Description:
Wheel thrown, grey-bodied, ovoid stoneware pot stamp-impressed "ORCUTT / AND / WAIT / WHATELY" in-filled with cobalt blue. The pot displays a range of colors from light brown, to dark grey to medium grey perhaps due its placement in the kiln or the firing conditions - e.g. a windy day creates a reduction (oxygen starved) atmosphere. 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 only 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. See also HD 78.026.
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+2008.18.1 |
