Perlee 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    1926-1932

Wares

BelleekTableware

China (Industrial Directory 1927);

Dinnerware (Robinson and Feeny 1980:342);

Belleek (Goldberg 1998:53)

Notes

“Perlee was made in Trenton in the late 1920s, and possibly went under during the Depression. Their dinnerware resembles that of Lenox made during the same time.”

— Robinson, Dorothy and Bill Feeny. 1980.  The Official Price Guide to American Pottery & Porcelain.  House of Collectibles, Orlando, Florida.

Selected References

Lehner, Lois. 1980.  Complete Book of American Kitchen and Dinner Wares.  Wallace-Homestead Book Company, Des Moines, Iowa.

Robinson, Dorothy and Bill Feeny. 1980.  The Official Price Guide to American Pottery & Porcelain.  House of Collectibles, Orlando, Florida.

Gaston, Mary Frank. 1984.  American Belleek.  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

Perlee, Inc.

Block and Lot:
28-4/135, 205, 318

Historic Street Address:
Marion Street near Rutherford Avenue

Municipality:
City of Trenton

Image Gallery

Plate, porcelain, transfer-printed decoration filled by hand with colored glazes, Perlee Pottery, 1926-1932, 9.25 in diam. Collection of the New Jersey State Museum, CH1968.179.5

Map Gallery

Perlee Pottery, 1927 Sanborn Map
Map References

Sanborn Map Company.  1927.  Insurance Maps of the City of Trenton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Sanborn Map Company, New York, New York.   (Vol. 3, plate 310: “Berlee Co. Inc. Pottery Works”)

Franklin Survey Co.  1930.  Real Estate Plat‑Book of the City of Trenton and Borough of Princeton, Mercer County, New Jersey. Franklin Survey Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  (Plate 38: “Berlee Co. Inc. Pottery Works”)