Richard Miller
Norwalk (Connecticut) Slip-script Pottery, the Potters, and Related Ware

Ceramics in America 2016

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Jar, attributed to Day’s Pottery, ­Norwalk, Connecticut, 1800–1825. Lead-glazed earthenware. H. 11 1/4". (Courtesy, Connecticut Historical Society.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Bowl, Iran, Nishapur, tenth century. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 18". Inscribed on obverse, in Arabic: “Planning before work protects you from regret; prosperity and peace.” (Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 65.106.2.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Jug, maker unidentified, Harlow, Essex, England, 1650–1700. Slip-decorated earthenware. H. 6 3/8". Inscribed along sides: “THE GIFT IS SMALL GOO / D WILL IS ALL WHEN THES YOU SE / E REMEMBER ME BE MERY AND / WIES” (Courtesy, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    Milk pan, Hervey Brooks (1779–1873), Goshen, Connecticut, 1858. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 13". Inscribed on obverse: “HB / 1858” (Courtesy, Litchfield Historical Society.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Dish, maker unidentified, probably Pennsylvania, ca. 1835. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 13 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “Temperance / Health / Wealth” (Courtesy, Historic New England.)

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Dish, maker unidentified, probably Pennsylvania, ca. 1835. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 14". Inscribed on obverse: “Remember / him that is / in bonds” (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.)

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Dish, attributed to George Wolfkiel (1805–1867), Bergen County, New Jersey, 1847–1867. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 12 7/8". Inscribed on obverse: “Mandy” (Courtesy, Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Dish, possibly George Wolfkiel (1805–1867), Bergen County, New Jersey, ca. 1837. Slip-decorated earthenware. 12 1/4" x 15 5/8". Inscribed on obverse: “Hard times / in Jersey” (Courtesy, Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Albert Hastings Pitkin in memory of her husband, 1918.1198.)

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Friendship” quilt, several makers, Norwalk, Connecticut, ca. 1847. Various printed cottons. 80" x 83". (Courtesy, Stamford History Center.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Dish, attributed to Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, ca. 1844. Slip-decorated earthenware. L. 16". Inscribed on obverse: “Finetta Wheeler” (Courtesy, Norwalk–Village Green Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution.)

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Map detail, The Principal Parts of Norwalk in the Year 1847, by Edwin Hall, printed by Jones & Newman, New York, New York, 1847–1849. Lithograph. Overall 17 7/8" x 11". (Courtesy, Connecticut Historical Society.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Announcement by Absalom Day dated February 4, 1797, published in the Republican Journal (Danbury, Conn.), February 4, 1797.

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Dish, attributed to Absalom Day (1770–1843), Norwalk, Connecticut, ca. 1796. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 15 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “Day’s / Pottery” (Courtesy, High Museum of Art.)

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Dish, attributed to Absalom Day (1770–1843), Norwalk, Connecticut, 1794–1800. Slip-decorated earthenware. W. 16 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “AD” (conjoined initials). (Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1933, 34.100.42.)

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Dish, maker unidentified, Huntington, New York, probably 1851. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 12 3/4". In­scribed on obverse with double-quill slip cup: “America” (Courtesy, Historic New England.) The inscription refers to the yacht America, which won the Royal Yacht Squadron’s 100-Pound Cup sailing race around the Isle of Wight in 1851. Thereafter the race has been known as the America’s Cup.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Announcement by John B. Gregory dated May 28, 1817, published in the Columbian Gazette (Utica, N.Y.), June 3, 1817.

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Dish, John Betts Gregory (1782–1842), Clinton, New York, 1823. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 15 5/8". Inscribed on obverse: “Made / By JBG / Oct 18 1823 / Clinton” (Courtesy, Clinton Historical Society.)

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Dish, John Betts Gregory (1782–1842), Clinton, New York, 1824. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 10 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “Harriet / Ostrander / Dish made by / John B Gregory / Clinton / 1824” (Courtesy, Crocker Farm.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Dish, attributed to John Betts Gregory (1782–1842), Clinton, New York, 1823–1831. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 11 3/4". Inscribed on obverse: “Why / Will you / Die” (Courtesy, George R. Hamell.) 

