Lyman, Fenton & Co.

American, 1849–1852

LocationBennington, Vermont, United States

Biographyhttp://www.ceramic-insight.com/FactoryDetail.asp?fdFactoryPeriodId=170&fdFlag=Factory

By 1847 Bennington had two potteries since Christopher Webber Fenton had started his own pottery in the north wing of the Norton Pottery works, where he continued his experiments in the new parian wares popular in England. In 1848 he moved his pottery to another building and acquired two partners, Lyman and Park. Under the name of Lyman Fenton and Park, they advertised white flint and white earthen crockery ware. In the following year 1849, Park withdrew and the pottery was known as Lyman Fenton & Company. Many pieces bear the mark of this partnership. During the eleven-year period from 1847 to 1858, when it finally closed owing to financial difficulties, the pottery produced a greater variety of wares than was produced at any other pottery in the United States. This remarkably rich variety of ceramic wares included many distinctive vases and pitchers with applied relief decoration and figures made in parian and in blue and white porcelain.

In 1853 samples under the name of United States Pottery Company were exhibited at the Crystal Palace exhibition, New York. The pottery was later officially incorporated under this name. In 1870 twelve years after its closing, the pottery was finally torn down.

Person TypeCorporate Body