Artist/Maker

Holland, John

Place Made

Date Made

1822-1843 C.

Medium

earthenware

Dimensions

HOA: 4 1/4″; DIA: 4 3/8″

Accession Number

174.5

Description

Ceramic slip decorated vase in orange and yellow colors, decorated with swags and loops around the top edge in a classical fashion, and supported by three feet. The top edges are pinched outward. See below.

History

John Hollan was the third potter in Salem.

Artist Biography

MAKER: John Frederic Holland, 1781-1843 (apprentice, 1796-ca. 1803; Journeyman, ca. 1803-21; Master in Salem, 1821-43). He was the son of John Holland of Cheshire, England, and Mary Margaret Strub of Salem. John was apprenticed to Rudolph Christ. Christ noted that Holland was “doing very well” and decided to have the boy “contracted to him as usual.” After an apparently uneventful apprenticeship, Holland was freed of his bond on December 28, 1802, with Christ having noted that he had “exchanged the indentures with his apprentice.” Holland was twenty-one and eligible to work inthe shop as a journeyman, which he agreed to do. Evidently Christ considered him trustworthy, for after a series of break-ins at the pottery the following year, Holland was asked to sleep at the pottery, along with the apprentice Joseph Stockburger, to drive off thieves.

Not a great deal is recorded about John Holland’s years as a journeyman in the pottery, probably indicating that he gave Christ no trouble. That his reputation was good is borne out by the fact that it was automatically assumed by the Collegium that he would take over the pottery when Christ decided to retire, which he did.

Unfortunately, Holland was not as successful with the pottery as Christ had been. Despite his apparent laziness, he was a skilled potter.

Credit Line

Old Salem Collection