, and cobalt flower decoration with the original cover.

Bachelder three-gallon butter churn with ear handles and the Bachelder oval stamp and "2" below. It has a typical Bachelder cobalt flower and an old wood cover and dasher..

Marked Bachelder three-gallon butter pot with ear handles, grooved rim, incised "3" gallon capacity, and double flower decoration.

Marked Bachelder two-gallon jug with incised "2" gallon capacity and flower decoration.

Stamped three-gallon salt-glazed Bachelder butter churn with incised "3" gallon capacity and cobalt flower decoration and ear handles. The rim has a groove and there is a raised area just above the handles.

Stamped three-gallon salt-glazed Bachelder butter churn with incised "4" gallon capacity and cobalt flower decoration and ear handles. The rim has a groove and there is a raised area just above the handles.

Bachelder food storage jar or butter churn

This two-gallon jar has has a decoration that is a variation of the typical flower but the leaves are not typical of Bachelder decorations. The capacity stamp is proof positive that it was made at the Menasha Pottery.

Salt-glazed and unsigned Bachelder food storage jar with a cobalt flower decoration, incised line at the shoulder and wide rim with a faint string-tie groove in the rim.

Salt-glazed stoneware unstamped Bachelder three-gallon butter pot with ear handles and a double flower cobalt decoration and incised capacity.

This unmarked Bachelder four-gallon butter pot has several classic Menasha Potter distinctive elements: the string-tie rim, a unique "4", and the "tounge flower" decoration.

Bachelder jars made from Ohio clay v NJ clay

The Bachelder jar on the left was made from Ohio clay based on its color. The one on the right with the tan color is more typical of New Jersey clay.

Unstamped one-gallon Bachelder preserve jar with a cobalt leaf decoration.

One-gallon decorated unstamped Bachelder crock with string-tie rim and ear handles. Menasha Pottery was one of just a handful of potteries that bothered to decorate one-gallon crocks, and quite a few of these small crocks survived.

Bachelder butter pot with Roman Numeral capacity

Unmarked Bachelder three-gallon butter pot with Roman Numeral capacity. The Berlin Potteries marked most of their earthenware this way. Charles Tolman worked for Bachelder in 1861 and also for the Berlin Pottery after that. Charles's father owned a Berlin pottery for a time.

Few stoneware potters sold many flower pots, especially decorated ones, because earthenware pots were cheaper to make. This is a rare Bachelder example.

One-gallon salt-glazed stoneware bowl attributed to Bachelder with an incised line and underlined cobalt "1" [gallon capacity] and ear handles.

Unmarked salt-glazed bowl with pouring spout attributed to the Menasha Pottery. Overall size 12" diameter by 5" tall.

Salt-glazed Bachelder cover for two-gallon butter pots with Albany slip on the knob and petal area. It is identifiable by the capacity stamp on the handle that matches the ones used on their pottery.

Salt-glazed Bachelder cover for three-gallon butter pots. It is identifiable by the capacity stamp on the handle that matches the ones used on their pottery.

Top view of a butter churn cover attributed to Bachelder.

Bottom view of a stoneware butter churn cover attributed to the Menasha Pottery.

Bachelder butter churn cover - underside

Bottom view of a Bachelder butter churn cover.

Menasha Pottery - Identifying Traits

There are many pieces of pottery that are unmarked but have forms, decorations, glazes that resemble Bachelder. Many of them come from Ohio, New York, Michigan or elsewhere. Bachelder did not mark most of their products and decorations varied quite a bit, making attribution difficult at times. However, many unmarked Menasha Pottery pieces have one or more of the elements below that are strong evidence that they were made by the Menasha Pottery.

Bachelder crocks and often (but not always) have a groove in the rim for tying on cloth covers. This style of rim is rarely used by other potters, so it is a reliable way to identify Menasha Pottery stoneware.

There are a handful of flowers that the Bachelder's used on a regular basis including these four. There are also some minor variations of these flowers. While some potteries used similar decorations, this flower is one clue that helps identify it as a Bachelder piece.

Curled leaves like these are often found in Bachelder decorations, so they can help identify unmarked Bachelder stoneware.

Bachelder jug lip finishes tend to be short and stubby. While other potteries sometimes made them this way, Bachelder's jugs are almost always shorter than most.

Bachelder turners cut pots from the wheel with a wire then pushed up the bottoms so the didn't rock on a flat surface. Although most potters did this to some degree, Bachelder pieces are often pushed them up more than most - in this can almost a half inch. The convex bottom is another helpful way to identify Bachelder pottery.

Bachelder - distinctively painted four gallon capacity

The painted number four is distinctive, although not unique, making this a good way to identify Bachelder pottery.

An element often found in Bachelder flowers are offset leaves in groups of three or four.

Apparently the Menasha Pottery had only one set of capacity stamps and they are quite distinctive, making them a definitive way to identify Bachelder pottery. Unfortunately, most Bachelder pottery had painted capacity numbers instead of stamped capacities.

Menasha Pottery 1850 – 1866 Read More »

Oscar Bachelder

People, Potteries / By Made from Clay .

Oscar Bachelder was the son of Calvin Bachelder and a third generation potter. He learned potting skills at an early age working with his father in the Menasha Pottery. He worked as a pottery for his entire life, working with his father at three different potteries, then moving around the U.S. doing short-term stints at many different potteries. He eventually achieved national fame as an art potter in North Carolina under the name Omar Khayyam.

Read the article: Oscar Bachelder Omar Khayyam Pottery

by Pat H. Johnston and Daisy W. Bridges published by the Journal of Studies of the Ceramic Circle of Charlotte, Volume V

Franklin – Langenberg Pottery

People, Pieces, Potteries / By Made from Clay .

Conrad Langenberg Pottery - 1856 to 1893

The Langenberg Pottery near Sheboygan Wisconsin is a classic example of a small rural farmer/earthenware potter. This business model repeated itself throughout the United States, probably hundreds of times. The story of Conrad Langenberg probably closely resembles that of many of them, except that he managed to stay in business for 37 years, far longer than most.

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Langenberg Pottery Examples

We are fortunate today that there were collectors who were eagerly collected and researched Langenberg pottery early on. Most 19th century Wisconsin earthenware pottery makers did not stamp their wares, so there are no extant examples of the wares for many of them. By contrast, there are many pieces of earthenware that survive from the Langenberg pottery. Mark Knipping's article on the Langenberg Pottery on this web site identifies at least two dozen different forms. Many of them appear in the photos below.

