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22, 1846, the Livingston County Whig announced that on August 29 of that year G. G. Williams, the local manager, had withdrawn from the firm of N. Clark & Co."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.