14 - - Antiques & Auction News — February 28, 2020
net
Red Earthenware Illustrated History” in 2009,
“The Mason pottery shop
Continued from page 10 owned by William Jared and
Silas Ballard drew customers
from surrounding villages,”
although William Jared was
apparently later convicted of
murdering a local man, leav-
ing Ballard as the sole owner
in the latter years of the busi-
ness. According to legend,
“There was only one ghost
said to walk the streets once
A 19th century red earthenware urn in a while in the quiet town of
attributed to Silas Ballard’s pottery in Mason. He was a man mur-
Mason, Ohio, dates ca. 1860-79. dered by a potter named
Courtesy Greg Shooner. William Jared. He was pretty
reaching Shaker communities benign, though just hung
in New York, Kentucky and around and folks saw him
Ohio. Otherwise, the Warren once in a while.” Nevertheless,
County potteries typically other Mason potters included
manufactured their wares for John Jared and John Morgan.
local consumption, similar to According to the 1860
how the country red earthen- United States Federal Census,
ware potteries operated in Silas Ballard (ca. 1826-84) was
places like western New York listed as a 34-year-old potter
and rural New England. in Mason, as early as 1860,
But as I noted, it is a spe- with assets cited at 600-dol-
cific type of production that I lars. The census also indicates
was drawn to that was report- that he was born in
edly manufactured at the Tennessee. This is perhaps the
Mason Pottery, as it would be same Silas Ballard who is list-
known in the 19th century. ed as a 24-year-old farmer in
According to author Cynthia L. Campbell County, Tenn., in the
Pauwels, who published 1850 United States Federal
“Historic Warren County: An Census, located along the
Kentucky bor-
der, roughly
35 miles north
of Knoxville,
and died
there as well
in 1884.
However,
there is no
evidence to
say Ballard
apprenticed
at a pottery
business in
Tennessee;
this may have
been a craft
he learned in
W a r r e n
Potter Greg Shooner is demonstrating Warren County, Ohio, County.
red earthenware production at Historic Eastfield Village’s G r e g
“Dish Camp” in East Nassau, N.Y., in June of 2016. Similar Shooner has
forms were made at the Shaker pottery in Union Village, conducted a
Ohio. Jonathan Rickard, a scholar and collector of great amount
mochaware from Connecticut, is also shown photographing research into
the demo.
the Warren
My nephew, Jason, with the urn made by Silas Ballard on the shore of Lake Erie Mason, Ohio, ca. 1860-79, stands
in Cleveland. This type of production may have made its way into Cleveland in 13.75 inches tall. In lower left is a view
the 1800s, although it almost certainly was shipped to Cincinnati.
LARGE CATALOGED
ANTIQUE AUCTION
SAT., MARCH 7, 2020 • 9:00 A.M.
Preview: Friday, March 6, 5-7 P.M.
John & Paige Smith Building - York Fairgrounds
334 Carlisle Avenue, YORK,
100 Lots of Antique Lamp Bases & Lighting
75 Lots of Art Glass
Cylinder Players and Music Boxes
Antiques • Art,
20 Lots of Lucite Purses
100+ Lots of Fiesta and Pottery
20% Buyer’s Premium for on-site Bidders,
Check Website for Online Bidding Terms.
RENTZELS AUCTION SERVICE INC.
Auctioneer: Dave Conley AU-003269L 717-577-1886
www.rentzelsauctionservice.com
Check web for photos
antiquesandauctionnews.
County pot-
ters; in fact,
WE HAVE
A FEW SPOTS
WEHRLY’S
he
discovered
has LE FT IN
THIS GUN AUCT
FOR YO UR
ION FIREARMS AUCTION ST
that the pri-
mary focus CONSIGNMENTS
!!! SATURDAY, MARCH 21 , 2020
was utilitari- PHONE AT 8:30 A.M.
an household 717-235-4146 4067 SNYDER ROAD, GLEN ROCK, PA 17327
wares fol- NOW IF YOU
WEHRLYSAUCTION.COM
lowed by gar- The pair of pots attributed to Silas Ballard were found and HAVE GUNS
AND RELATED WEHRLY’S AUCTION
den pottery owned locally in Warren County, Ohio. ITEMS SERVICE, INC.
R055422
in the later Courtesy Michael Dupriest. TO SELL!
p e r i o d .
717-235-4146
Lic. #AY002060
Almost all of these wares were been a reaction to the
hand-thrown on the potter’s changing pottery industry in
wheel, but Greg has recovered Cincinnati, which began to
archaeological evidence at the employ skilled English potters Early Bird Rain or
site of the Silas Ballard pot- as early as the 1840s. $10.00 - 8:00 A.M.
