OLD POTTERIES AND DECORATED DISHES.
One day, looking through the old corner cupboard, Mary exclaimed,
"Aunt Sarah, you certainly possess the finest collection of quaint old
china dishes I have ever seen. I just love those small saucers and
cups without handles; yes, and you have plates to match decorated with
pinkish, lavender peacock feathers, and those dear little cups and
saucers, decorated inside with pink and outside with green flowers,
are certainly odd; and this queerly-shaped cream jug, sugar bowl and
teapot, with pale green figures, and those homely plates, with dabs of
bright red and green, they surely must be very old!"
[Illustration: Old Earthenware Dish]
"Yes, dear, they all belonged to either John's mother or mine. All
except this one large, blue plate, which is greatly valued by me, as
it was given me many years ago by a dear old friend, Mary Butler, a
descendant of one of the oldest families in Wyoming Valley, whose,
forefathers date back to the time of the 'Wyoming Massacre,' about
which so much has been written in song and story.
"The very oddest plates in your collection are those two large
earthenware dishes, especially that large circular dish, with sloping
sides and flat base, decorated with tulips."
[Illustration: SGRAFFITO PLATE Manufactured by One of the Oldest
Pennsylvania German Potterers in 1786]
"Yes, Mary, and it is the one I value most highly. It is called
sgraffito ware. A tulip decoration surrounds a large red star in the
centre of the plate. This belonged to my mother, who said it came from
the Headman pottery at Rockhill Township, about the year 1808. I know
of only two others in existence at the present time; one is in a
museum in the city of Philadelphia and the other one is in the Bucks
County Historical Society at Doylestown, Pa. The other earthenware
plate you admire, containing marginal inscription in German which when
translated is 'This plate is made of earth, when it breaks the potter
laughs,' is the very oldest in my collection, the date on it, you see,
is 1786. Those curved, shallow earthenware pie plates, or 'Poi
Schissel,' as they are frequently called in this part of Bucks County,
I value, even if they are quite plain and without decoration, as they
were always used by my mother when baking pies, and I never thought
pies baked in any other shaped dish tasted equally as good as hers.
These pie plates were manufactured at one of the old potteries near
her home. All the old potters have passed away, and the buildings have
crumbled to the ground. Years ago, your mother and I, when visiting
the old farm where the earlier years of our childhood were passed,
stopped with one of our old-time friends, who lived directly opposite
the old Herstine pottery, which was then in a very dilapidated
condition; it had formerly been operated by Cornelius Herstine (we
always called him 'Neal' Herstine)."
[Illustration: OLD PLATES FOUND IN AUNT SARAH'S CORNER CUPBOARD]
"Together we crossed the road, forced our way through tangled vines
and underbrush, and, peering through windows guiltless of glass, we
saw partly-finished work of the old potters crumbling on the ground.
The sight was a sad one. We realized the hand of time had crumbled to
dust both the potter and his clay. Still nearer my old home was the
McEntee pottery. From earliest childhood our families were friends. We
all attended the 'Crossroads' School, where years later a more modern
brick structure was built, under the hill; not far distant from 'The
Narrows' and the 'Ringing Rocks.' Yes, Mary, my memory goes back to
the time when the McEntee pottery was a flourishing industry, operated
by three brothers, John, Patrick and Michael. When last I visited them
but few landmarks remained."
"Was there a pottery on your father's farm, Aunt Sarah?" inquired
Mary.
"No. The nearest one was the McEntee pottery, but the grandson of the
old man who purchased our old farm at my father's death had a limekiln
for the purpose of burning lime, and several miles distant, at the
home of my uncle, was found clay suitable for the manufacture of
bricks. Only a few years ago this plant was still in operation. My
father's farm was situated in the upper part of Bucks County, in what
was then known as the Nockamixon Swamp, and at one time there were in
that neighborhood no less than seven potteries within two miles of
each other."
"Why," exclaimed Mary, "were there so many potteries in that
locality?"
