Gallery

Small jug attributed to Hammett 14

Cottage Inn (near Belmont) – Hammett Pottery

People, Pieces, Potteries / By

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 of grandpa used it as a canteen when he worked in the lead mine. 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 earthenware jar. 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.
Slightly ovoid jug with strap handle and clear lead glaze and grooved lip. Private collection.
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.
Four-gallon earthenware crock with lead glaze and very thick rolled rim.butter pot attributed to Belmont. Incised "4" on the rim, ear handles, incised coggled band at the ears and line below. Wisconsin Decorative Art Database. https://content.wisconsinhistory.org/digital/collection/wda/id/1192/rec/4 object 73-119.. From the Kenosha Public Museum.
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.
Food storage jar with clear leads glaze and incised ring, no handles. Attributed to Hammett. Private collection.
Two-gallon pot with lead glaze and an incised line, no handles. Attributed to Hammett
Four-gallon earthenware butter churn with incised "4" on the oversized rim, Semi-circular ear handles and lead glaze. Attributed to the Hammett Pottery. Private collection.
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.

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.
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. 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 the stamps were carved from wood or were hand incised. 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.
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.
Assorted mottled sidewall fragments. From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.
From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.
From the collection of the Kenosha Public Museum.
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.
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.

Wautoma Potteries

Pieces, Potteries / By

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.
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.

Sheboygan – Eastern Stoneware Co.

Pieces, Potteries / By

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 property yet.
  • Gunther & Berns pottery (1863 to 1866) at 8th & Wisconsin Streets made salt glazed pottery.
  • Eastern Stoneware Company (1866 to 1885) also at 8th & Wisconsin Streets 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.
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 tot 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.
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.

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.
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.
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.
Two-Gallon Ovoid Hermann & Co. Jug

Milwaukee – Charles Hermann & Co. 1856 to 1882

Pieces / By

Charles Hermann & Co. is the best known and most productive 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 step-son 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.

Read the article: Charles Hermann & Co.

Related article: Pierron Pottery Company

 

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 Maxfield are John Stoeckert and William Gunther, but they went in 1858 after Maxfield sold out. It seems likely that Weimar Remy decorated this jug in about 1856.
Butter churn with elaborated slip cup and brush cobalt decoration and 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 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".
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.
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.
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 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 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.
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. made for a Milwaukee Merchant by Ch. Hermann & Co. This is a transition piece from hand decoration to more efficient marking. 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.

Whitewater Potteries

Pieces / By

These articles cover the history of the four earthenware pottery manufacturers that operated in Whitewater Wisconsin. These articles will open in a new window in your browser. Scroll down to see photos.

Whitewater - Fremont Street Pottery (1846 to 1858)

Whitewater - Cravath Street Pottery (1847 to 1852)

Whitewater - Depot Pottery (1854 to 1882)

Whitewater - Whiton Street Pottery (1859 to 1866)

George Williams - Came with his family  to Whitewater in 1846 from Mt. Morris NY where he operated the Nathan Clark Pottery. He bought into the Fremont Street Pottery. Later his son James ran the Depot Pottery.

Whitewater Pottery Examples

Despite the large size of the potteries, relatively few examples of their ware survived, especially undamaged pieces. Whitewater pottery is extremely porous and brittle so it easily cracks, breaks, chips, and the glaze tends to peel when it gets wet and freezes. This gallery contains photos of some of the pieces that did somehow survive.

Only a couple of surviving pieces have stamps but Whitewater pottery is often identifiable based on the glaze, decoration and light weight. We have attributed some piece to specific potteries based on similarities to sherd recovered from pottery sites, but most cannot yet be identified. Attribution of unstamped earthenware can never be 100% and there are many pieces of earthenware with similarities with Whitewater but uncertain at best. The photos below should help.

