Crescent Pottery

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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    1881-1892

Wares

Cream colored wareSanitaryTableware

c.c. ware and sanitary and plumber’s earthenware (Woodward and Hageman 1883:694)

Notes

“This company was incorporated July 26, 1881, with C.H. Cook, president, and D.S. Hancock, secretary and treasurer. The works are located between Allen Street and the Belvidere and Delaware Railroad, on the canal. This pottery produces improved C.C. ware, and sanitary and plumber’s earthenware. There are two kilns, and seventy-five men are employed.”

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

Selected References

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

“Among the Potters.” Trenton Evening Times, Sunday, November 15, 1885.

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

Podmore, Harry J. 1956. “Crescent Pottery Company Incorporated in 1881.” Sunday Times Advertiser, June 10, 1956.

Gaston, Mary Frank. 1994.  Collector’s Encyclopedia of Flow Blue China.  Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.

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

Cook & Hancock Pottery; Crescent Pottery Co.

Block and Lot:
35A/40; 40A/115-119

Historic Street Address:
Allen Street near Canal; foot of Allen Street; Allen Street near Montgomery Street

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Plate, ironstone with transfer-printed floral decoration painted with lavender and yellow glazes, made by Cook and Hancock's Crescent Pottery, ca. 1890, 10 in diam. Typical of the tableware supplied by Trenton's potteries to many American homes in the late 1800s. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1971.281.4

Map Gallery

Crescent Pottery, 1882 Haven Map
Crescent Pottery, 1886 Sanborn
Crescent Pottery, 1890 Scarlett & Scarlett
Crescent Pottery, 1890 Sanborn Map
Map References

Haven, C. C.  1882.   A New Real Estate and Insurance Map of the City of Trenton Including Chambersburg, Millham, and Parts of Ewing, Lawrence, and Hamilton Townships, Mercer County. E.P. Noll & Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.   (Shown as “Crescent Pottery Co.”)

Sanborn, D. A. 1874.   Insurance Diagrams of Trenton. Corrected to 1886.  D.A. Sanborn, New York, New York.  (Plate 14: shown as “Crescent Pottery Co.”)

Sanborn‑Perris Map Company.  1890.   Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Sanborn‑Perris Map Company, New York, New York.  (Plate 12: shown as “Crescent Pottery.”)

Scarlett & Scarlett.  1890.   Scarlett & Scarlett’s Fire Insurance Map of Mercer County.  Scarlett & Scarlett, Newark, New Jersey.  (Plate 1: shown as “Crescent Pottery Co.”)