"Hound-Handled Fireman Pitcher." CONGRESS POTTERY, South Amboy, NJ (1848-1854)

I decided to start listing some of my collection again. Every week I will add some photos, because I do miss being active on this site, and talking to all of the people here. I am going to start with this piece. I had been looking for one for a long time, and was finally able to find a signed one.

The piece is from the mid-19th century. Rockingham glazed wares were starting to gain some steam, as they were already very popular in England. Some of the most famous early potteries that made this type of ware included: Norton Pottery (Bennington, Vermont), E & W Bennett Pottery Co. (East Liverpool, Ohio & Baltimore, Maryland), Swan Hill Pottery (South Amboy, NJ), American Pottery Co. (Jersey City, NJ). Some people mistakenly refer to this type of ware as Bennington. However, only some of the pieces in this style were actually made in Vermont. The correct term, these days, is Rockingham, or sometimes Flint Enamel. The clay type would fall in the yellow ware category.

This piece comes from a lesser known pottery established by Abraham Cadmus. It shows an amazing scene of firemen marching to put out a fire. They are carrying axes, horns, and pulling the machinery. The glaze is wonderful, as you can see. A wonderful, thick, and sturdy hound handle, and to top it all off, the signature on the bottom. The piece is fresh to the market, it came from a museum in upstate NY.