Robert Hunter and Oliver Mueller Heubach
Visualizing the Stoneware Potteries of William Rogers of Yorktown and Abner Landrum of Pottersville

Ceramics in America 2019

Full Article
Contents
  • Figure 1
    Figure 1

    View of the Town of York Virginia from the River, 1754–1756. Colored drawing from Logbook #406 Voyage of HMS Success and HMS Norwich to Nova Scotia and Virginia. (Courtesy, The Mariner’s Museum.) Despite its industrial character, the William Rogers pottery was situated just one block from Yorktown’s Main Street and within eyesight of the town’s grandest residences.

  • Figure 2
    Figure 2

    Earthenware and stoneware “wasters” recovered from the William Rogers site in Yorktown, Virginia, ca. 1720–1745. (Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection.)

  • Figure 3
    Figure 3

    View of the archaeological excavations of the main workshop of the William Rogers pottery building complex, facing north. (Photo, Norman F. Barka.)

  • Figure 4
    Figure 4

    An oblique view photograph of the large kiln at the William Rogers pottery. These are the best preserved remains of an eighteenth-century stoneware kiln in America. (Photo, Norman F. Barka.)

  • Figure 5
    Figure 5

    An artist’s reconstruction of the large kiln at the William Rogers pottery. (Drawing, Toni Gregg.).

  • Figure 6
    Figure 6

    View of the smaller of two kilns excavated at the William Rogers pottery. (Photo, Norman F. Barka.) The kiln is 5'6" high.

  • Figure 7
    Figure 7

    An artist’s reconstruction of the small kiln at the William Rogers pottery. (Drawing, Toni Gregg.)

  • Figure 8
    Figure 8

    Milk pans, William Rogers pottery, Yorktown, Virginia, 1720–1745. Lead-glazed earthenware. D. 14". (Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 9
    Figure 9

    Mugs, William Rogers pottery, Yorktown, Virginia, 1720–1745. Salt‑glazed stoneware. (Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection; photo, Gavin Ashworth.)

  • Figure 10
    Figure 10

    A plan drawing of the excavations detailing the locations of the kilns and related structures and features of the William Rogers pottery.

  • Figure 11
    Figure 11

    Artist’s reconstruction of the William Rogers pottery (ca. 1720–1745) in Yorktown, Virginia. (Drawing, Cary Carson.)

  • Figure 12
    Figure 12

    Mills Atlas of South Carolina, ca. 1825. These tracings, by the U.S. Army, are ca. 1860.

  • Figure 13
    Figure 13

    Detail of the map illustrated in fig. 12 showing the Edgefield community and the Landrum pottery to the northeast.

  • Figure 14
    Figure 14

    Bottle, Abner Landrum, Edgefield County, South Carolina, dated 1820. Alkaline-glazed stoneware. H. 8". (Courtesy, Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts.) This small bottle is incised “July 20th 1820 / A. Landrum.” It is one of the earliest known pieces of dated Edgefield stoneware, and the only known example signed by Abner Landrum.

  • Figure 15
    Figure 15

    Storage jar, attributed to Pottersville, Edgefield, South Carolina, dated 1821. Alkaline-glazed stoneware. (Private collection; photo, Robert Hunter.) One of the earliest dated production vessels, this well-formed two-gallon storage jar is inscribed “1821” and further embellished with a series of circular punctates.

  • Figure 16
    Figure 16

    Storage jar, attributed to Pottersville, Edgefield, South Carolina, dated 1822. Alkaline-glazed stoneware. (Private collection; photo, Robert Hunter.) Another early dated example, this two-gallon storage jar is inscribed “July the 30th 1822.” In addition, it is stamped with seven “B”-like marks.

  • Figure 17
    Figure 17

    Storage jar, attributed to Pottersville, Edgefield, South Carolina, ca. 1820–1822. Alkaline-glazed stoneware. (Private collection; photo, Robert Hunter.) The jug has four stamped “B”-like marks, identical to those on the jar illustrated in fig. 16.

  • Figure 18
    Figure 18

    Excavated remains of the Pottersville kiln in 2011, with key architectural features indicated. (Photo, George Calfas.)

  • Figure 19
    Figure 19

    Conjectural reconstructive drawing of the Pottersville kiln. (Drawing, Oliver Mueller-Heubach.)    

  • Figure 20
    Figure 20

    Painting of a dragon kiln, China, ca. 1825. Gouache on paper. 20 7/8 x 15 3/8". (Courtesy, Peabody Essex; Museum purchase with funds donated anonymously, 1983, E81592.14.)

  • Figure 21
    Figure 21

    A conjectural drawing suggesting how the kiln’s catenary arch might have been constructed using a wooden form that was subsequently removed after the bricks were laid. (Drawing, Oliver Mueller-Heubach.)

  • Figure 22
    Figure 22

    Storage jar, Lewis Miles pottery, Edgefield, South Carolina, dated 1840. Alkaline-glazed stoneware. H. 15 1/2". (Harvard Art Museums; photo, Robert Hunter.) This six-gallon jar is inscribed “January 27th 1840” and “Mr Miles Dave” with punctuates and slashes. It is a highly important example of David Drake’s work, the earliest known example signed with his name, “Dave.”

  • Figure 23
    Figure 23

    Conjectural reconstructive drawing of the Pottersville kiln. (Drawing, Oliver Mueller-Heubach.)    

  • Figure 24
    Figure 24

    Conjectural drawing of workshop activities at Pottersville showing the throwing of large jars. (Drawing, Oliver Mueller-Heubach.) Activities were organized in an assembly-line fashion with individuals assigned specific tasks such as preparation of clay balls for throwing and handle making.

  • Figure 25
    Figure 25

    Loading the kiln. (Drawing, Oliver Mueller-Heubach.) The loading of the kiln was one of the most critical aspects of the entire manufacturing progress.

  • Figure 26
    Figure 26

    Conjectural drawing of workers stoking the side ports of the kiln. (Drawing, Oliver Mueller-Heubach.) The fuel used for these side ports was generally smaller than the larger planks used in the main firebox.