ID Redware Tankards Alkaline Glaze signed JS

Any info on age, maker greatly appreciated! The JS appears combined

Welcome Nadine,
Have you researched the Penland School of Crafts in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina?

Thank you for the welcome :) No I have not I will look into your lead I have no idea as to age or anything on these tankards. So that is as good place to start as any, Thank you!

Actually I have a friend who teaches there, I will try and contact him.

http://www.antiquesimagearchive.com/items/223116.html

I also found a James Seagle piece that signs with a JS but not a match on the signature.

probably a silly question, but why would this tankard be classed as Redware? of course, it's made from a red clay, but the major colour is green. So, why not greenware?

bistoboy wrote:probably a silly question, but why would this tankard be classed as Redware? of course, it's made from a red clay, but the major colour is green. So, why not greenware?

You have answered your own question BB - it's made from a red earthenware. It's not a term that we use here in the UK these days but I think the origins of the term are British.

but there's plenty of pottery that is made of red clay that doesn't get labelled as "redware", so is there something more about it? does it necessarily have to come from America for example?

You got in before I edited my origin post. It is a term that tends to be used in the States more than elsewhere these days. We are morely likely to say red earthenware or terracotta.

Anyway, back to the mugs/tankards, they look too well made to be traditional or reproduction redware. Redware was a provincial folkware for farming communities, rather than a robust tavern ware. I suspect these are modern, made by a potter in your area. You might find them on Etsy, the online shopping site for handmade crafts, or via a local pottery guild.

Also worth contacting any re-enactment societies you may have locally, as they often buy reproduced period pottery for their re-enactments of the Civil War or the American revolution.

I've split this thread to General Pottery Discussion as it was going a bit off-topic and hi-jackish

xx

Hello again, well I checked back in earlier and saw several more posts regarding whether or not these should be called redware. I may well be using the wrong name. One of the posts described several types of red clay pottery but it is gone now. I see that this topic has been split, it may be there. But I can not find the "General Pottery Discussion" could someone please guide me to that? Or just post me a link please. Thanks for looking.
I think NaomiM may be correct in saying it might be a newer piece, it does not seem robust enough to be tavern ware, and possibly locally made.

LOL, of course as soon as I said I could not find the split post I found it! I think if I sell these I will call them Red Earthenware Clay, I should be safe with that description.