Herrmann Stoneware

PETER HERRMANN /  RESIDENCES AND POTTERIES

1849 – 185 CAROLINE STREET

1851 – 150 ORLEANS STREET

1853 – 68 NORTH BOND ( 1848-1849 LOCATION OF DAVID PARR AND “PARR’S POTTERY”)

1855 – 49 NORTH CAROLINE STREET

1856 – 74 NORTH BOND STREET

1858 – 193 MULLIKIN STREET

1859 –  193 MULLIKIN STREET  (JACKSON SQUARE POTTERY)

1870 – 193 MULLIKIN STREET AND 306 E. FAYETTE STREET (JACKSON SQUARE POTTERY)

1880 – JACKSON SQUARE POTTERY ACQUIRED BY HENRY S. TAYLOR & CO.

1880  –   PETER HERRMANN’S POTTERY RELOCATED TO BACK RIVER NECK ROAD ,BALTIMORE COUNTY (ROSSVILLE POTTERY)

1883 – JACKSON SQUARE POTTERY DESTROYED BY FIRE

1888 – 1889 – ALBERT P. HERRMANN , (PETER’S YOUNGEST SON) IS THE PROPRIETOR OF POTTERY AT 704 ENSOR STREET.  PETER IN LISTED AS “CLERK” AT SAME LOCATION.

1892 – 1423 EAST HOFFMAN STREET

1896 – 161 EAST LANVALE STREET  & BROOKLYN, ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY (NOW SOUTH BALTIMORE)

1900 – 2125 FAIRMOUNT AVENUE

1901 – 206 NORTH WASHINGTON STREET (PLACE OF DEATH)

1901 – INTERRED – BALTIMORE  CEMETERY

Based on the above timeline it would indicate that  Peter Herrmann was the proprietor of Jackson Square Pottery in Baltimore City from 1858 until 1880 when it was sold to Henry S. Taylor & Company. It would also indicate that he was the proprietor of Rossville Pottery in Baltimore County (Middle River) from 1880 until 1888 when his youngest son Albert started a pottery at 704 Ensor Street in Baltimore City and Peter was his clerk.

Peter Herrmann stoneware is identified with a circular stamp the size of a U.S. quarter. Inside the top arc of the stamp are the letters “P.HERRMANN”.  Below these letters are numerals followed by an elaborate cursive letter “G” which stands for gallons. Known gallon sizes include 1, 1 1/2,  2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Herrmann did make vessels less than 1 gallon, but he did not stamp them.  They can usually be identified by their advertising fonts and the use of the word “FROM” followed by the merchant’s name.   Advertising jugs and crocks from Baltimore would end simply as “BALTIMORE” and not be followed by the letters “MD” (Maryland). Other advertising pieces for merchants outside Baltimore would list the name of the town or city followed by the state’s abbreviation,  such as MD,VA,PA,NC or SC. Herrmann manufactured stoneware for merchants in all 5 of these states, maybe more.

Herrmann’s most recognizable cobalt decoration is the double clover placed on 2 sides of the vessel.  It is believed that Herrmann and other Baltimore potters used the clover decoration to appeal to the large Irish population in Baltimore at the time.

Other cobalt decorations include swags, ferns, hanging flowers, simple 2 and 3 stroke leaves, and large floral figures which look more like claws than any known flower. Herrmann did not place floral decorations on his jugs.