Very Rare Morgantown, WV School Redware Jar, Stamped "J M T & CO LONDON," Madison County, Ohio origin, circa 1830, finely-potted ovoid jar with rounded foot, tooled shoulder, and tall, flaring collar, covered in a streaky lead and manganese glaze. Impressed with the mark "J M T & CO / LONDON" across the midsection, referring to potter, James M. Thompson. Thompson was the brother of John W. Thompson, the patriarch of Morgantown's Thompson family of potters, which led the city in the production of stoneware and redware for many decades. According to Horvath and Duez' article, The Potters and Pottery of Morgan's Town, Virginia, found in Ceramics in America 2004, James Thompson likely learned the potting trade from Jacob Foulke in Morgantown around 1804 (Horvath and Duez, p. 121). According to the 1883 book, The History of Madison County, Ohio, Thompson traveled to London, OH in 1813, establishing a pottery there at the age of 27. He was one of the first settlers in London and possibly one of the earliest potters in all of Western Ohio. The History of Madison County Ohio discusses one John Dungan, Esq.'s account of the town in 1835, in which he states "“there were two potteries in the village, one located on South Main street, in the rear of the present residence of Judge Clark, carried on by James M. Thompson, and the other located on the site of the Presbyterian Church carried on by W. W. Burchnell.� (A signed redware jar by William Burchnell was sold by Crocker Farm, Inc., in July of 2009.) Further Census records reveal Thompson would remain a potter in London until at least the 1850's. A fine and rare example of Morgantown school redware, recently discovered in Ohio. A few minor spots of wear to exterior of rim. Glaze wear to interior of rim. Base chips. 7/8" shallow flake off reverse. Some scratches to surface. H 8 1/2".
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