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ANTIQUES PEEK by Jessica Kosinski
ANTIQUES PEEK

Dave The Potter

or over 200 years, the area near durability of Edgefield pottery, Dave the Potter Marks, Dates,
Edgefield, South Carolina has been demand for such pieces increased. and Famous Poetry Lines
Fknown for a unique style of pottery, Eventually, twelve different popu- Dave the potter is famous for
appropriately named Edgefield pottery. lar factories produced Edgefield signing his works “Dave” and
Edgefield pottery has a deep and rich history, pottery, including the Lewis often including “LM” on pieces
which is strongly tied to the American South. Miles Factory. produced at the factory of Lewis
By extension, that history is tied to one of the Miles. He often dated his pieces,
darkest blots in our history, slavery. Today, The Ownership History of but he only occasionally included
Edgefield pottery is extremely collectible. The David Drake (Dave the Potter) lines of poetry on them. One of
works of one of the most famous Edgefield David Drake was an enslaved Large incised signature and his most poignant known lines
potters, an enslaved man named Dave, are African American born on North number to body “Dave Decr was “I wonder where is all my
highly prized by collectors. Let’s take a peek at American soil. He took on the last 11 1855 Lm” with two relations - Friendship to all and
the rich history of Edgefield pottery and Dave name of one of his earliest known incised slashes and four dots, every nation,” that was inscribed
the Potter himself, as we delve into why this owners, Harvey Drake. Harvey indicating a storage capacity on August 16, 1857. It was
pottery is so popular. Drake was the business partner of of approximately four gallons. featured on a 19” greenware
Abner Landrum. Dave’s birthplace is believed pot, which is now one of his most well-
Ancient Native American to have been somewhere in South Carolina, known pieces.
Pottery Influences though that is not explicitly clear. The above poetry is particularly heart-
The area around Edgefield, He is listed as “country born,” wrenching to anyone knowledgeable about
South Carolina may be known for which was a common term for an the slavery practices that occurred in the
Edgefield pottery, but the first enslaved person not born in American South. Slaves were listed in records
potters to live in the area date Africa. What is known is that and inventories as property. Often, numbers
back to long before the United Abner Landrum owned eight of slaves and ages were listed. Sometimes
States as we know it today was slaves. He brought those slaves with genders were also included, but names were
formed. That pottery is credited him when he began producing rarely part of slave lists. For that reason, Dave
to Native Americans who lived pottery in Edgefield. Dave was and his fellow enslaved potters probably never
approximately 4,500 years ago. Edgefield South Carolina likely the son of one of those knew what happened to many of their sold
They learned that clay hardened decorated pottery jar, possibly initial eight slaves. relations. To this day, collectors and fans of
Chandler, dark slip looped
when exposed to fire. That know- design below rim encircling Dave the Potter Dave’s work and the work of
ledge allowed them to shape the the body and large loop swags was unusual in many other enslaved Edgefield potters
clay into various pots and vessels. under handles. respects. He was able continue to try to trace their
to read in write. At histories and constantly encounter
The Start of the Edgefield Pottery that time, it was frowned upon for historical roadblocks along the way.
Movement a person of African descent to be
Edgefield pottery as we know it today got taught to read and write. It was The Value and Legacy of
its start in the early 1800s. The Landrum fam- made illegal in 1830. It is believed Edgefield Pottery
ily is responsible for starting the first major that Dave somehow learned those Dave lives on historically in
professional pottery manufacturing business skills from Abner Landrum. Crock stamped “Chandler many books produced about his
in the area at that time. The head of the family When Harvey Drake died, Maker” from Edgefield, life and work, including Etched in
was Abner Landrum. They initially used their ownership of Dave was passed to a South Carolina Clay: The Life of Dave, Enslaved
pottery business to supply smokehouse and member of the Landrum family, Potter, and Poet by Andrea Cheng.
kitchen items. Reverend John Landrum. Upon his passing, The popularity and collectible nature of
Dave became the property of Edgefield pottery also continues to help keep
The Edgefield Pottery Style John’s son, Franklin Landrum. He the memories of his fellow enslaved potters
Edgefield pottery is a particular was then purchased by Lewis alive in the present day.
type of stoneware known for its Miles in 1849. In 2020 one of
alkaline glaze. Its development Dave’s pots sold for
stemmed from a blending of influ- Dave the Potter: His Pottery over $184,000. Only
ences. Those included African, (and Poetry) Production 34 of his pieces with
European, and Asian techniques. In There were 76 known African inscribed poetry lines
the 1810s, when the Landrum family American slaves who worked in the are known to still exist
first started producing Edgefield various Edgefield pottery factories today, and those are
pottery in large quantities, it was in the early to mid-1800s. Dave was each valued at more
inexpensive to produce. Therefore, one of them. He was most likely than $500,000.
it was quickly used to meet house- Attributed to Dave taught the trade by previously Other pieces of
hold needs in the area. Drake, Lewis Miles’ mentioned business partners Abner Edgefield pottery are
Stoney Bluff Pottery,
Edgefield, South Landrum and Harvey Drake. He was also historically and
The Edgefield Pottery a prolific producer of pottery, but visually impressive, and they are also typically
Popularity Explosion Carolina, circa 1850. that pottery evolved with time. more affordable. However, Dave the Potter
Alkaline glaze.

Edgefield pottery quickly Inscribed “LM” for Soon, he began including poetry will always be held in the highest regard by
developed a reputation for being Lewis Miles and etched into many pieces. That collectors and historians alike for his talent
harder to break than the standard marked for capacity practice was particularly common and his brave, defiant style of poetic artistry
earthenware pottery of the time. As with six dots for him after he became the property during a time when literate African Americans
word spread about the sturdiness and and two slashes. of Lewis Miles. often risked punishment or death.

28 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles