Maker
United States Pottery Company (American, 1852–1858)American, 1852–1858
CultureAmerican
Titles
- Pitcher
Datec. 1852–1858
Made inBennington, Vermont, United States
MediumPorcelain (parian ware)
Dimensions9 1/2 × 9 1/4 × 6 3/4 in. (24.1 × 23.5 × 17.1 cm)
Credit LineThe Bayou Bend Collection, museum purchase funded by Janet C. Williams
Object numberB.97.18
Current Location
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
Ceramics Study Room
On view
Explore Further
Department
Bayou BendObject Type
This pitcher, sometimes called the Niagara Falls pitcher, is relief-molded with the image of a waterfall cascading past mineral and plant formations. While many ceramic designers in this period copied English examples, this pitcher appears to be a composition unique to America. In 1855, just around the time this object was created, the first bridge was built across the Niagara River, linking the American and Canadian sides of the Falls. This feat, and the popularity of the new tourist attraction, may have provided the inspiration for the pitcher.
Provenance[Seekers Antiques, Columbus, Ohio]; purchased by MFAH, 1997.
Exhibition HistoryAmerican Made: 250 Years of American Art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, July 6 – December 31, 2012
Inscriptions, Signatures and Marks
[no inscriptions]
Impressed in a cartouche on the underside: UNITED STATES / POTTERY CO. / BENNINGTON, Vt.
Cataloguing data may change with further research.
If you have questions about this work of art or the MFAH Online Collection please contact us.
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