Sarah Tutt (1859-1947) was the principal decorator of pottery at Marblehead Pottery from 1908 through 1936.
Sarah W. Main was a native of Marblehead. Her father, Richard Main, was a rope-maker. Her mother’s maiden name was Eunice Whippen. Sarah initially worked in a local shoe factory and then as a teacher. In 1891 at 32 years of age she married Edward D. Tutt, a farmer who had worked as a clerk at a seed company in 1895 and 1896.
Sarah Tutt began working at Marblehead Pottery in 1908 or perhaps a bit earlier. In the 1920 census she was listed as an “Art Decorator” at a “Pottery.” She worked at Marblehead Pottery until it closed in 1936, when she was 77 years old. She died of a stroke on May 26, 1947 at 87 years of age.
The Tutt family of Marblehead, MA. was important to Marblehead Pottery. When Sarah Main married Edward Tutt she became Sarah Tutt or Mrs. Edward Tutt . Edward Tutt’s unmarried sister was Hannah Tutt. Sarah Tutt and Hannah Tutt were thus, sisters-in-law. Srah Tutt was the decorator who executed the decorative designs of Albert Baggs, Arthur Hennessey and Maude Milner. Pottery pieces that she decorated usually bear the initial “T.” In most cases it is paired with the signature of one of the three principal designers, In some cases the “T” is after the other signature, in other cases the “T” is below the other signature. When she worked with Maude Milner the T was surrounded by the stylized M for Milner.
In her thesis on Arthur Baggs, Persick wrote that Mrs Edward Tutt was also the pottery business manager and that she had charge of the sales room.
The interpretation of Marblehead Pottery signatures was confused by authors, dealers and collectors for several years because of an incorrect interpretation of the initials “HT,” often found on Marblehead Pottery pieces. It was incorrectly believed that these pieces were the work of Hannah Tutt. It is now believed that the “HT” signature represented pieces designed by Arthur Hennessey (H) and decorated by Sarah Tutt (T). This misunderstanding was clarified by a terrific article “Marblehead Revisited: The Myth of Hannah Tutt” by Jonathan Clancy and Martin Eidelberg. Style 1900, Winter 2008-2009, Vol. 21, No. 4, pages 62-69
