Tom Folk
Ceramics Displayed at the Annual Exhibitions of American Manufacturing at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, 1824–1858

Figure 1

Vintage print depicting the original Franklin Institute building, possibly 1824. Reproduced from Bruce Sinclair, Philadelphia’s Philosopher Mechanics: A History of the Franklin Institute, 1824–1865 (Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1974). 

Figure 2

Game pitcher, Abraham Miller, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1840s. Rockingham glazed earthenware. H. 9". Mark, impressed on underside: ABM MILLER. (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.)

Figure 3

Detail of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 2, showing the mark on the underside.

Figure 4

Log cabin money bank, Thomas Haig Jr., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1850s. Earthenware with flint enamel glaze. H. 4 1/2". Mark, inscribed in script on underside: “Peter Feltey.” (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 5

Detail of the bank illustrated in fig. 4, showing the inscription on the underside. 

Figure 6

The Old Water-Works, Philadelphia, Used as a China Manufactory in 1825, vintage print depicting Tucker’s china manufactory in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1825. Reproduced from Edwin Atlee Barber, The Pottery and Porcelain of the United States: An Historical Review of American Ceramic Art from the Earliest Times to the Present Day (1893; reprint, New York: Feingold and Lewis, 1976), p. 129. 

Figure 7

“Grecian pitcher,” Andrew Craig Walker for the William Tucker factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1828–1838. Gilt and enameled porcelain with floral design. H. 8". (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) The flaring gilt design is typical of Tucker porcelain. 

Figure 8

Detail of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 7, showing the incised letters on the underside. According to Barber, an incised “W” either in script or straight lines was used by Andrew Craig Walker, a leading molder at the Tucker factory. Barber added, “It occurs on many of the best pieces.” Barber, Pottery and Porcelain (reprint), Marks of American Potters, p. 17. 

Figure 9

Hunt pitcher, D. & J. Henderson, Jersey City, New Jersey, ca. 1828. Flint stoneware. H. 10 1/2". Mark, impressed on underside: HENDERSON’S STONEWARE / & EARTHENWARE / MANUFACTURER, / JERSEY CITY, N.J. (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 10

Detail of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 9, showing the impressed mark on the underside. This mark, perhaps the firm’s earliest, was rarely used. 

Figure 11

Pitcher with acorn-and-oak-leaf decoration, D. & J. Henderson, Jersey City, New Jersey, ca. 1830. Salt-glazed flint stoneware. H. 8 1/2". Marks, impressed on underside: “D. & J. / Henderson / Jersey City” within two concentric circles; “O” (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) The “O” probably relates to the size of this model. 

Figure 12

Detail of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 11, showing the impressed mark.  

Figure 13

“Grecian pitcher in the Tucker style,” Smith, Fife & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1830. Porcelain with gilt and enameled decoration. H. 7 1/2". (Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of John Morris, 1893.) 

Figure 14

“Vase Shaped Pitcher with Landscape Decoration,” Andrew Craig Walker for the William Tucker factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1831–1838. Enameled and gilt porcelain. H. 9". Mark, incised on underside: “W” (composed of two “V”s). (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 15

Landscape on the reverse of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 14. 

Figure 16

Detail of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 14, showing the two incised “V”s on the underside. According to Barber, this mark was also frequently used by Walker. 

Figure 17

“Wall fountain,” American Pottery Company, Jersey City, New Jersey, ca. 1833–1838. Creamware. H. 11". Circular scalloped mark impressed, “AMERICAN POTTERY CO. / JERSEY CITY” (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.)

Figure 18

“Heart shaped perfume bottle,” William Tucker factory, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1830–1835. Enameled and gilt porcelain. H. 1 1/2". (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 19

“Spittoon,” American Pottery Company, Jersey City, New Jersey, ca. 1842. Glazed earthenware. H. 3", diam. 8". (Collection of the Franklin Institute.) 

