G.G. Williams & Co., Ovoid Jug

This ovoid jug of about 3 or 4 gallons with floral decoration is believed to be attributed to G.G. Williams of Mount Morris, New York. Here's something interesting written about Mount Morris from the book Early Potters and Potteries of New York State, by William C. Ketchum Jr., which shows why we believe this is where this jug came from.
"In 1835 Nathan Clark opened a second western pottery at Mount Morris, a town on the Genesee Valley Canal thirth-eight miles south of Rochester. An announcement in the October 29, 1935, edition of the Mount Morris Spectator advised the citizens of the new manufactory. N. Clark & Co. Mount Morris, October 26, 1835."

"The Clark Factory is mentioned in the 1842 edition of Disturnell's Gazetteer of the State of New York, and it is known that the owners sponsored a village brass band in the 1840's."

"The business at Mount Morris did not, however, have the lasting powers of the Lyons and Rochester counterparts, or perhaps it was the local management. In any case this was first of the frontier branches to be abondoned by the Clarks. On September 22, 1846, the Livingston County Whig announced that on August 29 of that year G. G. Williams, the local manager, had withdrawn from the firm of N. Clark & Co."

"The notice stated that "at Mt. Morris, G. G. Williams will carry on the business on his private account," but it is uncertain that he continued for any length of time. However, an 1858 map of Mount Morris Village shows a building marked "pottery" on Chapel Street not far from the old town cemetary. This may simply be the abandoned Clark building, but it is also possible that it was an active kiln. Since the only known Mount Morris stoneware mark is N. Clark & Co/Mount Morris, one may conjecture that if Williams did continue shop it was as a redware manufactory untilizing local clay. Since the 1850 census lists no potter in the township of Mount Morris, even this is doubtful."

"There is a local legend to the effect that termination of the potting business at Mount Morris was brought about through the reluctance of local landowners to denude their hillsides for the vast amounts of wood needed as fuel for the oven."

"Salt-glazed stoneware from this village is not common. At Mount Morris a few pieces are in the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Crosten, whose home is on the plot once occupied by the old Clark plant. The pots show the typical bulbous shape and scant decoration of the pre-1850 period.
From time to time, we offer selected pieces of stoneware for sale on eBay from our gallery of antiques and collectibles. And, occasionally, from our private collection. One of our customers, who had successfully bid on two other pieces of pottery on our eBay auctions, checked out the Rednersville Country Store website recently and decided to take a day trip to visit the store. He picked up another five pieces for his collection, and went home happy that we sold him something special from our private collection at a very good price since he'd come so far to find really interesting collectibles.

Merry Christmas—Rudolf the Redner's Reindeer

S. Skinner & Co. Earthenware

We've got an interesting jug by S. Skinner & Co., made in Prince Edward County, then known as Canada West. This fine example of Skinner crockery, being offered for sale on our eBay auctions, is a 2 gallon jug with a cobalt blue tree.

S. Skinner & Co. was in business in nearby Picton from 1855 to 1867. Now, in the shade of the trees at the Glenwood Cemetery on Grove Street in Picton, Mr. Skinner is resting in peace.

Albury Cemetery

One of the interesting spots to visit along Rednersville Road is the Albury Cemetery. The history of this old graveyard is recorded at the Albury Cemetery Research Wesbsite.
Its European origins date back to the Loyalists who settled here in the last part of the 1700s after fleeing the United States following the Revolution. Prior to the arrival of the Loyalists, it was an important hunting, fishing, and water route for the Mohawk nation.

A history of the Cemetery was written for inclusion into the 1998 Albury Church Centennial Book and has been included here as Albury Cemetery History.
Grave markers can be of great interest to historians, and to antiquarians as well. Why, just this weekend, the headstone from the grave of a stray tabby cat named Winkle went at auction by Sotheby's in London for over £200,000. I kid you not.

All Smiles

It was great to receive an email today from a lady we met at the 25th International Antique Tool Auction in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Judy Eaton was with the sellers of the Sandusky Plow Plane that had been consigned to Brown's for the historic auction described here on Saturday, October 23.



We were delighted that she sent us the following email with a photograph of Clarence and Tom Feick, who were all smiles after the sale of the ebony and ivory Sandusky Presentation Plow Plane for the world-record price of $104,000.
Hi John and Jason,

My name is Judy and I was the lady you talked to with the Sandusky plane owner Tom. Your coverage on your site is wonderful. I love the live auction sound.

That was the most exciting thing I have ever been involved with. I have included a picture that you might add to your site. It is of Clarence and Tom Feick after the auction. Use as you wish. It was nice to meet you and I'm sorry that you didn't take it ("Sandy") home. It went to a Pennsylvania collector and from talking to him afterwards he will be sharing the scholarship of the piece as it is gathered.

My husband and I will keep the info on your shop and may stop by next year when we are out and about. Canada is on our list. Again, thanks for the nice coverage. I was a little disappointed as one of the tool sites was saying they thought it was fake and possibly a marriage or extensive redo. I couldn't get on to comment but I have about fifteen pictures of it before it went to Clarence and it was "restored" with soap and water and a little polish on the rusty screws—otherwise pristine. But I guess there will always be naysayers.—Judy Eaton, Mount Joy, PA
Being a cabinetmaker, it was a special treat for me to hold the one-of-a-kind ebony and ivory Sandusky Plow Plane in my carpenter hands. And, as a serious collector of fine antique woodworking tools, it was thrill for me to witness this historic auction. But half the fun of antique tool shows and auctions is the people you meet, and it certainly was a pleasure meeting these nice folks.