 

Water cooler, bird waterer, shaving mug, syrup pitcher, and book bottle. These pieces were originally collected in the 1940's by Whitewater resident Joseph Thiele. Private collection.
This cream pot is stamped twice “WHITE WATER”. It was found in the Knapp-Calkin house in Palmyra, Wisconsin with its original pressed wood cover. From a private collection. The press marks at the base of the ear handles and pedestal at the base are not seen of other pottery attributed to Whitewater. This is the only known intact, stamped Whitewater piece. We believe it is the earliest known Fremont Street Pottery piece, probably from the 1847-1848, which also gives it the distinction of being Wisconsin's older known piece of marked pottery.. From a private collection.
In 1847 George William moved his family from Mt. Morris, N.Y. and bought a 50% interest in Warren Cole's pottery on Fremont Street. The salt-glazed jar is stamped "N. CLARK / MT. MORRIS, N.Y." The earthenware cream pot is unmarked but attributed to the Fremont Street Pottery. The resemblance between the decorations is unmistakable. It consists of a fern, a slash, and a scroll. The slash presumably represents the ground and the scroll the root.
Two-gallon Whitewater ovoid jug with manganese fern with a scroll. We attribute this piece to the Fremont Street Pottery. Private collection.
Two-gallon Whitewater ovoid jug with manganese fern with a sinuous tail. We attribute this piece to the Depot or Fremont Street Pottery. Private collection.
Two-gallon Whitewater ovoid jug with large manganese fern, flower, and scroll decoration under a brushed "2". Probably Fremont Street or Depot Pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon jug with a clear lead glaze and the fern and scroll manganese decoration under a large painted "2". Private collection.
We believe this jug to be from the Whiton Pottery based on similarity of the decoration to sherds found at the site. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon ovoid jug with lead glaze and manganese flower decoration. Attributed to the Depot Pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater earthenware two-gallon jug with lead glazed with manganese "ice tongs" flower decoration. Attributed to the Depot Pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater ovoid jug with manganese flower decoration. Attributed to the Depot Pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon jug with clear lead glaze. It has a large brushed "2" over four lines, Private collection..
Whitewater two-gallon ovoid jug with hand painted "2" with underlines in manganese. Private collection.
This 3" tall Whitewater earthenware jug has an old, painted vine with leaves. Lead glaze, loop handle. Private collection.
A highly ovoid form with a drippy lead glaze. We attribute it to Whitewater. This may be an early piece when the Fremont and Craveth potteries were developing their glazes. Private collection.
Whitewater jug with handle. Private collection.
Whitewater jug with a very light tinted lead glaze inside and out. No decoration. Private collection.
Whitewater tall one-quart jug with loop handle. lead glaze and manganese decoration that resembles pieces attributed to the Cravath Street Pottery. Dug in Portage, Wisconsin. Private collection.
This jar is unlike most Whitewater pieces in several respects. First, ear handles on a jar is unusual for any Wisconsin Pottery. The decoration is also very unusual - quite elaborate for such as small piece. One-gallon and smaller pieces are rarely decorated at all. This could be an 1840's or early 1850's Cravath Pottery piece. Private collection.
Important earthenware jar with manganese decoration. It is important because it has the same decoration as a piece in the Baraboo Historical Society Museum made at the Baraboo Pottery, indicating that a potter moved from Whitewater to Baraboo. See the article on the Baraboo Pottery on this site. We attribute it to the Fremont Pottery ca. 1850-1851. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Two-gallon ovoid Whitewater storage jar with manganese fern with a sinuous tail. Attributed to the Fremont Street or Depot Pottery. We attribute this piece to the Depot or Fremont Street Pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater food storage jar with a well-formed and tooled rim with an inner shelf for a lid. The manganese fern and capacity are exceptionally well done. Private collection.
Whitewater food storage jar with a fern and scroll decoration. Attributed to the Fremont or Depot Pottery. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Exceptional Whitewater jar with a unusually light-colored glaze with a highly contrasting manganese decoration. Attributed to the Fremont or Depot Pottery. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Two-gallon Whitewater earthenware food storage jar, two incised lines at the shoulder and clear lead glaze. We attribute this piece to the Whiton Street pottery based on its similarity to a sherds found at the site with a similar flower. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon jar with lead glaze inside and out. Manganese "2" over a small flower. We attribute this jar to the Whiton Street Pottery.
Whitewater food storage jar. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Two-gallon Whitewater earthenware food storage jar with lid, two incised lines at the shoulder, an unusually bright and clear lead glaze and nicely contrasting flower decoration. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon jar with a clear lead glaze, no handles, one incised line, and a manganese tulip decoration with two leaves on the stem and a painted "2". This piece is probably from the Whiton Street pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater ovoid food storage jar with clear lead glaze, two-gallon capacity. It has a large brushed "2" over four lines, Private collection.
