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for Bennington Potteries
Bennington Potteries
American
Because the Bennington potteries were the first to copy the English Rockingham process, and produced the highest quality wares, there is a tendency to label all brown or spatter-glazed pottery as "Bennington." This is incorrect and only pottery made in Bennington, Vermont should be so indentified. The similar products of other potteries should be identified as "American Rockingham". At Bennington, at least until 1856, the wares were exceptionally fine in finish because a double glaze technique was used. A glossy underglaze was applied to the clay piece. After an initial firing, the brown Rockingham glaze was spattered on and the piece was fired again. The result was a final glaze effect of extraordinary depth and brilliance.
More than one hundred potteries made American Rockingham type wares, particulary in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland, often producing wares not up to Bennington standards. Collectors should, for instance, be wary of dull brownish finishes, particulary in small items like creamers. These finishes resulted from dipping the wares rather than the more expensive and time-consuming firing.
Person TypeInstitution
American, 1847 - 1858
American, 1896 - 1940
American, founded 1831