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Dish, attributed to Day’s Pottery or Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, ca. 1824. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 12 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “Lafayette” (Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Mrs. Robert W. de Forest, 1933, 34.100.223.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Dish, attributed to Day’s Pottery or Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, ca. 1824. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 15 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “Washington / & / Lafayette” (Courtesy, Lewis Scranton.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1830. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 11 1/8". Inscribed on obverse: “William / & / Mary” (Photo, Skinner, Inc.)

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. W. 11 3/4". Inscribed on obverse: “Nancys / Dish” (Courtesy, Yale University Art Gallery, 1931.1788.)

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 14 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “Francis / Smith / Norwalk” (Courtesy, The Connecticut Historical Society, 1961.26.1.)

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 8". Inscribed on obverse: “Elsey” (Courtesy, Pook & Pook, Inc.)

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 10". Inscribed on obverse: “Clam / Potpie” (Courtesy, The Connecticut ­Historical Society.)

  • Figure 27
    Figure 27

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 13". Inscribed on obverse: “Plumb / Pudding” (Courtesy, The Connecticut Historical Society.)

  • Figure 28
    Figure 28

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 14 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “forgive / all injuries” (Courtesy, Historic New England.)

  • Figure 29
    Figure 29

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 14 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “Pray for / the Living / & the / Dead” (Courtesy, Sotheby’s.)

  • Figure 30
    Figure 30

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 12". Inscribed on obverse: ­“Honour / the / humane” (Courtesy, The Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Mrs. John Worthy, 1918.284.)

  • Figure 31
    Figure 31

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 10". Inscribed on obverse: “sin the / misery of / man & / woman” (Courtesy, Sam Herrup.)

  • Figure 32
    Figure 32

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 11". Inscribed on obverse: “st. / francis / xavier” (Courtesy, The Connecticut Historical Society, 1945.1.1368.)

  • Figure 33
    Figure 33

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 11". Inscribed on obverse: “st / Remigius” (Courtesy, The Connecticut Historical Society, 1945.1.1369.)

  • Figure 34
    Figure 34

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 10 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “st. / fidelas / Martyr” (Sold at Crocker Farm, March 14, 2015, lot 113.)

  • Figure 35
    Figure 35

    Dish, attributed to John Betts Gregory (1782–1842), probably Norwalk, Connecticut, 1832–1840. Slip-decorated earthenware. L. 16 5/16". Inscribed on obverse: “Ware / plenty Come / and buy” (Courtesy, The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.)

  • Figure 36
    Figure 36

    Dish, attributed to John Betts Gregory (1782–1842), probably Norwalk, Connecticut, 1832–1840. Slip-decorated earthenware. L. 14 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “This is / Good Enough / For Rich / Folks” (Courtesy, Nancy and Gary Stass.)

  • Figure 37
    Figure 37

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 13 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “Break / Away / more / making” (Courtesy, Pook & Pook, Inc.)

  • Figure 38
    Figure 38

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 10 1/2". Inscribed on obverse: “pony / up the / Cash” (Courtesy, Lewis Scranton.)

  • Figure 39
    Figure 39

    Village of Old Well, John Warner Barber (1798–1885), Norwalk, Connecticut, 1836. Graphite on paper. 7 1/2" x 9 7/8". (Courtesy, Connecticut Historical Society, 1953.5.212.)

  • Figure 40
    Figure 40

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 13". Inscribed on obverse: “Newyork / City” (Courtesy, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Katharine Prentis Murphy, 1948, 48.124.)

  • Figure 41
    Figure 41

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. L. 12 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “United / States” (Courtesy, Nancy and Gary Stass.)

  • Figure 42
    Figure 42

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, probably 1852. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 13". Inscribed on obverse: ­“Kossuth / 1852” (Courtesy, Historic New England; Beauport, Sleeper-McCann House.)

  • Figure 43
    Figure 43

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 12". In­scribed on obverse: “This is / the last / for to / day” (Courtesy, Nancy and Gary Stass.)

  • Figure 44
    Figure 44

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Conneticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 12 1/4". Inscribed on obverse: “Honesty / is the Best / of polacy” (Courtesy, Nancy and Gary Stass.)

  • Figure 45
    Figure 45

    Dish, attributed to the Smith Pottery, Norwalk, Connecticut, 1825–1850. Slip-decorated earthenware. D. 18". Inscribed on obverse: “Norwalk / feby the 13 / 1854” (Courtesy, Norwalk Historical Society.)