Extremely Rare, Large-Sized Morgantown School Redware Jar, Stamped "J M T & CO / LONDON," Madison County, Ohio origin, circa 1830, approximately two-gallon jar with bulbous form, heavily-tooled shoulder, rounded foot, and stylish flaring rim. Surface covered in a streaky dark lead and manganese glaze over an orange ground. Impressed with the mark "J M T & CO / LONDON" across the shoulder, referring to Morgantown, WV-trained potter, James M. Thompson. Thompson was the brother of John W. Thompson, the patriarch of the family of potters who led the Morgantown school in the production of stoneware and redware for many decades. According to the Horvath and Duez article, "The Potters and Pottery of Morgans Town, Virginia," found in Ceramics in America 2004, James Thompson likely learned the potting trade from Jacob Foulke in Morgantown around 1804. The 1883 book The History of Madison County, Ohio states that 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. An account of the town in 1835 printed in The History of Madison County ... spells out that "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. Further research in census records reveals that Thompson remained a potter in London until at least the 1850s. This important jar, potted in an imposing size, is only the second example of signed James M. Thompson redware we are aware of. Scratches to glaze on surface. Base chips. Very minor wear to interior of rim. H 13 1/2" ; Width (at midsection) 9 1/2".
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