Langenberg did not stamp his name on any of his products so all of these are attributed based the location they were found, the form, glaze, similarity to sherds from the waster dump, or some combination of these. However, other potteries operated in the area at the same time, so attribution is never 100%.

Beautifully decorated front and back in green and brown, yellow slip covered in lead glazed . Formerly in the George LaBudde collection pictured in Wisconsin Heritage book (1954). Legend has it that when found in a summer kitchen it was completely black and it was not realized until it was washed off that the yellow body and floral decoration existed; 7 in. high, by 6 in. dia., turned foot, extruded handle, finger press mark at base of handle; pouring spout intake fitted with hand-pierced tea strainer Original cover 1 1/2 in. high by 3 1/4 in. dis., button knob, brown glazed exterior. Legend has it that another "identical" teapot once existed but cannot be located. Keep your eyes open!

Slab-built charcoal foot warmer rests on four block feet, half-round front opening provides access to fill interior with hot coals from the stove; the walls of this piece are very thick to retain heat; It has a chip carved (kerbschnitt in German) decorative pattern of a renaissance flower and series of triangles on top. Vent holes also on top radiate out from the center to distribute heat without setting one's socks on fire. A carved inscription on the back reads "Gedenke Mein / Cennterrville [sic] / 1867' Centerville is located about four miles from the pottery. Descended in the Kolb family, charcoal burners from Saxony who immigrated in 1850 to settle in Centerville, Manitowoc Co., and moved 3 miles west to Town Meeme in the late 1860's.

Yikes! Looks like an obsession to me! Thirty Langenberg milk pitchers, and 30 unglazed covers; note the uniformity of form and size. All are glazed inside with unglazed exteriors. The two on the right show extremes of size -- one smaller than average and the other larger. The exterior color varies, probably dues to differences in clay, firing, or both This private collection formerly contained 88 pitchers.

Three Langenberg pitchers, each with three different landscape paintings and applique of vines and leaves. A mystery surrounds these pitchers: six have been found to date with applied relief moldings forming elaborate frames around the scenes painted on them which resemble northern Wisconsin or Upper Peninsula landscapes. They are often signed “E. H.” The painting appears to have age and it was a common “folk art” home practice to decorate glass and pottery objects around the turn of the twentieth century. Whoever it was who created these works of art (possibly for vases or other decorative use). One theory is that Edgar Hellum of Pendarvis, Mineral Point fame painted them as he was an accomplished artist and resided in the Upper Peninsula for a time.. Another possibility might be Ernella Hunsricker, an art teacher and instructor at Whitewater University where one of these pitchers was found at an estate sale; Once painted these vessels lost their utilitarian function as originally intended and instead entered the realm of folk art.

the size range of Langenberg milk pitchers, the smaller one 8 7/8 in. high by 5 3/4 in. dia., the larger one 11 1/4 in. high by 6 5/8 in dia (most range 9 to 9 3/4 in. high);.; red lead glaze inside only; 88% have an extruded handle, 8% pulled; 36% have a double incised ring, 53% have single rings, 9% have no ring; 74% have a finger press mark at the base of the handle, 24% have none; they were used for gravity separation of cream from milk, and each was provided with an unglazed cover with button knob to keep out mice or flies; Private collection.

Oops! An overheated kiln can produce some unusual results. found at the same auction as the previous example 3 miles south of Franklin

Ovoid stovetop pipkin 4 1/2 in. high by 8 in. dia., attached hollow handle (tip broken off) single incised ring around body, trimmed foot, red/orange lead glaze inside and out; Chip on pouring spout. original cover 2 1/4 in. high by 8 in. dia, light brown outside glaze; bottom scorched black from use

Two-gallon earthenware crock 10 in. high by 9 1/2 in. dia., red/brown lead glaze, two incised rings and scratched numeral "2". the ear handles are large and donut-style. The rim is misshapen, warped in the kiln. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

One-gallon crock 8 1/4 in. high by 8 in. diameer, ear handles, rolled rim, double incised rings; lead glaze inside and out, Attributed to Langenberg.

two-gallon earthenware crock 10 in. high by 10 in. dia., with red/yellow lead glaze, single incised ring, donut ear handles,. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Small jug with oversized handle with a thumbpress at the base. Possibly Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Ovoid jug, 11 1/4 in. high, minor surface spalling, lead glaze; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Small earthenware jug 6 3/4 in. high by 5 3/8 in. dia. with lead glaze fired to a dark brown color; Attributed to Langenberg. Private collection.

mixing bowl 4 1/4 in. high by 9 1/2 in. dia. trimmed foot, glazed inside and out with graceful lines similar to Revere bowl. inner glaze very worn from heavy use; found at farm auction 4 1/2 mi. west of Franklin. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Earthenware bowls glazed inside and out with a lead slip glaze and round rims, large bowl is for mixing, small bowl with single incised ring and trimmed foot for table use;. found at auction in Plymouth, WI; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Bowl or baking dish we attribute to Langenberg

open-top oven baking or roasting pan5 in. deep by 9 1/2 in. dia., flaring sidewalls, double incised ring around body, red/brown interior glaze; smells strongly of lard or animal fat

Interior of one-gallon Langenberg Cream Pot. The Interior is lead glazed, the exterior is unglazed.

Flaring milk pan 4 1/2 in. high by 12 in. dia., angled rim profile, yellow/brown interior glaze blistered by heat; used for gravity separation of cream from milk prior to making butter; this is the medium sized milk pan found so far

Earthenware bowl to knead cheese curd and form it into fist-sized balls to make hand cheese;; wheel thrown as a milk pan but perforated with holes to allow whey to drain away; glazed inside only with glaze runs through the series of holes; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Langenberg cheese mold 3 3/8 in. high by 6 in. dia., glazed inside and out, with double incised rings, bottom pierced to drain the whey from the curd; private collection

Cheese strainer attributed to Conrad Langenberg

beehive-shaped cheese curd strainer 8 1/4 in. high by 6 1/2 in. rim dia. tapering to point 1/2 in. dia.; Glazed inside and outside. two handles formerly attached at rim and shoulder, one entirely broken off, 2 1/4 in. of other handle remains and sppears extruded, finger press mark; double incised ringa at top and toward bottom (thrown rim down); body perforated with 143 holes arranged in neat rows alternating long and short rows as piece tapers toward bottom; red/orange lead glaze, minor kiln scars from firing;. Former Don Mericle Collection.