Whitewater food storage jar with clear lead glaze, two-gallon capacity. It was fired upside-down and the lead glaze and decoration ran glaze dripped. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Lead glazed jarthenware jar with a flat rim and two incised lines. The manganese decoration is semi-transparent - a "2" with five lines below. Private collection.
One-gallon Whitewater food storage lar with manganese Rockingham-style decoration dabbed on with a sponge sponge over yellow lead glaze. Private collection.
Whitewater food storage jar with underlined "2" decoration. The swirls in this jar are the result of incompletely mixed clay of two colors - either intentionally or by chance. Private collection.
From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Whitewater two-gallon crock with ear handles and a painted "2" with three underlines. The color is deep red/orange. While most Whitewater clay is light cream colored there are some outliers. The dark color is probably caused by iron content exposed to air. It could from clay mined near the surface or clay that was exposed to air for a time before being turned.
Whitewater two-gallon crock with ear handles, manganese decoration and a single inscribed line. Note the prominent and highly shaped rim that is typical for Whitewater crocks and cream pots. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon crock with a tooled rim, ear handle and incised line and clear lead glaze with a manganese flower under a painted "2". These is an interesting pattern of manganese dots on the front. Private collection..
Whitewater two-gallon crock with ear handles, manganese decoration. It has a simple round rim. Probably from the Whiton Street Pottery. Private collection.
Three-gallon straight-sided crock with a primitive decoration. it was probably made at one of the Whitewater potteries based on the glaze and Manganese decoration. Private collection.
Three-gallon Whitewater butter churn with a large painted capacity number below the left ear and a unique, large manganese decoration. Broken and reassembled with pieces missing. Whitewater churns are extremely rare today. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Two-gallon cream pot with a distinctive glaze, form and decoration. This could be an 1840's or early 1850's Cravath Pottery piece. Private collection.
Whitewater earthenware cream pot with fern and scroll Manganese decoration, ear handles and two-incised lines. Private collection.
Whitewater two-gallon cream pot with ear handles and lead glaze. Painter "2" over a large fern with a scroll below. Private collection.
Three-gallon Whitewater cream pot with elaborate manganese decoration with a flower, fern, and scroll. It has strong similarities to pieces recovered from the Baraboo Pottery waster dump. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Despite predominantly light colored clay in Whitewater there are examples that look more like redware, despite having a clear lead glaze. This is due to oxidized iron in the clay, either due to prolonged exposure to oxygen or more iron content in certain layers of the clay. Private collection.
Six-gallon cream pot with a bright clear lead glaze and manganese flower decoration. The decorator started marking this pot as a four then changed it to a six. This piece was originally collected in the 1940's by Joseph Thiele. Private collection.
Whitewater 3-gallon cream pot with lead glaze inside and out, ear handles and manganese tulip flower decoration. Private collection.
Whitewater six-gallon cream pot with and unusually light-cream colored lead glaze and manganese flower decoration under a painted "6" with ear handles and a single incised line. Glaze loss on Whitewater pottery was a common and widespread problem due to the porous nature of the clay use. Large pieces like this rarely survived. Private collection.
Whitewater six-gallon cream pot with lead glaze, ear handles and a pair of incised lines. Private collection.
Whitewater earthenware bird waterer decorated with Manganese on both sides. The front shows a crow sitting on a fence above the basin. The back has flowers. Knob handle on top. This piece was originally collected in the 1940's by Whitewater resident Joseph Thiele. Private collection.
Whitewater earthenware countertop string holder with lead glaze on the exterior and unglazed interior. Manganese flower decoration. It has no bottom so it can sit on a countertop over a ball of string. We attribute this piece to the Depot Pottery. Private collection.
Hanging String Holder with lead glaze and manganese flower decoration. There are three original holes near the base to allow hanging it and a hole at the top for the string. Shopkeepers used these for wrapping packages. Attributed to the Whiton Street Potter. Private collection.
Whitewater Countertop String Holder with lead glaze inside and out and manganese lines encircling the knob, which has a hole for the string. Private collection.
One-piece Whitewater earthenware birdhouse. Concentric incised scratched lines on the roof with a peg hole below the opening for a perch. Clear lead glaze. Stands about 6" tall. Private collection.
Whitewater earthenware footwarmer bottle. Wheel-thrown and flattened. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Whitewater earthenware shaving mug, 3" tall x 4 3/4" diameter. This piece was originally collected in the 1940's by Joseph Thiele. Private collection.
