STAMPED ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA STONEWARE ARTICLES, LOT OF TWO, comprising a stamped "J. SWANN / ALEXA." jar, approximately one-gallon capacity, ovoid form with rounded rim, incised shoulder ring, and applied arched tab handles and a stamped "BC. MILBURN" jug, "1/2" gallon capacity mark, cylindrical form with rounded shoulder, collared mouth, and applied medial groove strap handle. Together with a salt-glazed ovoid-form jar, approximately one gallon capacity, rounded rim and arched tab handles. Three pieces total. 19th century. 9 3/8" HOA.
Literature: Wilder - Alexandria, Virginia Pottery, 1792-1876, Swann example parallels p. 49, pl. JS015 and stamp as p. 317, pl. Mk I; Milburn stamp as p. 323, pl. Mk XII.
Catalogue Note: John Blake Swann was born in St. Mary's County, MD in 1789. After the loss of both his parents, Swann was apprenticed to potter Lewis W. Plum when he was 14-years-old. Following the completion of his apprenticeship, Swann founded the Wilkes Street pottery in Alexandria in 1811. The first years of the pottery were a success, however by 1817, America's economy began to wane and by 1819, the young country was in a full recession. Swann's business began to suffer and was in desperate need of a boost. In an ad from August 1819, he states that he had "been enabled lately to make a great improvement in his ware..." It is unknown what exactly he meant by this, but Wilder (Alexandria, Virginia Pottery, 1792-1876) theorizes that he may have started decorating his wares with cobalt at this time. It was also around this year that Swann began marking his pieces. Unfortunately, Swann's attempts to increase sales and dig himself out of debt were unsuccessful, he eventually resorted to selling the pottery to merchant Hugh Smith in 1825. Swann continued to work at the pottery through 1830 under Smith's management but by 1831, it is believed he moved West in search of greater opportunities.
Benedict Cuthbert Milburn was the third owner of the Wilkes Street pottery located in Alexandria, VA. Born near St. Mary's City, MD, Milburn relocated to Alexandria, VA when he was 17-years-old. Hired by John Swann (the founder of the Wilkes Street pottery) in 1822, the young Milburn began a long, fruitful career in the pottery industry. It is unknown if Milburn maintained employment at Wilkes Street through Hugh Smith's tenure as manager (starting in 1825), however by 1833, documents provide evidence that Benedict officially began leasing the pottery from Hugh Charles Smith (the son of Hugh Smith). Milburn officially purchased the Wilkes Street pottery from Hugh Smith (elder) in 1841. Business flourished under Milburn until the Civil War, when work at the kilns was extinguished. The pottery remained quiet the remainder of the war until 1865, when Milburn's son, Stephen Calvert took up the business. Sadly, Benedict C. Milburn passed away in 1867, at the age of 62. After his death, his sons continued operating the Wilkes Street pottery until 1876, when William Lewis Milburn sold the pottery to the neighboring tannery, permanently closing the door on the Milburn pottery legacy.

Milburn jug undamaged; unmarked jar having some mostly minor scattered chips to each handle and a shallow chip to base edge; Swann jar having a minor chip to base underside edge and a moderate chip to one handle. Manufacturing flaws including Swann jar with glazed over chip one handle.