small baking dish or tureen 3 7/8 in. high by 6 1/2 in. dia., single incised ring, trimmed foot; with lead glaze inside and out, ear handles and single incised ring. Private collection

Wheel-thrown earthenware sander 4 in. high by 3 in. dia., single incised ring around base, pierced with 18 holes formed freehand, red lead glaze; used to absorb excess ink from documents written with quill or feather pen to speed the drying process; attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Food storage or preserve jar 6 1/2 in. high by 4 1/2 in. dia., single incised ring, mottled lead glaze inside and out. The lip flares outward and has a string tie grove in addition to a shelf for a pottery cover. Attributed to Langenberg,. Private collection.

the range of food storage pots from 6 1/4 in. high by 7 in. dia. to 8 3/8 in. high by 8 3/4 in. dia..; glazed on the inside only, flattened rims and no handles.; often smell of lard; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

an example of kiln furniture rather than production red earthenware; heavy-walled ovoid form which appears to be of brick clay, flattened rim (stacked upside down in kiln), double incised rings; flat rim and bottom show scorching and glaze drips from excessive heat, body blistered and burnt; placed in kiln over fine or delicate ware to keep the lighter-bodied redware (such as the sander seen previously) from melting during firing

Langenberg jar. Cylindrical earthenware jar with slightly outward flaring walls. The thick, slightly undercut "tie-down" rim indicates that this food-storage jar was not made with a lid, but was instead designed to be covered with cloth or paper and secured with a string. Unglazed exterior; interior coated with clear lead glaze. The mottled exterior indicates this jar was used for food storage and/or preparation. It may have served as a lard pot. 7 9/16"H x 7 ½" diam. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1267/rec/4 object 70-569.

Ovoid earthenware jar with rolled wide flat rim. The flaring "tie-down" rim indicates that this food-storage jar was not made with a lid, but was instead designed to be covered with cloth or paper and secured with a string. Exterior unglazed; interior coated with lead-based glaze tinted black with manganese. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1378/rec/21 object 1974.101.18.

Interior glazed, unglazed exterior. Hand turned; may have been intended for aging hand cheese during ripening process which took up to 3 months

Food storage jar with orange glaze inside and out, a flared, round rim and bulbous form with cover with button knob. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Food storage jars 10 in. high by 6 1/2 in. dia., applied ear handles, two incised rings. The covers are unglazed.; darker jar at left contains white residue from preserving fresh eggs in lime; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Table Top Churn attributed to Conrad Langenberg

small Langenberg butter churn 11 in. high by 7 in. dia., double incised ring around shoulder, double incised ring around rim; flattened rim profile; dark brown interior glaze, exterior unglazed; pine dasher 19 3/4 in. long overall; wooden cover sawed pine 3/4 in. thick, 4 in. dia., 1 in. hole drilled through center; former La Budde collection

Butter churn 17 1/2 in. high, with lead glaze inside and out, ear handles. Attributed to Langenberg; original stoneware cover (nearby Gunther factory) and dasher. Private collection.

cylindrical cheese pot 8 1/4 in. high by 7 1/2 in. rim dia., tapers inward at base; used to age or ripen hand cheese; found in summer kitchen 1 mile north of Franklin; attributrd to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Langenberg measure or handled bowl 4 3/4 in. high by 6 1/4 in. dia. at rim, 4 1/4 in. dia. at base; extruded handle from rim to near base, finger press mark at base of handle, double incised rings 1 1/4 in. below rim; speckled brown glaze inside only Holds six cups, perhaps for use in baking (other examples of this form also show almost no wear); found at farm auction 3 miles south of Franklin

Langenberg cup. Earthenware mug with incised line around body, below rim. Applied strap handle is ridged and terminates in impressed thumb mark. Exterior unglazed; interior coated with dark brown slip. 4 1/16"H x 2 1/2" base diam. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1297/rec/6 object 71-9.

Beer pitcher formerly glazed inside and out but glaze has almost entirely spalled off from freeze/thaw cycle in Franklin tavern with no central heat (heated with room stoves weekends only). There is a tooled wavy line below the rim. The Seidemann Brewery located next door brewed lager which was not bottled but rather delivered in wooden kegs. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

ovoid retail tobacco jar 7 in. high by 7 in. dia.,, cover missing; extruded handle,, single incised ring around body, trimmed foot, speckled orange/red lead glaze inside and out; strong aroma of tobacco when found in cellar of early Plymouth, WI tavern, which at one time had a glass-front display case in the barroom for sale of cigars, chewing and smoking tobacco; tavern owners had relocated from Franklin to Plymouth to improve business prospects;; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Squat pitcher 5 in. high by 4 1/2 in. dia., pulled handle, trimmed foot, formed rim and pulled spout; glazed with a dark brown slip inside and out. found at farm auction 3 mil north of Franklin; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Ovoid cream pitcher 4 3/4 in. high by 4 in. dia., pulled handle, trimmed foot, single incised ring; dark brown lead glaze inside and out. Found in a box of "junk" at Elkhart Lake auction 6 miles west of Franklin; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

wheel-thrown cake mold 2 1/2 in. high by 9 in. dia.,, flaring sides, pulled central hollow core open at top; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Ovoid handled cooking pot 7 in. high by 7 in. dia. at base, top collar to support original stoneware cover (probably from Th. Gunther's stoneware factory in nearby Sheboygan, where Langenberg occasionally worked); single incised ring around shoulder, pulled handle with finger press mark; bottom blackened; called a 'bean pot' in the trade, more accurately named a "pea pot" for use in German households in which dried peas formed an important sourse of income as well as sustenance; placed at the back of the woodburning cookstove to keep warm, leftover meat, potatoes, bread, peas and other vegetables added after meals to be served as a warm and nourishing porridage or soup on cold days; "Pease porridge hot, pease porridge cold cold, pease porridge in the pot nine days old. Some like it hot, some like it cold, some like it in the pot nine days old." attributed to Conrad Langenberg; private collection

Flowerpot and separate underplate, both glazed inside and out. Pot has a drain hole and single incised ring. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Pair of similar hanging flowerpots glazed inside and out with red/brown lead glaze, three holes in the rim for suspension and a drainage hole through the bottom finial. the one on the right shows more detailed tooling around the rim and finial; example on left found in Franklin; Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Hanging flowerpot with light cream colored slip glaze inside and out. The three holes in the rim are for hanging by a wire or chain. ruffled rim damaged and dos not show well in this image

Wheel-thrown flowerpot 5 1/4 in. high by 6 1/2 in. rim dia., rim formed with rib, single incised ring, drainage hole poked through bottom; light yellow slip glaze; found in old barn 1 mile from Franklin. attributed to Conrad Langenberg, private collection

Unglazed flowerpots with drainage holes in the bottom, large round rims and double incised rings; found at farm auction 6 miles west of Franklin;. Attributed to Conrad Langenberg. Private collection.

