Description:
Tan-bodied stoneware jar stamp-impressed "WELLS, CRAFTS & WELLS / Whately, Mass" in-filled with cobalt blue, over three blue flowers or irises extending from a curved stem. 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 jar has a round, flared lip that supported a cover, sloping shoulders, tooled line around the shoulder, straight sides, and beveled base. The salt glaze is of medium thickness; the interior is covered with Albany slip. The bottom of the base has rows of incised grooves. No volume mark on the jar, but it appears to be a 2 gallon size. Fine circular fracture from the top to the base. Cover missing.
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+79.052 |
