Daniel Greatbach
Coachman Bottle

ModelerAmerican, born England, active 1838–c. 1861
CultureAmerican
Titles
  • Coachman Bottle
Datec. 1849–1852
Made inBennington, Vermont, United States
MediumLead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
Dimensions11 × 4 1/2 × 4 1/2 in. (27.9 × 11.4 × 11.4 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg
Object numberB.57.18
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Ceramics Study Room
Exposé

Explore Further

Department
Bayou Bend
Object Type
Description

Among the novelty wares introduced by the English modeler Daniel Greatbach and produced at the Fenton factory were utilitarian objects that assumed the shape of a human figure. Most common is the Toby, which had a long English history and was made at Bennington in the pitcher and match safe forms (B.57.49, B.57.30, B.57.17 and B.57.16). Another, made in three sizes and with differing glazes, is a bar bottle depicting a man in a long coachman's cloak and top hat.  This form also continues an English tradition of human-shaped bottles produced to hold gin and distributed by local bars to their clients.  The cloak provides a useful adaptation of the human body to the requisite bottle shape, and the top hat accommodates the cork. The Bayou Bend bottle, which is the largest of the three sizes, is a variant where the cloak has tassels and the man holds a small bottle.

Related examples: Levin 1988 p. 30; for examples of the various glazes (Barret 1958, color plate G); for the three sizes and other variants (Barret 1958, pp. 321–23, pls. 419, 420, 421, 423); MMA (acc. no. 14.11.19–21).

Book excerpt: David B. Warren, Michael K. Brown, Elizabeth Ann Coleman, and Emily Ballew Neff. American Decorative Arts and Paintings in the Bayou Bend Collection. Houston: Princeton Univ. Press, 1998.


Provenance[George S. McKearin, Hoosick Falls, New York]; [Whimsy Antiques, Arlington, Vermont]; purchased by Miss Ima Hogg, 1957; given to MFAH, by 1966.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
[no inscriptions]
Impressed on the underside: Lyman Fenton & Co. / Fenton's / ENAMEL / PATENTED / 1849. / BENNINGTON, Vt. [Barret 1958, p. 14, fig. IXa]

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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Toby Barrel Flask or Bottle
c. 1840–1850
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.30
Foot Warmer
c. 1847–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.39.A,.B
Toby Barrel Flask or Bottle
Lyman, Fenton & Co.
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (flint enamel ware)
B.57.17
Pitcher
c. 1855–1875
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.63.17
Pitcher
c. 1849–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.48
Pitcher
Daniel Greatbach
c. 1840–1850
Lead-glazed earthenware
B.63.16
Flask
c. 1850–1860s
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.26
Mug
c. 1845–1858
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.63.114
Shaving Mug
E. & W. Bennett
c. 1850–1855
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.24
Pitcher
Brockville Works
c. 1850–1907
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.63.15
Pitcher
c. 1850–1900
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.62.36
Candlestick
mid-19th century
Lead-glazed earthenware (Rockingham ware)
B.57.37.1