City Pottery

HOW TO USE THE DATABASE

The Database is organized by location, but you can find a pottery initially by searching for its name, which is at the top of the of the page with dates of operation below. Alternate names and the names of other potteries on the same site are noted at the top of the right-hand column, just above the pottery’s location.

The types of wares made appear below the pottery name in the left-hand column, followed by the references that informed these classifications.

Sample images of maker’s marks may be enlarged by clicking on the image.

Notes include a variety of information compiled from many standard sources and are presented as miscellaneous tidbits.

In the Gallery and Map Gallery in the right-hand column you will see historic images and insurance maps of the pottery’s facilities if available as well as historic advertisements and images of the wares made.

You can download more detailed information in all of these categories by choosing a PDF of the pottery’s full listing, which also includes the documentary sources. The PDF is text only and does not contain any images. Data from the 1860, 1870 and 1880 industrial censuses area also included in the PDF if they exist for a given pottery. This data gives you a picture of the size of the pottery operation and the age and gender makeup of its work force.

You can help expand the database by contributing pictures and information. Contact POTS by the email address at the bottom of the page.

In operation 1875-1882

Wares

White earthenware

Maker's Marks

Click to enlarge

Notes

“Business was conducted under the different partnership names and also as ‘Kenyon City Pottery,’ ‘Trenton City Pottery’ and finally as the ‘City Pottery.’ It is under this final name that the pottery is most generally referred to and most marked pieces bear the name City Pottery Co. or C. P. Co.”

— Goldberg, David J. 1998. Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond). Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.

Selected References

Young, Jennie J. 1879. The Ceramic Art: A Compendium of the History and Manufacture of Pottery and Porcelain. Harper & Bros., New York, New York.

“The Trenton Potteries 20 years Ago and To-Day.” Trenton State Gazette, Monday, October 6, 1879.

Woodward, E.M. and J.F. Hageman. 1883. History of Burlington and Mercer Counties. Everts and Peck, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Harney, W.J. 1929. “Trenton’s First Potteries.” Sunday Times Advertiser, July 7, 14, 21 and 28, 1929.

Podmore, Harry J. 1951. “City Pottery.” Sunday Times Advertiser, August 5, 1951.

Frelinghuysen, Alice Cooney. 1989. American Porcelain, 1770-1920. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York.

Goldberg, David J. 1998. Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond). Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey.

Other firms at this site:

Other Names

City Pottery Company; Trenton City Pottery

Block and Lot:
36B/26-30, 33

Historic Street Address:
Perry St. between East Canal St. and Carroll St.; Canal St. corner of Perry St.; Delaware and Raritan Canal above Rose; Perry near Carroll; Carroll near Perry; Ewing corner of Ogden; Carroll and Ewing; Perry, Carroll and Ewing; Perry corner of Canal

Municipality:
City of Trenton

1880 Census

Name in census	City Pottery Co.
Capital	100000
Number of hands	103
Males above 16	73
Females above 15	15
Children	15
May to Nov hours	9
Nov to May hours	9
Skilled wages	3
Ordinary wages	1.25
Total wages in year	46000
Full time months	12
Value of raw material	42000
Value of product	100000
Number of engines	1
Horse power	40

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