Figure 20

Tea set, Daniel Greatbatch for the American Pottery Company, Jersey City, New Jersey, ca. 1840. Creamware. Covered sugar dish H. 3 1/2"; teapot H. 3 1/2"; creamer H. 3". Circular marks, impressed: AMERICAN POTTERY, JERSEY CITY (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 21

“Toby jug,” Daniel Greatbatch for the American Pottery Company, Jersey City, New Jersey, ca. 1840–1845. Rockingham glazed earthenware. H. 10 1/2". Circular mark, impressed:AMERICAN POTTERY, JERSEY CITY, NJ (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 22

The Old Bennett Pottery, East Liverpool, O., The Baltimore Engraving Co., ca. 1900. Vintage print depicting the Bennett Pottery in East Liverpool, Ohio. Reproduced from Barber, Pottery and Porcelain of the United States, p. 193. 

Figure 23

“Druid Spout Pitcher with Snake Handle,” E. & W. Bennett Pottery, Baltimore, Maryland, ca. 1848. Earthenware with Rockingham glaze. H. 9". Mark, impressed on underside: E & W BENNETT, / CANTON AVENUE, / BALTIMORE. (Lora Robbins Gallery of Design from Nature, University of Richmond Museums, gift of Emma and Jay Lewis; photo, Meg Eastman.) 

Figure 24

Detail of the pitcher illustrated in fig. 23, showing the mark. 

Figure 25

“Hunt Pitcher,” Harker Taylor, East Liverpool, Ohio, ca. 1846–1852. Earthenware with Rockingham glaze. H. 10". (Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of Jay and Emma Lewis, 2008.) 

Figure 26

“Doorplate with View of New York City,” Elijah Tatler for Charles Cartlidge & Company, Greenpoint Brooklyn, New York, 1848–1850. Enameled porcelain. H. 1 1/2", W. 3".  
(Private collection.) 

Figure 27

Ralph Bagnall Beech (active 1845–1857), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1851. Daguerreotype. 4 x 3 1/2 x 1". (Winterthur Museum, Museum purchase and a gift from Emma and Jay Lewis; photo, Jay Lewis.) 

Figure 28

“Japanned Vase with Mother-of-Pearl inlay and full body portrait of Stephen Girard,” William Crombie for Ralph Bagnall Beech, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1851. Porcelain. H. 16". (Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of John T. Morris, 1902.) Stephen Girard was a wealthy Philadelphia banker and philanthropist. 

Figure 29

“Japanned Vase with Architectural Landscape and Mother-of-Pearl Inlay,” Ralph Bagnall Beech, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1851. Earthenware. H. 18 1/2". Mark, impressed on underside: RALPH B. BEECH, / PATENT, / JUNE 3, 1851, / KENSINGTON, PA. (Winterthur Museum, Museum purchase and a gift from Emma and Jay Lewis; photo, Jay Lewis.) 

Figure 30

Detail of the vase illustrated in fig. 29, showing the impressed mark. 

Figure 31

“Floral Cake Plate from a dessert service,” Karlbaum & Schwartz, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ca. 1852. Enameled and gilt porcelain. Diam. 9 1/2". Mark, impressed on underside: K + S. (Philadelphia Museum of Art, gift of Mrs. Robert John Hughes, 1939.) 

Figure 32

“Grape Ice Pitcher,” Daniel Greatbatch for the Swan Hill Pottery, South Amboy, New Jersey, ca. 1852. Rockingham with flint enamel. H. 9 1/2". Mark, embossed swan mark that indistinctly reads: “Hanks and Fish, Swan Hill Pottery, S. Amboy, N.J.” (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 33

“Pitcher Depicting Two Young Boys at Play,” American Porcelain Manufacturing Company, Gloucester, New Jersey, ca. 1854. Porcelain. H. 8". Mark, impressed: APMCo. (Courtesy, Brooklyn Museum, the Arthur W. Clement collection.) 

Figure 34

“Five gallon crock,” Richard Clinton Remmey, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1860–1880. Stoneware with cobalt decoration. H. 15 1/2". Marks: incised on neck, “5”; impressed near base, R.C.R. / Phila. (Private collection; photo, Randl Bye.) 

Figure 35

Detail of the crock illustrated in fig. 34, showing the impressed mark near the base.