Made from Clay

Milwaukee – Charles Hermann & Co. 1856 to 1882

Charles Hermann & Co. is the best known and most prolific stoneware manufacturer in Wisconsin in the 19th century. Spanning thirty years in Milwaukee, starting in 1856 and ending with the transfer of his business to his stepson in 1886, his products are still found all over Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. His factory employed a large staff of potters and decorators and served as a school for a number of these craftspeople to launch their own potteries. From the finest decorated jugs, pots and his churns of his pottery’s earliest years to the ubiquitous Albany slip, “beehive” jugs with the “C. HERMANN & CO. / MILWAUKEE” oval stamp, this entrepreneur made his mark. The authors provide new research that expands the knowledge of Hermann’s products and the people that made them.

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Charles Hermann & Co. Stoneware Examples

One of a handful of pieces of dated Wisconsin stoneware, this jug may have been made to commemorate the founding of the pottery in 1856. It is slip trail decorated with an elaborate square border around "Milwaukee" in script over "1856." with the Hermann oval stamp.

Whether a personal statement or a paraphrasing of Abraham Lincoln's temperance speeches, this semi-literate in English decorator attempted to write, "I am not a temperance man, my fellow." Photo from the Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1173/rec/2

This cobalt decoration is found on various Hermann wares: churns, crocks, jugs and is undoubtedly the work of one artist. Probably the "Dot" artist that also did the birds. Possibly William Gunther or John Stoeckert.

A piece made when Hermann & Co. was sourcing clay from Illinois or New Jersey based upon the buff-colored base clay.

Hermann cream pots are rare. This one has a simple brushed flower decoration that includes the "4" instead of an incised "4.". A similar decoration was used on Gunther pieces

Whimsical cobalt decoration on buff colored base clay. The "3" is brushed on rather than stamped.

Slip cup and brushed on decoration. Quite delicate rendering and appears to be the "Dot" artist.

Brushed or finger painted crude flower decoration with the Hermann oval and stamped capacity.

Two-gallon ovoid jug with slip-cup and brush decorated cobalt flower decoratiom. Cobalt-highlighted stamp and cobalt capacity.

Jug stamped "C. HERMANN & CO. / MILWAUKEE” which started in 1856. Weimar Remy left Milwaukee Stoneware in 1856 and went to work for Hermann. The other potters we know of who went to work for Hermann after working for Maxfield are John Stoeckert and William Gunther, but they started at the Hermann pottery in 1858 after Maxfield sold out. It seems likely that Weimar Remy decorated this jug in about 1856.

Butter churn with elaborate slip cup and brush cobalt decoration with accents on the ears. Capacity "3" is incised.

Two-gallon salt glazed cream pot with slip trailed cobalt decoration and blue on the handles. It has incided capacity and the Hermann stamp.

Salt glazed storage jar with handles snd vivid double flower. Brush decorated with tulip petal-like motif similar to that seen on Theodore. Gunther, Sheboygan pieces. Both William Gunther and son Theo. worked at the Hermann factory. The oval stamp is the older Times Roman style lettering indicating it could date from their time at the factory.

Three-gallon crock with the Dauffenbach-style cobalt flower. The stamp is "LANAWAY & MILLS / NO # / CENTRAL BLOCK / MINNEAPOLIS, MINN

Three-gallon crock with the Dauffenbach-style cobalt flower. Capacity is painted. This piece has exceptional glaze and decoration color.

The cobalt flower on this straight-sided crock resembles decorations painted by C. Dauffenbach about 1865-1867 before he went to New Ulm. A capacity is not visible but the crock appears to be a three-gallon capacity.

Three-gallon crock with the Dauffenbach-style cobalt flower and cobalt over the stamp. The stamp letters have serifs indicating it was made in Hermann's earlier years of production. Capacity is incised. This piece has exceptional glaze and decoration color.

Tall jug with the Dauffenbach-style flower decoration and oval stamp with cobalt highlights.

Exquisite Dauffenbach-style cobalt decoration, the standard Hermann oval stamp, and an incised "6" capacity mark.

This churn has a variation of the Dauffenbach-style cobalt decoration, the Hermann oval stamp, and an incised "6" capacity mark.

The cobalt decoration is a simplified version of the Dauffenbach-style flower but may be at the hand of Theodore Gunther as the tulip flower itself resembles later Gunther decorations. It has the Hermann oval stamp and incised "6".

Brushed on cobalt floral decoration with the Hermann stamp and incised capacity.

Brushed on cobalt flower and "2" gallon designation.

The star flower decoration on this jug is unusual for Hermann. Unlike some other potters who adopted standardize decorations, the Hermann pottery did not. Apparently, Hermann decorator were free to do as they pleased.

Cobalt decorated, salt-glazed ovoid jug with simple brush rendered floral decoration.

Butter churn with elaborated slip cup and brush cobalt decoration and accents on the ears. Capacity is incised.

Cobalt decorated, salt glazed straight sided crock. Fanciful floral motif, central flower may represent a lupine or pinecone. Probably made in the 1850's during Hermann's earliest period of production.

Two-gallon ovoid jug with the over Hermann stamp and incised capacity. The decoration is slip-trailed and cobalt was applied over the stamp.

Cobalt decorated, salt glazed churn with imaginative and fanciful floral decoration with the Hermann stamp and incised "4".

Hermann four- and six-gallon butter churns

Pair of churns with similar slip trailed decorations. Note the difference in clay colors. The buff clay is typical of NJ clay while grey appears to be made from Ohio clay. Private collection.

Slightly misshapen ovoid jug with a unusually deep and thick cobalt slip-trailed decoration.

Three-gallon jug with a small, deep cobalt flower decoration. This jug is less ovoid in shape.

