Description:
Salt-glazed stoneware jug; one-gallon cobalt-decorated stoneware jug, stamped under spout: "J.S. TAFT& Co / KEENE, NH." The cylindrical jug has sloped shoulder and squared spout, and is decorated with a large slip-trailed foliate design in cobalt blue enamel. This jug made by J. S. Taft and Co. represents a new Connecticut River Valley stoneware manufacturer for the Historic Deerfield collection. James Scollay Taft was the founder of the famous Arts and Crafts pottery - the Hampshire Pottery. The Hampshire Pottery was founded in an old clothespin factory on Main Street in Keene, New Hampshire. Its founder James Scollay Taft, and his uncle James Burnap, purchased the factory in 1871. They constructed kilns in the factory and began to manufacture flower pots and other redware. Shortly after its founding a fire destroyed the pottery. Taft quickly erected a new building and added stoneware to the items produced at the pottery. With the addition of the stoneware, a new building was acquired in 1874. The production of redware was then moved to the newly acquired building. The Hampshire Pottery is best known for the art pottery produced under the direction of Cadmon Robertson, who joined the pottery in 1904. Robertson, it is said, created more than 900 glaze formulas and numerous shapes for Hampshire prior to his passing in 1914. The pottery ceased production in 1923. This jug was purchased at Crocker Farm Auction, Sparks, MD, July 16, 2011, lot 257. There is some staining to surface so that the jug appears brownish or tan; a hairline crack in handle; and a 1 3/4" contact mark on reverse.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2011.18 |