Langenberg Sherds

These fragments were retrieved by Mark Knipping. They are extremely helpful for identifying Langenberg pottery which is unmarked and probably resembles other Sheboygan earthenware pottery made by Peter Berns and others.

Assorted rims from unknown forms - probably pots, bowls, or jars. All are glazed on the inside, some have unglazed exteriors. Note the wide variation in color. Most of the rim finishes are round with a band below; note central dark fragment overfired in kiln; Langenberg waster dump

Assorted rims found in the Langenberg waster dump.

Langenberg milk pans have angular rims. The clay on this piece is uncharacteristically dark from too much heat in the kiln, a reminder that color alone is not a reliable way to identify Langenberg pottery.; found in his waster dump

This is the same Langenberg milk pan fragment from another angle; waster dump

Assorted fragments of pots with lead glaze tinted dark brown or deep olive green from excessive kiln temperatures

Langenberg jug, bowl, or pitcher handles. At left is a pulled handle, extruded handle at center, raised rib (usually seen on better-quality forms) at right

Assorted fragments, some with unglazed exteriors suggesting his wares sometimes were fired twice, the first a biscuit or bisque firing, followed by a glaze firing

An assortment of colors and forms.

Langenberg fragments. The top row are covers. lower left a baking pan rim, jar rim, and flower pot drainage hole

Fragment of a clay tile stove. These stoves had hollow interconnected blocks that allowed air to circulate and improve the heating effect. They were also used for cooking. We don't know if this was something Langenberg made to resell or just for personal use. this type of stove is also known as a kachelofen.

Another clay stove fragment excavated at the Langenberg site.

Langenberg fragments fused together, probably in the kiln.

Langenberg fragment from the bottom of an unknown form melted in the kiln.

Kiln bricks were found in abundance, often coated with glaze. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Franklin – Langenberg Pottery Read More »

Cottage Inn (near Belmont) – Hammett Pottery

People, Pieces, Potteries / By Made from Clay .

George Hammett and his son John operated a pottery in Cottage Inn, Wisconsin that is near Belmont from 1856 to 1861. George previously worked in Galena, Illinois. The pottery he made in Cottage Inn resembles the pottery made in Galena, making attribution difficult. Fortunately, sherds were recovered from the pottery site and are pictured below.

Read the article: Hammett Pottery

Hammett Pottery Examples

Hammett Pottery is not signed and resembles pottery made elsewhere in the region so no attribution can be 100%. These pieces that we have attributed to the Hammett Pottery based on provenance, style, and similarities to sherds recovered from the site.

This ovoid jug stands 6 1/2” tall. It was purchased at auction in 1984. The very elderly owner said that its battered condition was because her grandpa used it as a canteen when he worked in the lead mines. The distinctive lip on this jug seems to have been used only on smaller sized Hammett jugs. The author has seen another in a one-gallon size. Private collection.

Ovoid earthenware jar with tall, thick collar and turned foot. Bands of coggled ornament (impressed using a toothed wheel) at base of collar and at neck, above a band of coggled arch shapes. Two applied lug handles. Interior of rim has ledge for lid (now missing). All-over greenish-black glaze; unglazed collar. 11 3/4" tall. Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Large ovoid demijohn. Two applied crescent-shaped handles. Two incised lines around neck. Green lead-based glaze with orange spots. Attributed to Hammett. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1350/rec/9 object 1944-939. In the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Museum.

Small globular earthenware jug with ringed collar, turned foot and applied strap handle. Clear lead glaze. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Decorative Database https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1381/rec/11 object WHA117 In the collection of the Wisconsin Historical Museum.

Small ovoid earthenware jug with ringed collar lip, turned foot, and applied strap handle. Clear lead glaze. Attributed to Hammett. Photo courtesy of Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database, object 73-114 https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1205/rec/5. In the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Earthenware jug with lead glaze and short flat rim.

Small earthenware jug with elongated neck and brown lead glaze speckled with black. Attributed to Hammett.

Four-gallon butter pot attributed to Belmont 13

Four-gallon earthenware crock with lead glaze and very thick rolled rim.butter pot attributed to Cottage Inn. Incised "4" on the rim, ear handles, incised coggled band at the ears and line below which match shards found at Hammett site.Wisconsin Decorative Art Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1192/rec/4 object 73-119.. From the Kenosha Public Museum.

Three-gallon jar attributed to Hammett with ear handles and speckled glaze. The "3" capacity stamp is on the top of rim. It was part of a long-time Wisconsin collection.

Three-gallon jar attributed to Hammett with ear handles and speckled glaze. The poorly stamped "3" capacity is on the top of rim. Private collection.

Three-gallon jar attributed to Hammett with ear handles and speckled glaze. The "3" capacity stamp is on the top of rim. Private collection.

Four-galloon crock attributed to Hammett

Earthenware crock with very thick rolled rim and Hand scratched "4" near handle. Two applied crescent-shaped lug handles. Mottled green and orange lead-based glaze. Attributed to Hammett.

Two-gallon crock attributed to Hammett. "2" is stamped on the rim, with double incised lines.

Food storage jar with clear lead glaze andsingle incised ring, no handles. Attributed to Hammett. Private collection.

This cylindrical jar has a single incised ring and speckled lead glaze. While the predominant glaze color of Hammet pottery is yellow/green there are some pieces known with similar glazes that are likely Hammett based on form and the location found.

Two-gallon pot stamped with capacity numeral, lead glaze and single incised line, no handles. Attributed to Hammett

Four-gallon earthenware butter churn with stamped "4" on the oversized rim, Semi-circular ear handles and lead glaze. Attributed to the Hammett Pottery. Private collection.

Slightly ovoid lead-glazed earthenware jar with banded collar and thick rolled lip. Two applied lug handles. Mottled green and gray lead-based glaze. 14" tall. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. Object 1981.401.239. In the Pendarvis Collection (Wisconsin Historical Society). https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/330/rec/13

Quart jar with lid attributed to Hammett

Quart earthenware jar, single incised ring, lead glaze with lid. This jar was seen in a shop in southeastern Wisconsin. The glaze and color resembles pieces found on the pottery site.

