Description:
Tan-bodied stoneware jug stamp-impressed "WELLS, CRAFTS & WELLS / Whately Mass." in-filled with cobalt blue, over a blue abstract semi-circular design. Established in 1851, this partnership included the brothers, David Dwight Wells (1822-1870) and Isaac Newton Wells (1830-1860), and Edward Alonzo Crafts (1830-1872), the son of potter Caleb Crafts (1800-1854)). In 1854, Edward Alonzo Crafts moved to St. Johnsbury, Vermont, maybe working at the Fenton & Hancock pottery for a short period before returning to Whately and then moving to Chicago. The Wells brothers continued the business under the name of "D. D. & I. N. Wells" to 1856 or 1857 when the property was taken over by Martin Crafts (1807-1880). The one-gallon type of this jug was usually not marked. It has straight sides continuing up to three-fourths of the distance up, then curving in towards the lip. The lip is very thin and is flat on its upper surface. The loop handle is laid onto the body from the spout to the shoulder. A long brown colored streak starts near the decoration and continues to the base, and is probably the result of another object rubbing against the piece while it was being fired in the kiln. The salt-glaze is very thick; the interior is covered with Albany slip. On the bottom are rows of incised grooves. No volume size on this jug; but it is approximately 1 gallon. Usually the one gallon size jug by these makers is not marked with the volume.
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+78.073 |
