Crock
PeriodCirca 1850 - 1860
Place MadeSouth Amboy, New Jersey, U.S.A.
MediumSalt glazed stoneware
Dimensions10.5 × 9.5 in. (26.7 × 24.1 cm)
InscribedWritten in black permanent marker on the crock's underside "P-28," with a typed paper label reading "Noah Furman D-1 South Amboy, N.J."
ClassificationsStoneware
Credit LineMarshall P. Blankarn Purchasing Fund, 1961
Object number1979.528.26
DescriptionA salt glazed stoneware crock, with a thick lip rim and a wide ovoid body tapering to a footless base. A pair of close-set eared handles are highlighted with splashes of cobalt blue glaze. A large cobalt blue hand-painted stylized floral element can be seen immediately beneath the impressed stamped maker's mark reading "N. FURMAN, No, 39, PECK, SLIP, N.Y." with cobalt blue glaze within the impression. The crock's interior is coated with very dark brown Albany slip glaze.Curatorial RemarksThis crock, stamped with "N. Furman No 39 Peck Slip NY" is ornamented with one of Furman's typical designs, two stylized floral sprays boldly placed at the center of the vessel. Although Furman owned a stoneware clay pit in South Amboy in addition to his stoneware pottery firm in the same location, the inscription on this pot seems to indicate that Furman may have retailed his goods in New York City. This crock was one of a number of pieces purchased from James Stuart Brown, Jr. Born in 1920 in Asbury Park, Brown worked at the Asbury Park Press for over 46 years, as a crime reporter, bureau chief, city editor, antiques columnist, and member of the Press Editorial Board. Brown had a lifelong love of antiques, and befriended Robert J. Sim. Sim is recognized as the groundbreaking archaeologist and scholar regarding New Jersey's rich stoneware history. Brown and Sim carried on regular correspondence for decades, and Brown joined Sim frequently in exploring old pottery sites in Cheesequake and other areas. Many of Brown's personal stoneware pieces were purchased from Robert Sim. A number of the stoneware crocks, jars, and other pieces originally came from Brown's own collection. James S. Brown, Jr., died in 2008.NotesStoneware potter Noah Furman was born on 6 September 1825 in South Amboy, Middlesex County, New Jersey. His father, Noah Furman (1792 - 1832) may also have been a potter. Noah Furman the younger was successful relatively early on, appearing in the 1850 Federal Census at the age of 25, listed as a "potter," with a real estate valued at $10,000. Wife Ann Elizabeth (born 1829) and one-year-old daughter Amelia also appear in the household. By the 1860 Federal Census, Furman was listed as a "clayman," with real estate valued at $10,000. In addition to producing stoneware goods, Furman appears to have acted as a broker or seller of raw clay, taken from the high-quality clay deposits in and around the South Amboy area. His name appears on an 1877 map, drawn by J. K. Barton, titled "Geological Survey of New Jersey Map of the Clay District of Middlesex County Showing Locations of Beds of Stoneware Clay, Kaolin, and Fire Clay." The map notes the location of the "Noah Furman Stoneware Clay Pits." The 1870 Federal Census confirms Furman's focus on selling raw stoneware clay, noting him as a "clay merchant," with wife Ann Elizabeth Hillyer Furman and Children Leonard (20), Mary Elizabeth (18), Andrew (15), Edwin (13), and Anna (12). Furman's real estate was valued at $30,000, with a personal estate value of $70,000. Furman died at the age of 64 and was buried in Christ Church Cemetery in South Amboy, New Jersey.
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