Food preserve jar attributed to Hammett with cover found on a farm near Belmont.

Slightly ovoid earthenware jar with banded collar and thick rolled lip. Clear lead-based glaze on interior and exterior, unglazed lip. Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database object https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/2338/rec/2 private collection.

Red earthenware jar with dark brown glaze with black speckles. Prominent square rim and incised line on the shoulder. Possibly Hammett.

Two-gallon cream pot attributed to Hammett

Cream pot attributed to Hammett with lead glaze, bold rim turning, and incised line, no handles or capacity stamp. Found in an estate sale in Madison, Wisconsin. Private collection.

Sherds from the Hammett Pottery Site

These fragments were collected by Mark Knipping in 1971 in Cottage Grove.

Hammet jar partially reassembled. This mottled yellow/green color appears to be the prevalent color found at the site but there was considerable variation in glaze colors. Note the short flat ear handle.

Three over-fired milk pan fragments nested together. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

The waster dump yielded these broken freshwater clam shells used for shaping rims and polished beef bones used for smoothing.. They are well worn from use and were discarded. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Stacking rings dug at the Hammett site.

Jar and lid fragments with lead glaze but over-fired. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Bottom view of lids from the collection of Mark Knipping.

Top view of lids. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Capacities were hand scratched or stamped on or just below the rim. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assorted rim forms. The glaze color is similar to the majority of shards found at the site. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assorted crock, jar or cream pot rim examples. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Rims with capacity stamps. Note the 1 ½ and 4 in reverse and the distinctive "3". From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Crock handles in various styles, with a flatter arch on larger capacity pieces. Notice the range of glaze colors. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Milk pan rim – inside view of the piece in the previous figure. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Milk pan rim – outside view of the piece in the next photo. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

It appears that Hammett used several methods to mark capcities - stamps were carved from wood, metal stamps or scratched into the wet clay by hand. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Band of coggled decoration below the rim. Very few pieces were marked this way.

Jug tops were made in two styles. This is the simpler one, similar to those on Galena jugs but without a string tie groove. The one at the upper right is the more elaborate form. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Some pieces have heavily speckled glazed but the predominant color is a mottled yellow/tan/green. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Assorted sidewall fragments. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Unglazed flowerpot fragments. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Bases from unglazed flowerpots. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assorted bases, From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assorted basees. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assorted mottled sidewall fragments. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Miscellaneous sherds. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Ear handle sherds. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Mostly ear handle sherds/ From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Yellow glaze body sherds. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assortment of yellow sidewall sherds. This was the predominant color of the sherds found at the site. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Glaze peeling was common on sherds at the site. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Assortment of yellow wall sherds. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

More yellow body sherds. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.

Primitive pipe bowl, hand formed and unglazed. It may have been discarded because it was burnt during firing. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Walnut sized lump of Galena found among pottery fragments. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Kiln bricks were found in abundance, often coated with glaze. From the Collection of Mark Knipping.

Cottage Inn (near Belmont) – Hammett Pottery Read More »

Wautoma Potteries

Pieces, Potteries / By Made from Clay .

Pottery was manufactured at two sites south of Wautoma by William (Billy) Mosier, his son Edwin Mosier, and John Williams.

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Wautoma Pottery Examples

The glazes of pottery made at the Wautoma locations vary considerably but the color of the clay body is light, not red. It appears that the composition of the clay they used was fired at a higher temperature than earthenware's made elsewhere in Wisconsin. Mosier advertised his wares as "stone ware", but it was earthenware - not nearly as vitrified and durable as pottery made from imported clay with salt glaze. Relatively few pieces of Wautoma pottery have survived.

The potteries of William and Edwin Mosier produced a diversity of wares exhibiting glazes that range from downright ugly to quite attractive. Colors run from yellow, tan, olive brown, grey to black often in combinations...

W.D. Mosier - 1855 to 1863

These pieces are stamped W.D. MOSIER and date to about the time that Billy closed the pottery to fight in the Civil War.

Two-gallon earthenware jar with cobalt flower and capacity and lead slip glaze and an inner shelf for a lid and single incised line. It is stamped on the back "W.D. MOSIER." Few Mosier pottery pieces were decorated.

One gallon earthenware jug with a handle and one incised line and a heavy dark blown lead glaze..It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER" on the handle. Private collection.

Two-gallon earthenware handled jug stamped "W.D. MOSIER" and with two bold incised lines at the shoulder. The jug has a mottled glaze, an unusual characteristic for a Mosier piece.

Earthenware bottle with lead glaze. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER" and dates from 1855 to 1866. Heavy brown glaze.

Earthenware bottle with lead glaze. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER" and dates from 1855 to 1866. It was dipped into the glaze twice - the lower half then it was inverted and dipped again, creating a darker band where the overlap occured. The form is typical of bottles from the 1850's. Private collection.

Earthenware handled jug 9 1/4" tall with streaky brown lead glaze. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/2604/rec/2103-5 Digital identifier PC087

Wide-mouthed earthenware jug with brown tinted lead glaze and a shelf for a lid. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER". It has incised lines at the shoulder. Private collection.

Earthenware jar with lead glaze and a shelf for lid and stamped "W.D. MOSIER". It has incised lines at the shoulder.

Wheel turned earthenware butter pot with streaky, darkened lead glaze, oversized round rim, no handles, and incised line. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER". Private collection.

Earthenware handled jug with grey colored leasd glaze and cobalt dots on the shoulder. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER".

Earthenware jar with lead glaze and a shelf for lid and stamped "W.D. MOSIER". It has incised lines at the shoulder.

Earthenware jar with drippy brown lead glaze and a shelf for lid and stamped "W.D. MOSIER". It has incised lines at the shoulder. and an unusual square lip finish. 9"H x 7 1/2" diam. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/2619/rec/3 PC086

W.D. Mosier & Co. - 1866 to 1877

Pieces stamped with the "& Co." were probably made after Billy Mosier and his son-in-law Frank Van Arsdale returned from the Civil War in 1866 until the pottery on the White River closed in 1877. The partners represented by the "& Co." in the stamp may have been one or more of his family members who worked at the pottery: Edwin, Byron, and/or his son-in-law Frank.

Earthenware pitcher with drippy olive green lead glaze, handle and incised lines around the rim and one ast the shoulder. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER &CO." below the pouring spout. Private collection.

Earthenware batter jug with wire handles attached to pierced ears and a pouring spout. It is lead glazed and stamped on the spout "W.D. MOSIER & CO." This is the only surviving stamped example of a batter jug from a Wisconsin pottery, Private collection.

