Brief description |
Covered bowl manufactured by Joseph Clementson, Stoke-on-Trent, England and imported to Milwaukee by F. J. Blair, 1843-1856. |
Object name |
Covered bowl |
Alternate object name |
Sugar bowl; Ironstone |
Maker |
Clementson, Joseph, 1798-1871 |
Date |
1843-1856 |
Dimensions |
6 1/2"H x 8 1/4"W x 4 1/2"D |
Materials and techniques |
Lead-glazed earthenware, transfer-printed in underglaze blue |
Marks |
"Ironstone/ Chusan/ J.Clementson" |
Original location |
Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, England |
Location of use |
Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin |
Current location |
Wisconsin |
Description |
Six-sided covered bowl with two handles. Transfer-printed in blue underglaze (also called flow blue) in Chusan pattern. |
History |
This ironstone bowl was manufactured in England by Joseph Clementson (1798-1871) and imported to Milwaukee by crockery dealer Franklin J. Blair. Born in Blandford, Massachusetts in 1815, Blair came to Wisconsin in 1843 from Cleveland, Ohio and established a ceramics and glassware shop on Milwaukee's Water Street. In 1856, he entered a business partnership with his shop clerk, Edmond Reed Persons (1828-1910) of Vermont. The Pioneer History of Milwaukee (1876) describes the firm of Blair and Persons as "one of the soundest, as well as one of the most popular establishments of the kind in the Northwest. They ship directly from Europe, both of them having in turn visited England and France in a business capacity." |
Sources |
James S. Buck, Pioneer History of Milwaukee v. 2 (Milwaukee News Co., 1876), pp. 1858-59; Wisconsin Historical Society, Wisconsin Genealogy Index: Death Record Entry for Milwaukee County, v. 15, p. 10 (accessed February 21, 2011): http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/vitalrecords An image of the Blair and Persons shop at 534 North Water Street is available from the Milwaukee Historic Photos collection, Milwaukee Public Library (accessed February 21, 2011): http://content.mpl.org/u?/HstoricPho,3883 |
Owner |
Private Collection |
Rights |
The artifact illustrated here is privately owned. Images of and information about the artifact are made available by the Wisconsin Historical Society for educational purposes. The images and information may be viewed, downloaded and printed by individuals for personal use, research or teaching purposes, or other "fair use" as defined by U.S. copyright law. All other uses are strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Wisconsin Historical Society. For more information, see http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/copyright.asp |
Digital collection |
Wisconsin Decorative Arts Database |
Digital identifier |
PC049 |
Digital format |
image/jpeg |
Type |
Physical object |
Keywords |
Ceramics; Pottery; Ironstone (pottery); Covered bowl; Bowl (vessel); Container (receptacle); Furnishings and equipment; Food Service Tools and Equipment |
Date digitized |
2009-10-15 |
Date modified |
2011-02-25 |