"'Twas due, no doubt, to the large deposits of clay found there, well
suited to the manufacture of earthenware. The soil is a clayey loam,
underlaid with potter's clay. The old German potters, on coming to
this country, settled mostly in Eastern Pennsylvania, in the counties
of Bucks and Montgomery. The numerous small potteries erected by the
early settlers were for the manufacture of earthenware dishes, also
pots of graded sizes. These were called nests, and were used
principally on the farm for holding milk, cream and apple-butter. Jugs
and pie plates were also manufactured. The plates were visually quite
plain, but they produced occasionally plates decorated with
conventionalized tulips, and some, more elaborate, contained besides
figures of animals, birds and flowers. Marginal inscriptions in
English and German decorate many of the old plates, from which may be
learned many interesting facts concerning the life and habits of the
early settlers. I think, judging from the inscriptions I have seen on
some old plates, it must have taxed the ingenuity of the old German
potters to think up odd, original inscriptions for their plates."
"Aunt Sarah, how was sgraffito ware made? Is it the same as
slip-decorated pottery?"
"No, my dear, the two are quite different. The large plate you so
greatly admired is called sgraffito or scratched work, sometimes
called slip engraving. It usually consists of dark designs on a
cream-colored ground. After the plates had been shaped over the mold
by the potter, the upper surface was covered by a coating of white
slip, and designs were cut through this slip to show the earthenware
underneath. This decoration was more commonly used by the old potters
than slip decorating, which consisted in mixing white clay and water
until the consistency of cream. The liquid clay was then allowed to
run slowly through a quill attached to a small cup, over the
earthenware (before burning it in a kiln) to produce different
designs. The process is similar to that used when icing a cake, when
you allow the icing to run slowly from a pastry tube to form fanciful
designs. I have watched the old potters at their work many a time when
a child. The process employed in the manufacture of earthenware is
almost the same today as it was a century ago, but the appliances of
the present day workmen are not so primitive as were those of the old
German potters. Mary, a new pottery works has been started quite
lately in the exact locality where, over one hundred years ago, were
situated the Dichl and Headman potteries, where my highly-prized, old
sgraffito plate was manufactured. I hear the new pottery has improved
machinery for the manufacture of vases, flower pots, tiles, etc. They
intend manufacturing principally 'Spanish tiles' from the many acres
of fine clay found at that place. The clay, it is said, burns a
beautiful dark, creamy red. As you are so much interested in this
subject, Mary, we shall visit this new pottery some day in the near
future, in company with your Uncle John. It is no great distance from
the farm. Quite an interesting story I have heard in connection with a
pottery owned by a very worthy Quaker in a near-by town may interest
you, as your father was a Philadelphia Quaker and Ralph's parents were
Quakers also."
[Illustration: A-38 Schmutz Amschel]
[Illustration: A-39 Antiquated Tin Lantern]
[Illustration: A-40 Schmutz Amschel]
[Illustration: A-41 Fluid Lamp]
[Illustration: A-42 Candle Mould]
"Yes, indeed, Aunt Sarah! I'd love to hear the story."
"This Quaker sympathized with the colored race, or negroes, in the
South. This was, of course, before slavery was abolished. You don't
remember that time, Mary, You are too young. It is only history to
you, but I lived it, and when the slaves ran away from their owners
and came North to Philadelphia they were sent from there, by
sympathizers, to this Quaker, who kept an underground station. The
slaves were then placed, under his direction, in a high 'pot wagon,'
covered with layers or nests of earthenware pots of graduated sizes. I
heard the driver of one of these pot wagons remark one time that when
going down a steep hill, he put on the brake and always held his
breath until the bottom of the hill was reached, fearing the pots
might all be broken. The wagon-load containing earthenware and slaves
was driven to Stroudsburg, where the pots were delivered to a
wholesale customer. Here the runaways were released from their cramped
quarters and turned over to sympathizing friends, who assisted them in
reaching Canada and safety. I have frequently met the fine-looking,
courtly old gentleman who owned the pottery, and old Zacariah Mast,
the skilled German potter whom he employed. They were for many years
familiar figures in the little Quaker town, not many miles distant.