Two-gallon earthenware food storage jar stamped W.D. MOSIER & CO. with a script "2" and slip trailed flower in cobalt. Very few decorated Mosier pieces are in collections today.

Earthenware handled jug with an attractive lead glaze with darker glaze drippage. It is stamped "W.D. MOSIER & CO." and dates from 1866 to 1877. Private collection.

Earthenware rose bowl with lead glaze and stamped "W.D. MOSIER & CO." Mosier is the only pottery we are aware of with surviving examples of this form, and there are two known. 5 1/4"H x 6" diam. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/2641/rec/6 Digital Asset PC084

Another earthenware rose bowl with a dark brown lead glaze and stamped "W.D. MOSIER & CO." Mosier is the only pottery we are aware of with surviving examples of this form, and there are two known.

Earthenware spittoon with a brown lead glaze and stamped "W.D. MOSIER & CO." above the drain hole Mosier is the only pottery we are aware of with signed examples of this form, and there are two of them!

Earthenware spittoon with a deep olive green colored lead glaze and stamped "W.D. MOSIER & CO." belowthe drain hole Mosier is the only pottery we are aware of with signed examples of this form, and there are two of them!

A note that accompanies this piece reads as follows: "This little penny bank ... was given to me and made by a little boy named Danny Jones who played with me when he visited my sister and [her] husband Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Parker who with Mr. Williams and Jones worked [at] the pottery at Wautoma during the year 1874 etc. I watched the men form several pieces of work. With the men's help Danny made this Bank for me and put his enitals [sic] on it "D. J.” From the Waushara County Historical Society Museum.

Earthenware handled jug with lead glaze and stamped "W.D. MOSIER & CO." 13 1/4"H x 9 3/4" diam. Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/2623/rec/4 PC082

Sherds from the Edwin Mosier Site

The sherds shown here were rescued by Mark Knipping before the contents of the waster dump were dug out and used for road fill. Given that the only marked pieces from this site are stenciled Edwin Mosier who may have left the potter by 1880, these photos should be helpful for identifying unsigned Mosier pottery.

No sherds have been recovered from the William Mosier site because it is underwater due to a dam.

Edwin's pottery was stenciled and also had hand written capacity.

Sherds from the Edwin Mosier pottery site

Assorted sherds with light colored glazes.. The piece in the upper right has an uncharacteristic square rim.

Exterior view of four crocks. The inside is glazed with a dark lead glaze. This was apparently to simuilate salt-glazed stoneware.

Some pieces have a splash of cobalt on the ears.

Interior glaze drippage.

On these piece the lead glaze was tinted brown and appear to have been baked at a temperature that was too high for the glaze, resembling in a textured surface.

Unglazed flower pot with a simple rim and one incised line. Most potteries made flower pots. After the Civil War many Wisconsin potters made more garden pots due to competitive pressures.

Glaze colors are often deep brown, almost resembling Albany slip, or olive greens, often with signs of glaze drippage or sagging.

The exterior color on these pieces is tinted grey to resemble salt-glazed stoneware.

Lead glazed fragments tinted very dark.

Assorted dark glazed round rims.

Ear handle examples.

Round rim examples, all with two incised lines near the rims.

Kiln brick.

Edwin Mosier & Co. - 1866 to 1877

Pieces stenciled in cobalt with "EDWIN D. MOSIER" were probably made between 1877 and 1880. The 1880 census does not show Edwin or Billy living in the area, suggesting that both were gone by then. John Williams continued to operate the pottery for a couple more years after that. That explains the rarity of stencilled Mosier pottery. There are just a handful of them known to collectors today.

Wheel turned earthenware butter pot with lead glaze, oversized round rim, ear handles, and incised lines at the handles. It has a hand painted capacity and stenciled name "EDWIN D. MOSIER / MFR / WAUTOMA WIS". 10 1/2"H x 10" diam. Photo is from the Decorative Arts Database item 508-1. PC088

Wheel turned earthenware butter pot with lead glaze, oversized round rim, ear handles, and incised lines at the ears. It has a hand painted capacity and stenciled name "EDWIN D. MOSIER / MFR / WAUTOMA WIS". Private collection.

Earthenware butter pot with a mottles grey lead glaze, oversized round rim. It has no handles or incised line. It is stenciled "EDWIN D. MOSIER / MFR / WAUTOMA WIS". Private collection.

J.H. Williams - 1874 to 1882

Williams rented Billy Mosier's pottery on the White river for several years and continued making pottery at the new Edwin Mosier site until 1882. It seems likely that he did not mark his wares given that no pieces have been found marked with his name. Pottery exists today that resembles Mosier's pottery but is unsigned. Some of these were probably made by Williams.

we attribute this piece to, the Edwin Mosier site, probably from the late 1870's based on similarities to sherds found at the site.

Earthenware food storage jar with lead glaze, no handles, and an incised line at the shoulder. J.H. Williams may have made this piece given that Billy Mosier claimed to always mark his wares.

Wautoma Potteries Read More »

Sheboygan – Eastern Stoneware Co.

Pieces, Potteries / By Made from Clay .

This article covers three pottery operations at two sites:

Peter Berns Pottery (1855 to 1863) located at 9th and Superior Streets made earthenware pottery from local clay. No pottery examples or sherds have been attributed to this pottery yet.
Gunther & Berns pottery (1863 to 1866) at 8th & Wisconsin Streets. They made salt glazed pottery.
Eastern Stoneware Company (1866 to 1885) also at 8th & Wisconsin Streets. They also made salt-glazed stoneware.

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Gunther & Berns and Eastern Stoneware Co. Stoneware Examples

Most of the decorated stoneware from the Eastern Stoneware Company had a floral motif referred to as a "water plant" or simply as a variation on the tulip. While larger crocks and churns commonly had cobalt blue decorations, smaller pieces were often left unadorned because the additional time required could not be justified economically given the low return on small wares sold at a fixed rate per gallon.

Gunther & Berns - 1863 to 1866

Decorated stoneware from this period are relatively rare compared to those from the Th. Gunther era after Berns sold out in 1866.

The cobalt elongated four-petal tulip decoration on this six-gallon churn is exceptional. Private collection.

