Empire 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    1883-1892

Wares

Hotel chinaTableware

Notes

“Messrs. Alpaugh, Magowan & Co. are to be complimented on the happy fortune of being able to produce so many pretty shapes in dinner and tea ware.”

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

Selected References

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

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

Van Hoesen, Walter Hamilton. 1973.  Crafts and Craftsmen of New Jersey.  Associated University Presses, Inc., Cranbury, New Jersey.

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

Empire Pottery; Empire Pottery Company

Block and Lot:
39-1B/1

Historic Street Address:
Clinton Avenue on Belvidere and Delaware Railroad; Clinton Avenue on Perry Street; North Clinton Avenue corner of Ott Street

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Trenton Potteries Company, 1900 Industrial Trenton (Wolf p.70)
Jardinière, whiteware with transfer-printed floral decoration and colored glazes, made by the Empire Pottery Company, 1883-1892, 11.875 in H. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1967.79.1
Jardinière, whiteware with transfer-printed floral decoration and colored glazes, made by the Empire Pottery Company, 1883-1892, 11.875 in H. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1967.79.1
Ewer for a wash set, whiteware with transfer-printed floral decoration, made by the Empire Pottery Company, 1883-1892, 11.25 in H. Lily pattern. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1967.71.4

Map Gallery

Empire Pottery, 1890 Scarlett & Scarlett (Alpaugh & Magowan)
Empire Pottery, 1886 Sanborn
Empire Pottery, 1890 Sanborn
Map References

Sanborn, D. A. 1874.   Insurance Diagrams of Trenton. Corrected to 1886.  D.A. Sanborn, New York, New York.  (Plate 12: shown as “Empire Pottery Alpaugh & Magowan”)

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 15: shown as “Empire Pottery Alpaugh & Magowan”)

Scarlett & Scarlett.  1890.   Scarlett & Scarlett’s Fire Insurance Map of Mercer County.  Scarlett & Scarlett, Newark, New Jersey.  (Plate 57: shown as “Alpaugh & McGowan Empire Pottery”)