The original fireplace, hearth, and walls of the ca. 1820 Cowan stone house in Delaware County, New York. (Photo, Anthony Butera Jr.) It is believed that the house burned ca. 1900. The teapot was found buried on the right side of the hearth when a temporary support was built in order to replace the rotting lintel. It was probably sitting on a shelf that was supported by the chimney cheek and the adjacent wall. Charred wooden supports are still in place.
Teapot, Thomas Crafts, Whately, Massachusetts, ca. 1821–1833. H. 5 1/2". (Photo, Robert Hunter.) This vessel was found on the right side of the hearth illustrated in fig. 1. A lid from a Thomas Crafts teapot in the author’s collection fits this example perfectly.