Prothro Pottery Company
Four-Gallon Jar

Public Domain

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Images(3)

as documented by MFAH conservation pre-arrival at Museum

MakerAttributed to Prothro Pottery Company (American, active 1846–1865)American, active 1846–1865

CultureAmerican

Titles

Four-Gallon Jar

Datec. 1846–1865

Made inHenderson, Texas, United States

MediumAlkaline-glazed stoneware

Dimensions14 1/2 × 9 1/2 in. diameter (36.8 × 24.1 cm)

Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, gift of William J. Hill

Object numberB.2012.173

Not on view

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Department

Bayou Bend

Object Type

CERAMICS

DescriptionJames Prothro was born in South Carolina, resided in Alabama by 1840, and may have been in Texas by 1846. He settled in Rusk County where his pottery business was recorded in the 1850 manufacturing census. Prothro contracted with the Confederate States Army in 1864 to produce stoneware for use hospitals; the contract made specific reference to an enslaved worker named Alex.
ProvenanceDr. Georgeanna Herman Greer (1922–1992); [Jon St. Clair, Austin]; purchased by William J. Hill (1934–2018), Houston, 2008; given to MFAH, 2012.
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks

Incised "4"

Cataloguing data may change with further research.

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