Richard Duez and Don Horvath with Brenda Hornsby Heindl
The Stoneware Years of the Thompson Potters of Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854–1890

Ceramics in America 2011

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Photograph, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. View of Lot 1 at the wharf on the Monongahela River. (Courtesy, West Virginia and Regional History Center, WVU Libraries.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Jar, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 10". Inscribed on shoulder: “First 2 jar for Francis Madiera June the 2nd, 1854.” (Duez Collection; unless otherwise noted, photos by Gavin Ashworth.) Francis Madiera was the postmaster in Morgantown at that time. The same cobalt script “M N” (for Morgantown) occurs on two pieces made by David Greenland Thompson.

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Details of the inscription on the jar illustrated in fig. 2.

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Newspaper announcement, The Monongalia Mirror (Morgantown, Virginia), July 22, 1854, p. 2 (reproduced). (Courtesy, West Virginia and Regional History Collection, West Virginia University Libraries.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Population census, Monongalia County, Virginia, 1860 (reproduced). The original document, which is accessible online through www.ancestry.com, lists the owner of the pottery shop, John W. Thompson, and his four sons as “potter.”

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Detail of the handle on a 15", 4-gallon stoneware jar. Mark, embossed on handle: MORGANTOWN, VA. (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Map of Greene and Fayette Counties, Pennsylvania, illustrated in Caldwell’s Illustrated Combination Centennial Atlas of Greene Co. Pennsylvania (J. A. Caldwell, 1876). (Duez Collection; photo, Dick Duez.) Uniontown, Greensboro, and Morgantown share regional proximity.

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Jar, Union Pottery, Uniontown, Pennsylvania, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. not recorded. Marks: UNION POTTERY / III. (Private collection.)

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Jar, Union Pottery, Connellsville, Pennsylvania, ca. 1865. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 12 3/4". Marks: impressed on shoulder, J. GREENLAND; 3 [gallon capacity stamp]. (Private collection.) The cobalt decoration depicts a marching band of soldiers wearing great coats and kepis.

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Detail of the decoration on the jar illustrated in fig. 9; composite image of cobalt designs on the jar.

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Detail of the impressed marks on the jar illustrated in fig. 9.

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Jar, David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 15". Marks: impressed on shoulder, D. G. THOMPSON; 4 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]; Morgantown. (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Detail of the marks on the jar illustrated in fig. 12.

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Ribs, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Wood. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.) These ribs would have been used to make the heavy rims of the crocks and other pottery pieces.

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Jars, Morgantown, West Virginia, (left) ca. 1865, (right) ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. (left) 20 1/2", (right) 7 1/2". (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Crock, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7 1/2". (Private collection.)

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Crock lid, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. D. 7". (Duez Collection.) This is the only known example of a stoneware lid made at Morgantown. It was found in three pieces at the Morgantown wharf.

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Preserve jars, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. (left to right) 8 1/2", 8 5/8", 8 1/2". (Private collection.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Preserve jar, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1869. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 8 1/2". Marks, inscribed on side in cobalt blue: Thompson / Morgantown / 1869. (Duez Collection.) This piece might have been made to commemorate David Greenland Thompson’s fiftieth birthday.

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Bottle, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 13 1/2". (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Bottle, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854–1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 12". Mark: 2 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Duez Collection.) This bottle, which was found in Daybrook, Monongalia County, West Virginia, has a rouletted pattern on its shoulder (see fig. 22).

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Detail of the top of the bottle illustrated in fig. 21, showing the rouletted decoration.

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Pitcher, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 11". (Private collection.) This pitcher has a conical base, cobalt decoration, and a street-scene rouletted design. It was recovered in Grafton, West Virginia, in the early 1970s by a street crew.

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Pitcher, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 11". (Private collection.)

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Pitcher, David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9". Marks, impressed on shoulder: D. G. THOMPSON / Morgantown; 2 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Private collection; photo, Don Horvath.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Detail of an extruded handle, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1860s. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 15". Mark: 4 [gallon capacity stamp]. (Duez Collection.) The tulip decoration is unusual for Morgantown stoneware; it is more commonly seen on wares by A. V. Boughner of Greensboro, Pennsylvania.

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Detail of the embossed handles of the jar illustrated in fig. 27.

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Details of embossed handles, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Roulettes, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Wood and bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.)

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Roulettes, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Pottery stamps, Thompson ­Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.) These stamps were used to impress small decorative elements onto the wares.

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Roulette, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.) This stamp would have been held between two fingers in order to roll the design onto the ware.

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Detail of the impressed design made from the roulette illustrated in fig. 33.

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Roulette, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Wood and bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.)

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Detail of the impressed design made from the roulette illustrated in fig. 35.

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Roulette, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1870. Wood and bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.)

