Pitcher

The Berks County seat of Reading supported potteries from the mid-eighteenth century to the early twentieth century.  One of the most successful with the largest surviving production was the pottery established in 1862 by Daniel P. Shenfelder (1830-1904).  He manufactured both red earthenware from local clays and higher fired salt-glazed stoneware from clay brought by train from Delaware and New Jersey. 

Shenfelder himself was involved in much of the stoneware design and decoration along with other master potters such as John E. T. Zellers, who worked at the pottery from 1891 to 1904 and Henry Zerbe, who handled the redware glazing and firing. 

This pitcher is a fine example of the Shenfelder production and is notable for having the maker’s name on the vessel.  A larger pitcher made in the Shenfelder factory and marked for John K. Faust of Berks County dated Sept 30 1904 along with Zellers’ name is also known.  Susanna Faust may have been his wife or daughter.