Food - Overview
Part of a nation's history lies in what people eat. Artifacts at the Museum document the history of food in the United States from farm machinery to diet fads.
More than 1,300 pieces of stoneware and earthenware show how Americans have stored, prepared, and served food for centuries. Ovens, cookie cutters, kettles, aprons, and ice-cream-making machines are part of the collections, along with home canning jars and winemaking equipment. More than 1,000 objects recently came to the Museum when author and cooking show host Julia Child donated her entire kitchen, from appliances to cookbooks.
Advertising and business records of several food companies—such as Hills Brothers Coffee, Pepsi Cola, and Campbell's Soup—represent the commercial side of the subject
"Food - Overview" showing 7 items.
Stoneware jar
- Description
- David Morgan worked for New York City potter John Crolius Jr., beginning in 1795. In 1798 he temporarily took over Thomas H. Commeraw’s kiln on Cherry Street near Corlear’s Hook in Manhattan. The mark “CORLEARS HOOK” can be found on many of the well-formed jars, jugs and pitchers attributed to Morgan.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1795-1803
- maker
- Morgan, David
- ID Number
- 1977.0803.108
- accession number
- 1977.0803
- catalog number
- 1977.0803.108
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoneware jar
- Description
- While this jar is unmarked, it may be one of several in the Museum's collection made by Thomas Commeraw, a free black potter. Thomas Commeraw established his pottery in the Corlears Hook neighborhood of lower Manhattan in 1797, successfully competing with well known stoneware makers from the Crolious and Remmey families.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1797-1819
- maker
- Commeraw, Thomas
- ID Number
- 1977.0803.115
- accession number
- 1977.0803
- catalog number
- 1977.0803.115
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoneware butter jar
- Description
- This salt-glazed stoneware butter jar is decorated with hand applied cobalt, and is one of the earliest pieces made at the Athens, New York pottery established in 1805 by Nathan Clark and his brother-in-law, Thomas Howe. Howe died in 1813 leaving Clark to run and expand the company. He established subsidiaries in Kingston, Lyons, Rochester and Mt. Morris, New York between 1813 and 1838. The firm prospered until the end of the 1800s.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1805-1813
- maker
- Clark, Nathan
- Howe, Thomas
- ID Number
- 1977.0803.53
- accession number
- 1977.0803
- catalog number
- 1977.0803.53
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoneware jar
- Description
- John William Crolius immigrated to Manhattan from Germany in 1728 and established a successful pottery dynasty. This piece was probably made by Clarkson Crolius Jr., John William’s grandson. The last potter to work in the family business, Clarkson closed the pottery in 1849. This jar is glazed with Albany slip clay which was discovered in the Hudson Valley region about 1830 and soon became a preferred glaze for stoneware vessels.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1835-1849
- maker
- Crolius, Jr., Clarkson
- ID Number
- 1977.0855.1
- accession number
- 1977.0855
- catalog number
- 1977.0855.1
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoneware jar
- Description
- The Remmey and Crolius families dominated the New York stoneware industry from the early 1700s through the early 1800s. Both families emigrated from Germany, bringing with them the stoneware traditions of their homeland. Sometimes business associates, the two families also inter-married. Remmey family members went on to establish stoneware factories in Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1795-1830
- maker
- Remmey III, John
- ID Number
- 1980.0614.363
- accession number
- 1980.0614
- catalog number
- 1980.0614.363
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoneware jar
- Description
- Floral, bird, and animal motifs were commonly used to decorate 19th century stoneware in the United States. This jar, made by John Remmey III, features an incised and cobalt decorated fish.
- Remmey pottery is often marked “Manhattan-Wells” referring to the firm’s location near the municipal water supply.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1791-ca 1831
- maker
- Remmey III, John
- ID Number
- CE*300894.007
- accession number
- 300894
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Stoneware Crock
- Description
- John Burger managed Nathan Clark’s Rochester, New York pottery beginning in 1841, before Clark sold his share of the business to Burger and Thompson Harrington in the early 1850s. Burger’s salt-glazed stoneware is similar to Clark’s work; both are known for their cobalt flower designs with strongly accentuated leaf patterns and generous use of color. The shape of this jar reflects the shift around the 1860’s towards straight-sided rather than ovoid pots.
- date made
- 1854-1867
- maker
- Burger, John
- ID Number
- CE*319884.161
- catalog number
- 319884.161
- accession number
- 319884
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center