Marblehead Pottery in Museums
Abbot Hall
Marblehead, MA
The Marblehead Historical Society Gift Shop contains a display case with about 100 examples of decorated and undecorated Marblehead Pottery. The hours of the gift shop vary. It is well to call in advance. The Lee Mansion, across the street also has several pieces of Marblehead pottery on display.
Abbot Hall is home to the Marblehead Maritime Museum and the famous “Spirit of ‘76” painting. The painting was commissioned for the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. After the fair, the painting was bought by Marblehead native, General Thomas Devereaux since his son, Harry Devereaux, had been the model for the drummer boy in the painting. At the time Harry (Henry Kelsey) Devereux was captain. Third Company, Brooks Military School in Cleveland, Ohio. Marblehead Pottery would begin as part of Dr Hall’s program based at the Devereaux Mansion in Marblehead.
Marblehead Museum and Historical Society
Marblehead, MA
The museum has a display case with approximately 20 pieces of Marblehead pottery in the Lee Mansion. A few pieces of pottery are housed in the museum building across the street along with a pottery wheel said to have been used by Marblehead Pottery.
“Matte, speckled gray colored, V-shaped vase with raised lip, horizontal incised bands in darker gray with frieze of ducks. executed in 3 tones of gray at widest part of vase. Interior glaze is high gloss, medium brown.”
Incised MP Ship Mark
Catalog Number2001.98
Museum of Fine Arts
Boston, MA
The MFA web site details 9 pieces of Marblehead Pottery in their collection. This stalking panther bowl is one of 6 decorated pieces in the MFA collection. The stalking panther form is depicted in the 1919 catalogue. This piece is dated by the MFA as 1910-1915.
Peabody Essex Museum
Salem, MA
This beautifully painted colonial revival style bowl bears the unusual signature of a painted galleon with the name HENNESSEY spelled out with the number ’12 above the ship. This would suggest that it was created in 1912..
The museum has at least 8 other undisplayed pieces and a small painting of the original Marblehead pottery shop in their collection.
Newark Museum
Newark,NJ
Arthur Hennessey, Sarah Tutt and John Swallow for Marblehead Pottery,
Vase with stylized flowers/roses, ca. 1910.
Thrown earthenware with applied slips.
Height 7 inches, Diameter 4 inches,
Incised MP Ship Mark
Incised HT;
Oval MARBLEHEAD POTTERY paper label
Purchase 1911 (11.489). 1911 purchase price = $8.00
Art Institute of Chicago Chicago, IL
Annie E. Aldrich, designer. John Swallow, potter. Sarah Tutt, decorator. Vance American Fund; gift of the Antiquarian Society. The image references Arthur Wesley Dow (Ipswich, MA - 18 miles from Marblehead) woodblock prints.
This piece (or one of the three identical) pieces was said to have been owned by Benjamin Tutt, later acquired by Dr Rappaport, sold for $97,000 by Kaminski Auction in 1991 before being acquired by the AIC in 2009
Metropolitan Museum of Art
NY, NY
The New American Wing includes promised gift pieces from Robert Ellison, Jr. pottery collection. Several pieces of Marblehead are displayed.
Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis, IN
Creation date about 1910-1920
Materials earthenware
Dimensions 13 & 3/4 Inches High
Currently On View in Urban Realism Gallery
Credit line:
Harold Victor Decorative Arts Fund
Accession number 1994.81
Ohio State Baggs Memorial Library
Columbus, Ohio
The Arthur E. Baggs Memorial Library is a room housed within the Department of Arts ceramic area at Ohio State. This collection includes books, objects, tools, glaze notebooks, as well as many test tiles.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles, California
The collection includes several pieces donated by Max Pavelsky and Jodie Evans
Kirkland Museum of Fine and Decorative Art
Denver, CO
Humidor
DESIGN DATE 1920
3 & 1/8 Inch High, 4 & 1/2 Inch Diameter
ON VIEW in Arts & Crafts Gallery 3
Bottom impressed with "MP" ship logo mark
Collection Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art
ACCESSION # 2006.0287
Brooklyn Museum of Art
Brooklyn, New York
MAKER
MEDIUM Glazed earthenware
DATES after 1908
DIMENSIONS height: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); diameter: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
MARKINGS On bottom: white oval paper label printed in black: "MARBLEHEAD/ POTTERY"; in pencil on paper label: "100"; "1.00" Impressed in center: "M [ship logo] P"
COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts
MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
ACCESSION NUMBER 43.128.78
CREDIT LINE Gift of Arthur W. Clement
RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-
CAPTION Marblehead Pottery (1905-1936). Bowl, after 1908. Glazed earthenware, height: 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm); diameter: 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Arthur W. Clement, 43.128.78. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.43.128.78.jpg)
IMAGE overall, CUR.43.128.78.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2010
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Small round bowl, curved at base with inward sloping sides. Exterior with matte green glaze; blue/green glazed interior.