ANTIQUE PRIMITIVE SALT GLAZED
STONEWARE CROCK
MADE BY JOHN B. CAIRE
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK
1839 - 1852
Antique primitive salt glazed stoneware one-gallon size crock made by John B. Caire in Poughkeepsie, New York, 1839 - 1852.
We are proud to offer this outstanding example of the work of John Caire, entrusted to us by the Caire Family. The Caire family has hope that this beautiful crock will find a warm and safe spot in someone's loving home collection.
The early town of Poughkeepsie, New York, was a stopping off spot for early settlers making their way up the Hudson River and into the wide open and beautiful hills of New York State. It had also served as an escape for New York City residents running from waves of the Plague that had tormented New York City since before the turn of the 1800's. The town would receive barges and sloops ladened down with settlers and their belongings in waves and the town would bustle with newly found business. In the blink of an eye, they would be gone, and the town would go quiet. This ebb and flow would create a VERY tough place to build a business. Many potters came and went in Poughkeepsie, attempting to make a go of it.
In 1839, a Frenchman named John B. Caire, and his family came to Poughkeepsie and leased one of the two potteries which had been established there. The Main St. pottery had been in the hands of many potters before Caire, the list so long and complicated we will leave it for another day. Caire had a wife and three sons, Jacob, George and Adam. John Caire and his two older sons, Jacob and George, began as workers for the property owner, but in short order, they leased the property themselves, and the Caire family was in business!
By 1843, the business was "J. B. Caire & Co.". Caire also leased the other stoneware pottery in Poughkeepsie on Union St. and his son Jacob transferred his efforts there, while John Caire ran the Main St. Pottery. So, the father and two sons operated both potteries in Poughkeepsie until 1852 when John Caire passed away at age 61. Jacob purchased the pottery and operated as the "Jacob Caire Pottery" for two more years before selling the Main St. pottery and becoming a Poughkeepsie grocer. The youngest son, Adam, came along after his apprenticeship and having inherited part ownership in the pottery, built a business in Poughkeepsie that lasted until 1896. The Caire family has a large and valued chapter in Poughkeepsie's American story.
This is a one-gallon size crock with applied lug handles. The potter gave us straight sides and tooled shoulder. For those of you who really know your stoneware history, you will appreciate that this crock was made before 1852 and is NOT ovoid in form. Some of the earliest straight sided crocks is America were made in Poughkeepsie and not just by John Caire!
On the face is this deep blue bloom of a flower facing upwards. This work was done by hand with the rich blue cobalt glaze. The flower has a nice bed of leaves and tendrils. This work is VERY mid-century New York State in the 1800's.
Above the flower is the maker stamp which reads;
J. B. CAIRE & CO.
PO'KEEPSIE N.Y.
The crock is 7 1/2" tall and 8" wide. There is some slosh over from the interior Albany slip glaze, but the outside is super shiny from the final salt glaze application. There is a large chip/loss on one handle the only condition issue.
The take aways for this crock include the historically early Hudson Valley maker's stamp, the intense coloration of the cobalt artistry and the incredibly shiny coat of salt glaze. The crock has a very clear maker's stamp which designates the origin pottery, is washed in blue cobalt glaze and is an early stamp used by this pottery family. Highly collectible and a valued treasure of the Caire family.
Delivered to your doorstep SAFELY in a few days! Enjoy!
Provenance: The Caire Family