Gunther butter churn dated 1866 with two sets of three incised lines and ear handles. One of the few dated pieces of Wisconsin stoneware, this large churn may have been created to mark the year in which Theodore Gunther purchased Peter Berns' share of the Eastern Stone Ware Factory and became its sole proprietor. Heavily decorated with cobalt, the churn bears an elaborate tulip motif above the date. In its lavish decoration the 1866 churn differs markedly from the simpler decorations on most later Gunther salt-glazed wares. This piece was part of the collection of the late Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Gunther & Berns four-gallon butter churn

The cobalt decoration on this churn is almost identical to some Charles Hermann pieces. It is often referred to as a Dauffenbach flower. Charles Dauffenbach later used a flower like this on the pottery he made in New Ulm, . after he moved there in 1867.

Stamped with the standard Gunther & Berns oval and capacity. The The elegant and well rendered cobalt flower is quite different from the tulip motif found on most Eastern Stoneware pieces. Decorated and stamped Gunther & Berns jugs are very rare, and this one is unusually large.

Two-gallon salt-glazed handled jug has the Gunther & Berns oval stamp and "2" centered above the flower. It has an exceptional triple flower decoration. that resembles the decoration on a Charles Hermann piece from Milwaukee. Theodore Gunther worked for Hermann for a few years before coming to Sheboygan to partner with Peter Berns. It seems likely that these pieces were decorated by Th. Gunther.

A decoration like this also appears on a four-gallon crock stamped C. Hermann Milwaukee. Theodore Gunther worked at Hermann from 1859 to 1863 before coming to Sheboygan. This piece and a Gunther & Berns crock with a similar decoration may have been decorated by Th, Gunther between 1863 and 1866.

A decoration like this also appears on a four-gallon crock stamped C. Hermann Milwaukee. Theodore Gunther worked a Hermann from 1859 tot 1863 before coming to Sheboygan This piece and a Gunther & Berns field jug with a similar decoration may have been decorated by T, Gunther between 1863 and 1866.

Balsley Detroit 6 gallon churn from Detroit

This churn is offered in the 2023 summer auction of Crocker Farms, lot 79. It is stamped Balsley Detroit. It is shown here because the flower resembles the decorations on several Wisconsin stoneware from Gunther, Gunther Berns and Charles Hermann. It is interesting because William and his son Peter worked for Balsley in Detroit in the late 1850's before coming to Milwaukee. William worked for Maxfield, than Hermann and Gunther. The artists doen't appear to be the same person, but it could be a less skilled decorator copying the flower.

Gunther & Berns unsigned three-gallon crock

This piece is unmarked but has a classic early Eastern Stoneware Company tulip decoration. It resembles decorations on Gunther & Berns pieces but could be an early Gunther.

This piece is stamped with the standard Gunther & Berns oval and capacity. Note the three incised lines just below the rim.

This well decorated six-gallon butter pot features a jumbo two four-petal tulips plus two flowers buds with two petals, a frequent motif on Gunther & Berns wares. Ear handles and two incised lines at the handles. It is stamped.

This three-gallon butter pot is stamped with the standard Gunther & Berns oval and "3" gallon capacity. It has ear handles and one incised line just below the ears.

Gunther & Berns five-gallon crock with a large, four-flower decoration. The upper flowers have a series of dots between the petals which is unusual for Gunther. It is stamped near the left ear handle and has a stamped "5" in the center and an incised line.

This low butter pot is stamped with the standard Gunther & Berns oval and capacity but no flower decoration.

These are stamped with the standard Gunther & Berns oval which is unusual. Most bottles are stamped with the bottler's name or are not stamped. These bottles are believed to have been used by the Gutsch Brewing company and later by the Sheboygan Mineral Water Company.

Half-gallon salt-glazed cream pot with Albany slip inside, 7" tall. The bottom shows evidence of being cut from the wheel with a pair of wires twisted together, a common trait of smaller Gunther & Berns pieces. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

This is the standard oval stamp that was used on all marked Gunther & Berns stoneware. It reads "TH. GUNTHER / & / BERNS / SHEBOYGAN.". After Berns sold out in 1866 Gunther simply removed the "& BERNS" and continued to use the same stamp.

Th. Gunther - 1867 to 1885

Many examples of both signed and unsigned stoneware from the Th. Gunther era survive today. In the early years the flower buds were large and long and stamps were placed in the upper left. Over time, the flower buds evolved into more compact form and the stamps were in the upper right position.

Eastern Stoneware Co. - assortment of early wares

Top row: four bowls from Th. Gunther. They are Albany glazed on the lower exteriors. Second row: Early stamped Th. Gunther crocks. The incised lines are just below the rims and stamps are offset left. Third row: Four Gunther & Berns bottles and three early crocks with horizontal tulips. Bottom row: Three early stamped Gunther cocks with exceptional flowers.

Salt-glazed Water dispenser made for the Sheboygan Mineral Water Company at the Th. Gunther Pottery. 25” tall including the cover. Private collection. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

When Gunther bought out Peter Berns in 1866 he simply removed the "& BERNS" and continued using the same stamp. Both are 1 5/8" wide. Note the period after the word SHEBOYGAN. Gunther rarely dipped the stamp in cobalt.

Gunther apparently had only one set of capacity stamps, but some pieces have only painted digits or no capacity at all. Because the font is distinctive they can positively identify a Gunther piece even if the stamp is missing or illegible.

This piece has an elongated, four-petal tulip decoration with a vertical line in the center and incised "3" and two lines below the rim. It is unknown if it is stamped based upon the photo.

Wheel-turrned, salt-glaze six-gallon crock with ear handles and incised line and centered "6". The vivid detailed flowers are an unusual variation of the typical Gunther floral decoration. Stamped with the TH, GUNTHER oval on left. Private collection

Wheel-trurned, salt-glaze six-gallon crock with ear handles and incised line and "3". The flower is an unusual variation of the typical Gunther flower. Stamped with the TH, GUNTHER oval. Private collection

The decoration is a variation of the typical Gunther flower with two large, buds and nine lines extending from each stem and a verticle line in the center. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "3". Private collection.

The decoration is a variation of the typical Gunther flower with two large, upright buds and three lines extending from each stem and a vertical line in the center. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "3". Private collection.

Center gallon stamp. Vertical tulip decoration with base of decoration at base of the piece.

The decoration is an typical Gunther flower that features two horizontal flowers and a third shorter flower in the center. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "5". Private collection

Earlier stamp on left. Tulips angle upward.

The decoration is a variation of typical Gunther flower that incorporates dots in the curvy horizontal flowers. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "6". Private collection

The decoration is an typical Gunther flower with two horizontal elongated buds flower. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a centered "3" with a small blob of cobalt over the stamp. Private collection

Early, decorated with horizontal two-petal flowers and a single incised line below the handles plus a stamped three capacity.

