Description:
Grey-bodied, bulbous stoneware pot stamp-impressed "ORCUTT/ AND/ WAIT / WHATELY" in-filled with cobalt blue and flanked by two impressed circles which may have been made with a coin. One of the first of a group of commercial potters in the Whately area, Stephen Orcutt (1777-1821) began making redware in Whately in 1797, where his wares were first documented in 1802 in the account book of storeowner Rufus Wells. In 1815, he began producing stoneware, using a water-powered grinder, in partnerships with the brothers, Luke (1785-1853) and Obediah or "Obed" (1783-1853) Wait. Orcutt and Wait were the first potters in Whately to mark their wares, which were most commonly pots and jugs, but a churn and cooler, marked with their names, also exist. The partnerships only lasted until March 1, 1817 when Orcutt sold his share to Luke Wait and moved to Vermont. Luke and Obed operated the mill, using the mark "WAIT," until the fall of 1817 when Luke sold the property to his father, Joel Wait who discontinued the stoneware operation. The pot (probably 2 gallons) has a wide mouth with a slightly flared rim; two C-shaped handles with some blue where attached; four incised lines around the neck; the lower half of the body tapering in to the base; and an incised line around the footed base. The salt glaze is of medium thickness; the interior is covered with Albany slip. There is a brown discoloration on the back side of the body. There is a chip on bottom edge may have been done in the kiln. See also HD 2008.18.1.
Subjects:
Pottery; Enamel and enameling; glaze (coating by location); Stoneware Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+78.026 |