Whitewater Pitcher with pewter spout and lid, 5 3/4" tall. Sponged Rockingham manganese decoration over yellow base glaze. The diamond-shaped impression at the base of the handle terminations resembles a Masonic insignia. A Masonic Lodge was located close the the Fremont Pottery in the 1850's. This piece was originally collected in the 1940's by Joseph Thiele. Private collection.
From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Whitewater Milk Pan with lead glaze inside and out. For many early potteries the milk pan was the best selling item. However, very few of them survived. Private collection.
Whitewater stacking bowl or milk pan with rim tooled to form three beads. Wheel-thrown with orange lead glaze inside and out. Bowls of this type were typically made in sizes that allow stacking. Private collection.
This appears to be a later piece (1870's - 1880's). It was made to stack with other bowls of the same or smaller size for general kitchen use like food preparation, serving or storage. Private collection.
This milk pitcher was initially covered with clear lead glaze and then was dipped in manganese slip. The vertical lines were caused by chattering of the smoothing tool used to shaped the exterior. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Whitewater milk pitcher 8 1/2" tall, with lead glaze on the interior only. Private collection.
One-gallon milk pitcher with clear lead glaze on the interior, unglazed exterior. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Whitewater one-quart tall crock or storage jar with yellow lead glaze inside and out, with two incised lines around the body. Private collection.
This unmarked Whitewater earthenware bottle was probably made in the 1840's based on the long-neck style. This may be the oldest bottle from Wisconsin. Private collection.
Unmarked Whitewater bottle with lead glaze. The is typical of bottles made before 1860. It was probably made at the Depot or Fremont Street Pottery. Private collection.
We attribute this earthenware bottle to a Whitewater pottery based on the color and glaze. 8" tall. Private collection.
Unmarked Whitewater bottle with lead glaze. The is typical of bottles made before 1860. It was probably made at the Depot or Fremont Street Pottery. Private collection.
Whitewater tall handled bottle or jug with orange lead glaze. Private collection.
Whitewater bottle with lead glaze. The design of the bottle suggests that is was used for something other than soda or beer - it could be for any liquid. It is not stamped. Private collection.
Five gallon capacity water cooler with twist handles and double flower decoration and oversize rolled lip. The lid is missing. It has the original spigot and a replica probably made in the 1940's. This piece was originally collected in the 1940's by Whitewater resident Joseph Thiele.
Wheel-thrown barrel-style water dispenser with lid and lead glaze, about six-gallon size with applied decorative medallions and spigot hole. The inside of the lid has a handwritten tally that appears to be the total of the customer’s purchase of four items totaling 80 cents that day. The first item on the list cost 24 cents, probably this five-gallon dispenser, priced at 4 cents per gallon. The three other items were probably also large, priced at 20, 20 and 16 cents each. Prices fell over time from 10 cents per gallon in the 1840’s and 50’s. We attribute this to be from later years of the Depot Pottery, probably the 1870’s or early 1880’s. Private collection.
One-gallon flower pot with sponged Rockingham-style manganese decoration over a clear lead glaze. Original drain hole in the bottom. Flowerpots were mostly unglazed. Private collection.
Pair of Whitewater Garden Urns unglazed, with three coggled bands around the center. They were made in two pieces. The upper portion is wheel-thrown while the lower section is at least partially molded. Note the color difference of the clay body of the upper portion of the piece at left. Some of the clay in Whitewater had orange color from oxidized iron content. Private collection.
This pot is one-piece - possibly turned as several separate pieces that were then attached. It was probably custom made the way a customer wanted it. It has no drain holes so it may have been used for water. It is unglazed. Private collection.
Unglazed Whitewater flowerpot with attached underplate. It has two decorative bands of incised decoration around the body. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Unglazed wheel-turned with a cloud-like white band around the outside top and attached underplate. 5" tall and 6" diameter. Private collection.
Small (5" diameter) unglazed hanging teardrop flowerpot with original chain. It has traces of blue paint added by the buyer. Small original drain hole in the tip of the bottom point. Private collection.
Unglazed hanging flowerpot with applied medallions of flower and birds. It has remnants of old wire used to hang it. This style of hanging pot was very popular. Private collection.
Unglazed hanging flowerpot with applied decorative medallions. It has three holes for chain or wire hangers. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Whitewater unglazed hanging flowerpot flowerpot. Private collection
Unglaze flowerpot. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Unglazed hanging flowerpot with old paint. They were sold unpainted but some customers chose to paint them. From the collection of the Whitewater Historical Society.
Pressed (molded) flowerpot found at the Depot Pottery site. The pressing process used pressure and rotation to form the complete piece. 3" tall with a hole in the bottom.