Horizontal flower decoration, Stamp on left but is probably Th. Gunther as Berns cannot be discerned from the photo.

Horizontal Floral decoration, centered numeral.

This three-gallon crock is stamped with the standard Gunther & Berns oval inear the left handle and "3" gallon capacity. It has ear handle and three incised lines just below the rim.

The decoration is a typical Gunther flower with two large, horizontal buds. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "3". Private collection.

The decoration is an typical Gunther flower with two buds. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "3". Private collection

Gunther four-gallon butter churn the typical Gunther flower with two buds and a horizontal strip in the front below the rim.. Stamped to the left with the TH. GUNTHER oval and a "3". Private collection.

Stamp on right. Double drooping tulip decoration.

Gunther & Berns two- or three-gallon crock

Decoration is the three blossom decoration with the stamp offset right.

Gunther four-gallon crock with the Th. Gunther stamp to the right. Typical flower decoration with three blossoms, two incised lines and ear handles.

The oval stamp on this piece is offset right and is characteristically difficult to read. Left flower droops, right flower is upright.

Salt-glazed crock with a upright double tulip decoration and oval Th. Gunther stamp near the right ear handle.

Double tulip with sinuous stems.

Perhaps after a hard night at the saloon, Theodore had difficulty staying between the lines with his coloring. Seriously, the flours are "jauntily" positioned indicating motion and one stem traverses the rim.

The decoration is the standard flower with the addition of a cobalt circle surrounded by dots. The standard flower could be a fanciful tulip or crocus or may not represent any real flower at all.

The decoration is the typical Gunther flower buds with a line and dots between them and a horizontal stripe in the front below the rim.. Stamped to the left with the TH, GUNTHER oval and a "3". Private collection

Three flower buds with dropping stems with dots below and a horizontal blue stripe on the front below the rim. Capacity mark and two incised lines below the ear handles. Stamped to the right with the TH, GUNTHER oval. Private collection.

Unmarked stoneware handled jug with a diminutive Gunther-style cobalt tulip decoration and an incised "3". Decorated Gunther jugs are rare.

Signed Gunther jugs are very rare for unknown reasons. Notice the verticle chatter marks from the tool used to form the sides of the jug.

Two stems with upright leaves decoration. The oval stamp on this piece is offset right and is characteristically difficult to read. The decoration is believed to be a willow branch.

Gunther mechanical butter churn with Ash eight-blade beater that fit on a shaft. The cock sat in a wooden frame that was powered by a hand crank.

Gunther crock with spindle and drain holes

Six-gallon capacity butter pot decorated with two stems with leaves on either side of the spindle hole. Stamped with the TH, GUNTHER oval in the center. This piece was part of a wooden butter churn apparatus. A crank-driven set of beaters was seated inside. Opposite the hole is a recessed square dimple allowing the shaft end to seat in place. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Gunther crock with spindle and drain holes decorated with two stems with leaves on either side of the hole. Stamped to the right with the TH, GUNTHER oval. This piece was part of a wooden butter churn apparatus. A crank driven set of beaters was seated inside. Opposite the hole is a recessed dimple allowing the shaft to seat in place. Private collection.

Three-gallon Gunther butter pot with a heavy "oatmeal" surface texture and many speckles. The ear handles have unusual terminations. The thin Albany on the inside sagged, causing the upper part of the interior to be unglazed. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Glazed with Albany on the inside and lower part of the exterior. It was designed to be stackable for storage.

Lid for crock, size cannot be determined from the photo.

Salt-glazed Th. Gunther butter churn cover

Family tradition attributes this exceptional flowerpot to William Gunther, one of Theodore's two sons, who worked in the pottery before entering medical school. However, some descendants of the Gunthers' question the ability of a young apprentice to execute so detailed a piece and suggest that this flowerpot was a specialty item created by a more experienced member of the factory crew. The attached saucer, incised shoulder lines, crimped rims, and especially the rope-twist handles would require a potter of considerable skill, but no definite attribution to him seems possible.

Unmarked Gunther jar with cover, 6 1/4" tall The bottom shows evidence that it was cut from the wheel with a pair of wires twisted together, a common trait of smaller Gunther & Berns pieces. This piece was part of the collection of the late Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Wheel-thrown stoneware mug with handle and slightly footed base with Albany slip inside and out, 5" tall. 3 1/2" diameter. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Although this finely crafter soup tureen observes most of the conventions employed in the manufacture of tableware by the Easrern Stoneware Factory, it was certainly not a production item. The footed tureen. wheel-turned with Albany slip glaze inside and out, a well fitted cover with concave slope and knobbed handle. It is not stamped. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter. 10" tall. 9" diameter.

From left to right: 8" tall, 7 1/2" tall, 10" tall. These were part of the collection of the late Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Unmarked Gunther milk pitcher attributed to Th. Gunther, 8" tall with handle and incised line. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Unmarked half-gallon Gunther jug with Albany slip glaze. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Unmarked Gunther pitcher with no spout with Albany slip glaze. 7 1/2" tall. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Four Albany slip glazed jug. The two in the back are one-gallon capacity. The wide mouthed jug is a half-gallon and the smallest is a quart size. These pieces were part of the collection of the late Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

One-gallon jug with loop handle and Albany slip glaze, 9" tall. Gunther's Albany glaze tended to be thin, so pieces have sign of dripping. This distinguishes them from other potters who made similar forms. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Typical Gunther handle terminations on unmarked jugs in the Van Handel collection. Unlike Hermann Albany jug handle terminations which were often shaped like a fish tail, these are simply oval-shaped, much like similar jug elsewhere in the U.S. This jug was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Unmarked half-gallon Gunther jug with Albany slip glaze and handle. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Unmarked one-quart jar with Albany slip glaze inside and out. 6" tall. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

Unmarked Gunther two-gallon jar with Albany slip glaze, 12" tall. It was part of the collection of Margaret (Gunther) Van Handel and her son Ray. She is Theodore's granddaughter.

A rare surviving account statement dated Nov. 10. 1885 a Mr. H. Scheele for purchases made in June through October 1885 provides a glimpse of Gunther' s prices. That sale was among the last made at the Eastern Stone Ware Factory, for Theodore Gunther died at the end of the month, Oct. 27, 1885

Gunther envelope 3 1/2" x 6" addressed to Emil Gunther.

Gunther envelope 3 1/2" x 6" unused.

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