Etruria Pottery

View this page as a PDF     

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    1871-1892

Wares

Art ceramicCream colored wareHotel chinaParianTablewareToilet setsWhite granite

White granite and cream colored wares for tables, toilet and druggists’ use, complete line of decorated china and parian wares and statuary (Mains and Fitzgerald 1877);

Largely china and white granite ware, decorated goods, including a full line of dinner, tea, toilet, and hotel ware, opaque china goods, the “Century” dinner and tea ware and “Lochiel” toilet ware in opaque china, “Belleek” egg-shell china (Quarter Century’s Progress 1887:267)

Maker's Marks

Click to enlarge

Notes

“It is due Messrs. Ott & Brewer to say that they have done more to elevate the art of pottery in Trenton than any single firm in the city, and it is not difficult for one to say this, because every competitor admits it without reserve and points with pride to the satisfactory results they have attained in the production of that peculiarly delicate porcelain which has been regarded as the very perfection of delicacy in the manufacture of artistic pottery.”

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

Selected References

Ott & Brewer. 1874. Revised Standard American Price List of White Granite and C.C. Ware. Trenton, New Jersey.

“Rivaling English Ware: What Ott and Brewer Have Done.” Trenton Evening Times, October 15, 1883.

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

Ott & Brewer Company. c. 1890. Ott & Brewer Co., Potters, Trenton, New Jersey, Manufacturers and Decorators: Ott & Brewer China, White Granite and Druggists’ Sundries. Trenton, New Jersey.

New Jersey State Museum. 1971. An Exhibition of Pottery and Porcelain made by Ott and Brewer at Etruria Works in Trenton, New Jersey 1871-1892. New Jersey State Museum Department of Education, Trenton, New Jersey.

Mitchell, James. 1972. “Ott and Brewer: Etruria in America.” In: Winterthur Portfolio 7:217-218.

Gaston, Mary Frank. 1984.  American Belleek. Collector Books, Paducah, Kentucky.

Denker, Ellen Paul. 1989. Lenox China: Celebrating a Century of Quality 1889-1989. Lenox, Inc., Trenton, New Jersey.

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

Viksjo, Cathy. 1996. “Trenton’s ‘Lost’ Ceramic Treasures.” Trenton Times. October 27, 1996.

Nottle, Diane. 1997. “Beauty, Utility and Paychecks, All Built on a Base of Clay.” New York Times, November 9, 1997.

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

Ott & Brewer's Etruria Pottery Works; Etruria Pottery Company

Block and Lot:
39-2A/4

Historic Street Address:
Clinton Avenue near Belvidere and Delaware Railroad; East of Normal School; Millham Road; North Clinton corner of Ott; Clinton corner of Ott; N. Clinton Avenue corner of Ott; Clinton Ave. east of Normal School

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

1883 Etruria Pottery (Woodward & Hageman p.692)
1889 Etruria Pottery (Elstner p. 88)
Etruria Pottery, Broome's Parian Kiln, p 79-from Jenny Young
John Hart Brewer
Ott & Brewer, Etruria Works, Bust of Benjamin Franklin, parian, Isaac Broome, designer and modeller, 1876, H 10 in, NJSM 354.29
Ott & Brewer, Etruria Works, statuette of The Catcher, parian, Isaac Broome, designer and modeller, 1875, H 15 in, Priv Coll
Ott & Brewer, Etruria Works, Pastoral Vase, parian, Isaac Broome designer and modeller, 1875
Ott & Brewer, Etruria Works, Bust of Cleopatra, parian, Isaac Broome, designer and modeller, 1876, H 21 in, NJSM 354.24
Porcelain Belleek shell tray, 1876–83. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. H. O. H. Frelinghuysen Gift, 1983
Shaving Mug, press-molded white ware with transfer print of mounted Roman soldiers, made by Ott & Brewer's Etruria Pottery, 1871-1892, 3.25 in H. The Etruria Pottery made a wide range of wares from the finest porcelain to utilitarian toilet ware. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH354.15
Commemorative Pitcher, press-molded porcelain with gold lithographic images and gilded ornaments, made by Ott & Brewer's Etruria Pottery, 1876, 8 in H. Portraits of George and Martha Washington are framed with gilt garlands. Made for the company's display at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. May be the first use of a lithograph on Trenton-made porcelain. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH354.4
Tea Set, slip-cast parian porcelain featuring relief portraits of George and Martha Washington, designed by Isaac Broome for Ott & Brewer's Etruria Pottery, teapot 5.375 in H. Made for Etruria Pottery's display at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH354.20.1-10
Pair of Vases, slip-cast belleek porcelain with pearly glaze, made by Ott & Brewer's Etruria Pottery, 1883-1892, 6.625 in H. The style of these vases is typical of Irish Belleek, but the design may be original to Ott & Brewer. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1968.53.1a,b
Teapot, belleek porcelain slip-cast in a shell pattern and decorated with raised gold and sponged gold, made by Ott & Brewer's Etruria Pottery, ca. 1885-1890, 4 in H. Although the shell-derived shapes designed for Ott & Brewer's belleek are reminiscent of Irish Belleek, the decoration reflects English Aesthetic taste. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1968.132.1a,b

Map Gallery

Etruria Pottery, 1875 Everts & Stewart Map
Etruria Pottery, 1881 Robinson Map
Etruria Pottery, 1882 Haven Map
Etruria Pottery, 1886 Sanborn Map
Etruria Pottery, 1890 Sanborn Map
Etruria Pottery, 1890 Scarlett & Scarlett
Map References

Everts & Stewart.  1875  Combination Atlas Map of Mercer County. Everts and Stewart, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Shown as “Etruria Pottery”)

Robinson, E., and R. H. Pidgeon. 1881. Atlas of the City of Trenton and Suburbs New Jersey: From Actual Surveys and Official Records.  E. Robinson, New York, New York.  (Plate K: shown as “Etruria Pottery Ott & Brewer”)

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 “Etruria Pottery Works-Ott & Brewer”)

Sanborn, D. A. 1874.   Insurance Diagrams of Trenton. Corrected to 1886.  D.A. Sanborn, New York, New York.   (Plate 11: shown as “Etruria Pottery Co.’s Wks.”)

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 “Etruria Pottery Co.-Ott Brewer & Co.”)

Scarlett & Scarlett.  1890.   Scarlett & Scarlett’s Fire Insurance Map of Mercer County.  Scarlett & Scarlett, Newark, New Jersey.  (Plate 57: shown as “The Ott & Brewer Co Etruria Pottery”)

1880 Census

Name in censusEtruria Pottery Co.
Capital180000
Number of hands200
Males above 16125
Females above 1525
Children50
May to Nov hours9
Nov to May hours8
Skilled wages2.5
Ordinary wages1.25
Total wages in year60000
Full time months12
Value of raw material100000
Value of product180000
Number of engines1
Horse power160