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    (Left) Detail of a rouletted design on an earthenware jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1840–1854. (Private collection.) (Right) Detail of a rouletted design on a stoneware jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1860–1870. (Private collection.) The roulette tool used to make the design on both jars is illustrated in fig. 37.

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Capacity stamps and master stamp molds, Thompson Pottery, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1850–1890. Bisque clay. (Courtesy, National Museum of American History.)

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Details of gallon capacity stamps from various Morgantown jars.

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854–1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 8 1/2". Marks: 2 [impressed gallon capacity stamp]; 2 [inscribed in cobalt]; Steam / Bote [inscribed on bottom]. (Duez Collection.) This jar is decorated with a cobalt Tic-Tac-Toe motif of the type used during the earthenware period.

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 12 1/4". Mark: 2 [beaded gallon capacity stamp]. (Duez Collection.) A budding branch decorates this stoneware jar, which has a history in Marion County, West Virginia.

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Crock, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1860–1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9 1/2". Mark: 2 [impressed gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Duez Collection.) The floral decoration on this handled crock is enhanced with a rouletted street-scene pattern. The crock was found in Kingwood, West Virginia, where it had long been used in the making of buckwheat cakes.

  • Figure 44
    Figure 44

    Churn, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1860–1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 8 3/4". (Private collection; photo, Ken Landreth.)

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

    Jar, attributed to Frank W. Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1865–1875. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 12 1/4". Mark, impressed on shoulder: F. W. Thompson / Morgantown. (Ken Landreth Collection.) This jar is the only known piece that bears what seems to be a reference to Frank W. Thompson.

  • Figure 46
    Figure 46

    Jar, attributed to Frank W. Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1865–1875. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 11 1/4". Mark: 2 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Private collection.) Based on its similarities to the decorated jar illustrated in fig. 45, this example was probably decorated by Frank W. Thompson as well.

  • Figure 47
    Figure 47

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. (Private collection.) Rendered in cobalt slip on the side of this jar is a woman holding a flag, with trees on either side of her. The scene is framed at the top by a feathery arc, also in cobalt slip.

  • Figure 48
    Figure 48

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9 3/4". (Private collection.)

  • Figure 49
    Figure 49

    Cream pitcher, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 6 1/4". (Private collection.) This pitcher, purchased in Grafton, West Virginia, is decorated with an elaborate sunburst, four human figures, and a duck or goose.

  • Figure 50
    Figure 50

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. Mark: 2 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Private collection.)

  • Figure 51
    Figure 51

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854–1865. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9 13/16". (Courtesy, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.) This jar was found in Aurora, Preston County, West Virginia. A simple rouletted pattern with chevrons is impressed around the shoulder. The cobalt decoration shows a man and a woman, each holding a gun, facing each other. A nearly identical rendition of the figure on the left appears on the jar illustrated in fig. 50.

  • Figure 52
    Figure 52

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 12 1/2". Mark: 2 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Private collection.) This jar was found in Upshur, West Virginia. The painted decoration shows two women, one with a parasol, under a tree. The cobalt chain decoration around the shoulder is unusual for Morgantown stoneware.

  • Figure 53
    Figure 53

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 14". Marks: 4 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]; D. G. THOMPSON / Morgantown. (Private collection.) The cobalt decoration includes a sponged pattern around the rim and a sponged crescent arcing over a woman holding a parasol. The jar was found in Fairmont, Marion County, West Virginia.

  • Figure 54
    Figure 54

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 13 3/4". Mark: 3 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Private collection.) The scene illustrated here shows three women standing between two trees. The capacity stamp is filled in with cobalt.

  • Figure 55
    Figure 55

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854–1860. Salt-glazed stoneware. (Private collection.) The cobalt decoration shows a whale framed within a sponged pattern.

  • Figure 56
    Figure 56

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, 1854–1863. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 19". Mark: 8 [gallon capacity stamp within a beaded circle]. (Courtesy, Northeast Auctions.)

  • Figure 57
    Figure 57

    Jar, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1875. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 20 1/2". (Duez Collection.)

  • Figure 58
    Figure 58

    Flower pot, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1885. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 13 3/4". (Photo, courtesy of James and Karen Giuliani.)

  • Figure 59
    Figure 59

    Vases and bowl, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1885. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. of center vase 9 1/4". (Duez Collection.) Nuts, peach pits, and freshwater clams are all part of the applied decoration covering these objects.

  • Figure 60
    Figure 60

    Pitcher, attributed to David Greenland Thompson, Morgantown, West Virginia, ca. 1885. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9". (Private collection; photo, Don Horvath.) The pitcher is covered with applied leaves and stems. Applied lettering around the neck spells out “F. M. Haymond,” one of Thompson’s relatives.