Paul Cushman
Paul Cushman: The Premier Albany Potter and His Stoneware

Ceramics in America 2012

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 14 1/8". Stamp: PAUL:CUSHMANs / STONE•WARE•FACTORY (The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Paul Cushman, 2002.)

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    The author with a selection of Cushman stoneware. Photo, ca. 1980.

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    Paul Cushman. Engraving. From Henry Wyles Cushman, A Historical and Biographical Genealogy of the Cushmans: The Descendants of Robert Cushman, the Puritan, from the Year 1617 to 1855 (Boston: Little, Brown, 1855).

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    James Eights, “STATE and PEARL STREETS, ALBANY. 1806.” Colored engraving. After a circa 1850 watercolor. 

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    Mark Reynolds, Diorama of the Albany waterfront painted on the wall in the hallway of the author’s Manhattan apartment, 2004. 

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1809. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7". Impressed mark: 1809 PAUL•CUSHMAN’s• STONE•WARE FACTORY• / HALF • A MILE WEST OF ALBANYGOAL (Unless otherwise noted, all objects from the author’s collection; photos, Gavin Ashworth.) 

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1809. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7 3/8". Impressed mark: 09PAUL•CUSHMAN•s•STONE•WARE•FACTORY1809PA

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, ca. 1809. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9 1/2". Impressed mark: PAUL•CUSHMAN STONE•WARE•FACTORY

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, ca. 1809. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7 1/2". Impressed: PAUL:CUSHMAN

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7 3/8". Impressed mark: PAUL:CUSHMAN / STONE•WARE•FACTORY 

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, ca  1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 8 1/2". Impressed mark: PAUL: CUSHMAN 

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 9 1/4". Impressed mark: PAUL: CUSHMAN 

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Jugs, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. of the tallest 16 1/4". The jug on the left retains its label from the George McKearen Collection.

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Jugs, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. of the tallest 15". 

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Crock, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7 1/4". Impressed: PAUL:CUSHMANS 

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833 Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 7 1/2". Impressed: PAUL:CUSHMAN 

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Pitcher, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1805–1833. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 12". Impressed: PAUL:CUSHMAN 

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Cooler, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1818. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 23 1/2". (Albany Institute of History & Art, bequest of James Ten Eyck.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Jar, Paul Cushman, Albany, New York, 1809. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 10". Rouletted marks: PAUL• CUSHMAN’s:STONE•WARE• FACTORY•1809 / HALF•A•MILE•WEST OF ALBANY•GOAL•. Incised inscription: A C Russell / Pott / Sunday. (Private collection.)

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Views of the mouth (left) and base (right) of the jar illustrated in fig. 19.

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    Photograph of Paul Cushman the Second (1822–1895), ca. 1870. 

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Jug, probably New York, ca. 1870. Salt-glazed stoneware. H. 8 3/4". Inscribed in cobalt blue: P. Cushman Co. / Wines Brandies &c. / 367 & 378 Broadway / Albany / NY 

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Photograph of Harry Curtis Cushman (1857–1918), ca. 1910. 

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Portrait of the author, ca. 2007, holding a jug made by his great-grandfather.