Cobalt decorated, salt glazed three-gallon crock with floral motif resembling a lily-of-the-valley.

Salt glazed crock with cobalt floral motif applied using the slip cup technique. String-tie rim finish and incised stamp and capacity.

Perhaps the finest of Hermann & Co. decorated pieces, great care was taken to draw this oversized bird using brush and slip cup.

Cobalt decorated salt-glazed butter crock decorated in cobalt with two birds on a flower. All of the Hermann bird stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

Bird with arched neck drinking with the flower vessel. Artist relied heavily on adding dots on both to the bird and the plant the bird is hovering over.

Cobalt decorated salt-glazed crock with a large bird on a flower. All of the Hermann bird stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

Six-gallon decorated Hermann butter churn

Cobalt decorated salt-glazed butter churn decorated in cobalt with a bird on a flower. All of the Hermann bird decorated stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

Cobalt decorated salt glaze crock with bird on a flower. All of the Hermann bird stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

Cobalt decorated salt-glazed crock with bird on a flower. All of the Hermann bird decorated stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

Cobalt decorated salt-glazed butter churn decorated in cobalt with a bird on a flower. All of the Hermann bird stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

Cobalt bird-on-flower decoration on grey salt glaze. Cobalt highlights on handles and painted capacity.

Cobalt decorated salt-glazed crock with bird on a flower. All of the Hermann bird stoneware appears to have been decorated by the same person using a slip cup and dots during the 1850's and 1860's.

O. ZWIETUSCH MILWAUKEE. bottle made by Hermann

Bottle made by Hermann. We know this because this same stamp was also used on jugs with fishtail handle finishes, a telltale trait of jugs made by Hermann.

Pig bottles were made for a variety of businesses (saloons, whiskey companies) and commemorations (new railroad lines, hunt clubs and other societies.)The oval stamp on the rump is the later block letter stamp. The paint on the tail, snout, eyes, and ears appears to have been applied after fireing.

One-gallon ovoid Hermann jug with Albany slip and the earlier stamp. The stamp and the ovoid shape suggest this is probably from the 1850's or 1860's.

Salt-glazed one-gallon jug with the earlier Roman letter stamp. Hermann & Co. apparently did not decorate jugs smaller than two gallons.

Cobalt stenciled, salt glazed crock stamped "C. HERMANN & CO. MILWAUKEE WIS." Hermann transitioned away from hand decorations to stenciled markings for efficiency. Probably dates to the early 1870's. It is not stamped.

This piece dates from the late-1870's or early 1880 before Pierron took over in 1886. It has no capacity mark but appears to be a two- or three-gallon size.

Transitional-period stenciled crock from the 1882-86 period before Louis Pierron took full control of the stoneware factory.

Pristine example of this later period churn. Dasher lid missing. These rarely survived.

Salt glazed crock with cobalt stencil from the 1882-1886 period when Louis Pierron was the general manager of the pottery. Lid was dug separately but has a similar "orange peel" salt glaze seen on many pieces from this factory.

Albany slip on the inside and outside. Hermann must have made these jars in the tens of thousands based upon the number of surviving examples. Held preserves, mustards and other condiments as well as snuff. These two have internal shelves to support lids.

These are commonly referred to as "Snuff Jars" but were used for various commercial products and general household uses. They are designed to use a cork. they were made with both Abany slip and salt-glaze finishes.

These jars were made in large quantities in both salt-glazed and Albany slip glazes. They were general purpose jars for use by merchants for products or home use. Fine example with deeply incised, later period stamp.

Albany slip glazed with unusual collared spout with a sans-serif stamp.

Albany slip jug with pouring spout for molasses, syrups, or other viscous liquids. Jugs with pouring spouts are rare.

The store in Nenno, Wisconsin purchased large quantities of jars, milk pans, and flower pots with saucers. Note that Hermann was also selling fire clay and fire sand.

Receipt showing jars, milk pans, and pipkins. Interestingly, we are aware of no surviving Hermann milk pans or pipkins. Note also that Hermann was selling "fire clay" and "fire sand" commonly used by foundries and other manufacturers.

Milwaukee – Charles Hermann & Co. 1856 to 1882 Read More »

Baraboo Pottery

Potteries / By Made from Clay .

A pottery was operated in Baraboo from 1851 to 1857 by Philip Pointon and his son. Two earthenware pieces that initiated our research, a molded tobacco jar and a wheel turned cream pot with strong attributions in the collection of the Sauk County Historical Society...

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Related article: Baraboo Pottery Waster Dump Dig

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These pieces of a 3-gallon cream pot were found in a privy Portage in 2022. We attribute them to the Baraboo Pottery (1850 – 1857). They are the first Baraboo Pottery shards found since a truckload of shards were recovered from the pottery site in 2021. They resemble Whitewater pottery but have several distinguishing features. First, the rim is not prominent or sharply tooled like Whitewater cream pots. Secondly there are no documented examples of Whitewater with three incised lines. Three lines are typical of Baraboo cream pots. The manganese decoration is more translucent than Whitewater. The style of the “3” is distinctive. The fact that it appears on both Whitewater and Baraboo pottery is more evidence to support our hypothesis that an unidentified potter moved from the Fremont Street Pottery in Whitewater to Baraboo in the early 1850’s, bringing with him the decorative style of looping scroll below a flower

Baraboo Pottery Read More »

Milwaukee – Friedrich Herrmann Pottery

Oconto – Hubertus Plain Pottery

La Crosse – Brower and Vail Pottery

Twin Grove Pottery

Milwaukee – Pierron Pottery Company

Read the article: Pierron Pottery Company (will open in a new tab in your browser)

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Read the article: Charles Hermann & Co.

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Charles Hermann & Co. Stoneware Examples

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William Sanderson

Baraboo Pottery