Both passed away many years ago."
Mary, who still continued her explorations of the corner cupboard,
exclaimed: "Oh! Aunt Sarah! Here is another odd, old plate, way back
on the top shelf, out of sight."
"Yes, dear, that belonged to your Uncle John's mother. It has never
been used and was manufactured over one hundred years ago at an old
pottery in Bedminister Township, Bucks County. Some of those other
quaint, old-fashioned plates also belonged to John's mother. Your
Uncle loves old dishes and especially old furniture; he was so anxious
to possess his grandfather's old 'Solliday' clock. In the centre of
the face of the clock a hand indicated the day of the month and
pictures of two large, round moons on the upper part of the clock's
face (resembling nothing so much as large, ripe peaches) represented
the different phases of the moon. If new moon, or the first or last
quarter, it appeared, then disappeared from sight. It was valued
highly, being the last clock made by the old clockmaker; but John
never came into possession of it, as it was claimed by an elder
sister. I value the old clock which stands in the parlor because 'twas
my mother's, although it is very plain. This old cherry, corner
cupboard was made for my grandmother by her father, a cabinetmaker, as
a wedding gift, and was given me by my mother. Did you notice the
strong, substantial manner in which it is made? It resembles mission
furniture."
"Do tell me, Aunt, what this small iron boat, on the top shelf, was
ever used for? It must be of value, else 'twould not occupy a place in
the cupboard with all your pretty dishes."
"Yes, dearie, 'twas my grandmother's lamp, called in old times a
'Schmutz Amschel' which, translated, means a grease robin, or bird. I
have two of them. I remember seeing my grandmother many a time, when
the 'Amschel' was partly filled with melted lard or liquid fat, light
a piece of lamp wick hanging over the little pointed end or snout of
the lamp. The lamp was usually suspended from a chain fastened to
either side. A spike on the chain was stuck into the wall, which was
composed of logs. This light, by the way, was not particularly
brilliant, even when one sat close beside it, and could not be
compared with the gas and electric lights of our present day and
generation. That was a very primitive manner of illumination used by
our forefathers.
"Mary, did you notice the gayly-decorated, old-fashioned coffee pot
and tea caddy in the corner cupboard? They belonged to my grandmother;
also that old-fashioned fluid lamp, used before coal-oil or kerosene
came into use; and that old, perforated tin lantern also is very
ancient.
"Mary, have you ever read the poem, The Potter and the Clay?' No? Then
read it to me, dear, I like it well; 'tis a particular favorite of
mine, I do not remember by whom it was written."
THE POTTER AND THE CLAY.
(Jeremiah xviii 2-6.)
The potter wrought a work in clay, upon his wheel;
He moulded it and fashioned it, and made it feel,
In every part, his forming hand, his magic skill,
Until it grew in beauty fair beneath his will.
When lo! through some defect, 'twas marred and broken lay,
Its fair proportions spoiled, and it but crumbling clay;
Oh, wondrous patience, care and love, what did he do?
He stooped and gathered up the parts and formed anew.
He might have chosen then a lump of other clay
On which to show his skill and care another day,
But no; he formed it o'er again, as seemed him good;
And who has yet his purpose scanned, his will withstood?
Learn thou from this a parable of God's great grace
Toward the house of Israel, His chosen race;
He formed them for His praise; they fell and grieved Him sore,
But He will yet restore and bless them evermore.
And what He'll do for Israel, He'll do for thee;
Oh soul, so marred and spoiled by sin, thou yet shall see
That He has power to restore, He will receive,
And thou shall know His saving grace, only believe.
Despair not, He will form anew thy scattered life,
And gather up the broken parts, make peace from strife;
Only submit thou to His will of perfect love,
And thou shall see His fair design in Heaven above.