BUY - SELL - TRADE Snow
TH
tery from just after the mid- However, it is also intriguing
19th century that proves they because these objects may 56 LANCASTER
were manufacturing slab predate the birth of the 1876- HUNTING & FISHING SHOW & SALE
formed dishes. This is an 1956 American Art Pottery SATURDAY, March 7, 2020 - 9:00 A.M.-1:00 P.M.
ancient pottery technique that Movement, where Cincinnati Lancaster Farm & Home Center - 1383 Arcadia Rd., Lancaster, PA 17601
involves creating wares with- became a major production Take Service Road off Rt. 72 South (Manheim Pike) off Rt. 30 & Rt. 283
out a potter’s wheel and center of artware, when the Turn between Jones Honda (follow show signs)
instead forming objects Rookwood Pottery Company Adm.: $5.00 • 8 Ft. Tables Available
around molds or shaping was founded by Maria Early Bird Admission: $10.00 - 8:00 A.M.
them by hand. Longworth Nichols Storer HUNTING & FISHING LICENSES • SHELL BOXES • OLD LURES • PLUGS • REELS
DECOYS • FISHING RODS • BOOKS • POSTERS • KNIVES • GUNS • TRAPS
The wares that really (1849-1932) in 1880. The com-
PICTURES • RELATED ITEMS • HUNTING & FISHING PATCHES
caught my attention were the pany came to fruition because FREE PARKING & GOOD FOOD AVAILABLE
garden forms attributed to of her experience at the ADVERTISED NATIONALLY & LOCALLY
Silas Ballard sometime during Centennial Exposition in ALL STATE, FEDERAL & LOCAL REGULATIONS APPLY
the circa 1860-79 period. I sus- Philadelphia in 1876. This his- Info: Ron and Sue Funk (717) 371-0395 Eves.
pect they more likely date toric event is where some of 3045 W. Meadowview Drive, Gordonville, PA 17529
R054956
from the late 1860s or 1870s. the best manufacturers in DOOR PRIZES
Local history is why the attri- Europe and the Far East exhib- Next Lancaster Show - Saturday, August 8, 2020
bution exists today, even ited their production to the
though there is currently no American marketplace, largely
archaeological evidence to influencing the American pot-
support it. The site of Ballard’s tery industry.
home and pottery are known, The forms that I have seen
EMPIRE ANTIQUES & AUCTIONS
and privately owned. It is pos- from the Mason Pottery deco- TH
sible that archaeological evi- rated in this style are few, but SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29 , 2020
SATURDAY
dence may someday further they include large flowerpots, Doors Open At 8 A.M., Auction Starts at 9 A.M.
expand the knowledge about detached flowerpot saucers, PREVIEW: THURS. & FRI., FEB. 27TH & 28TH
this type of production, which and a variety of urns. The 9:00 A.M.-5:00 P.M.
are typically large forms found Mason Historical Society also LOCATED 278 MONMOUTH STREET,
in a small group of surviving owns a great two-piece gar- HIGHTSTOWN, NJ 08520
objects today. The grand size den urn. A few years ago, I
of many of these objects may photographed the lone exam- One Of Our Finest Sales!
Presents: Rare early Porcelains, Incl. Limoge, Belleek,
suggest they were produced ple I own with my nephew, CAC, Lenox, Nippon, Great Selection Of Artwork
for a higher-end market or Jason, on the shore of Lake incl. Victorian Paintings, Modern Art, Large Framed
larger estates, like those Erie in Cleveland. Erte, etc., Our usual Fine Assortment Of Jewelry
found in Cincinnati and the Nearly all of the wares that Incl. Gold/Silver, Southwest & Vintage Costume.
Sterling Incl. Lg. Cartier Candlesticks, Gorham,
surrounding area that saw a survive from this type of pro- Steiff Bears, Collection Of Model Ships incl. large
growing population of nearly duction today have been handmade Steel Titanic, Cut Glass, Fine Stems clear
to color, Baccarat, Many sets Of China Rosenthal,
220,000 people by 1870. found in 20th century contexts
Lenox, Nippon, Victorian Carved Oak Furniture,
This production may have of ownership in Ohio. The China Cabinets, Leather Chesterfield Sofa & Wing
most recent example just sur- Chair, Hithcock & Ethan Allen Sets, American Drew,
faced while Ohio picker and Mahogany Dining Room, Modern Incl. a Pair Of
Chrome & Rosewood Six Shelf Units, Danish, etc.,
collector, Clark Garrett Jr. was Rugs, Louis Vuitton Luggage, Victorian Bronze
R055949
cleaning out his grandfather’s Lamp, Tray Lots. Building is Packed!!!
old barn in Fairhaven, Preble Contact 609-209-0362 We Hold Monthly Auctions!
County, Ohio, located along
the Indiana border. This con- VISIT AUCTIONZIP.COM ID#15106 FOR PHOTOS & DETAILS
text is only about 35 miles
Continued on page 15
This 19th century red earthenware urn
attributed to Silas Ballard’s pottery in
of the base underneath.
PA
R055875