established January 1999
                celebrating
      * 22 years anniversary *



 little brown jugs & more...
    The Bennington Museum recently posted "backroom tours" online. They are called "Tours at Ten and More" and give you a sneak preview of their backroom.
     The one I watched and really peaked my interest was "Stoneware in Storage".  This featured a  1864 12 gallon presentation double handled jar made in 1864 marked and for Calvin Park.
But what interested me was cursive writing on the jar.  Jamie Franklin gives us his interpretation of the meaning of the script on the jar.   For me I was looking at the script style, especially of the "J's" that appear on all "Little Brown Jugs".  Look through this site and compare, I find it fascinating....
Calvin Park Cooler / Jar in Bennington Museum collection.
Check out the style of the "J's on the Calvin Park cooler and the Little Brown Jugs below.
Question is which one of these fellows below did the incising ?

wanted little brown jugs  top prices paid

Colorization by Tim Wager

... LITTLE BROWN JUGS were made  in Bennington Vermont by the Norton family in the late 1800's.  These miniature stoneware jugs were sold as souvenirs at Centennial celebrations, fairs and expositions. Therefore it is not surprising to see many miniature jugs with the Battle of Bennington references scratched into them, they usually bear the August 16 th, 1877 date, also known as Bennington Battle Day.  Many were also produced for the July 4 th, 1876 Centennial celebration. We also see examples that were made for special events like the Columbian Exposition as well as the Poultney Industrial Fair. In a  recent discovery one was found for the presidential campaign between Harrison & Morton.  Captain John Norton in 1793 started the pottery, but it was Luman Preston Norton and Edward Norton who sold thousands of these miniature stoneware Albany slip scratched LITTLE BROWN JUGS which I enjoy researching and collecting. Cruise the site, there is tons of information relating to the history of this Southern Vermont town. If you can, pay a visit to the Bennington Museum you will see some rare examples of  LITTLE BROWN JUGS...