Sherds from the Fremont Street Pottery site

The photos of the few sherds from this site were found by Kori Oberle many years ago.

 

This sherd stamped "COLE & KI... / WHITE WA" is historically important for several reasons. It establishes that Eli King was a partner in the pottery, not just a seller of land to Warren Cole. It is Wisconsin's oldest known marked piece of pottery since King was out of the business by 1847 when George Williams bought in. That also makes it Wisconsin's oldest marked piece of pottery. Private collection.
The glaze on the fragment appears to be very over-fired. In 1846 Thomas Mouford wrote a letter to his father in England saying that he had "tried some of the glazes you sent me and they work very good". The glaze on this piece and the early cream pot - see Figure 3 in the article on this site "Whitewater – Fremont Street Pottery (1846 to 1858)" - illustrate the challenges in developing the beautiful clear glazes used later by Whitewater factories.
This unglazed fragment appears to be a tool designed for some unknown purpose, possibly for shaping or smoothing pottery on the wheel or some other function.

Sherds from the Depot Pottery site

These fragments were found during sidewalk replacement within the top foot or so of the surface. They are intended to help understand the forms, glazes and decorations used at this site.

 

Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds. Unglazed flower pot rims.
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds with mangansese decorations. The large piece at left has part of a scroll decoration that includes the horizontal slash - an element found on all scroll decorated pottery. This convention was used by George William when he was in Troy NY and at the Fremont Pottery in Whitewater. This proves that the scroll was used at both Fremont and Depot potteries.
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds with traces of manganese decorations.
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherd rom an unglazed drain tile.
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherd from an unglazed drain tile.
Whitewater Depot Pottery sherds. Ear handles.

Sherds from the Whiton Street Pottery site

These fragments were found by a groundhog that happened to dug into the waster dump and other framents scatter on the surface of the site. They are intended to help understand the forms, glazes and decorations used at this particular site.

This document describes the numbered sherds in the first photo below: Milz & Ohnhaus shards

 

These are surface litter from the site collected in April 2015 and described in "Milz & Ohnhaus Potter"
Collected by Kori Oberle
This fragment is shown with a similarly decorated intact example.
Collected by Kori Oberle
Whitewater factories tended to adopt distinctive decorative motifs. Fremont and Depot often used a scroll, and one of the potteries used a triangular base (we don't know which one yet). Whiton sometimes omitted the base altogether based on this single sherd. We suspect all three were made at Whiton Street.
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