Rare South Carolina lidded stoneware butter crock by Thomas Chandler, Edgefield District, with original domed lid and applied lug handles. Green alkaline glazed stoneware with slip swag decoration on both crock and lid. Stamped “Chandler Maker” on top of lid and on shoulder of crock. Condition – Old chip to inside rim of crock, above right lug handle(does not penetrate the wall). One small chip to lower edge of lid handle. Overall height – 9″. Crock measures 7″ Height x 8 1/2″ Diameter. Lid measures 9 1/2″ diameter. Second quarter of the 19th century. Thomas M. Chandler (born 1810 Virginia, died 1854 North Carolina) is referred to as ” . . . Edgefield’s premier potter . . .” states Cinda Baldwin on page 47 of Great and Noble Jar. Though born in Virginia, Thomas may have brought a northern influence into South Carolina pottery. He enlisted in the army in Albany, New York in 1832 (Baldwin, page 148). This suggests that he may have potted briefly in New York. A decorated jar made by him bears a decided resemblance to New York state wide mouth jar forms with lug handles. His straight-sided cake crocks are also reminiscent of northern cobalt decorated crocks. In 1838, he married into the Durham family of potters in Edgefield. The 1840 census shows Thomas, 29 years old, and family living near others involved in the pottery industry. There are no slaves listed in either his household or Isaac Durham’s (page B of this census is shown below). A jar signed in script “Chandler Maker/1844” is perhaps the earliest recorded piece of pottery made by him. Among his known stamps are: Chandler, Chandler/Maker and Chandler/Warranted (Baldwin, pages 51 and 54). In the 1850 census Thomas and his wife, Margaret, have four daughters and two sons. Thomas is 40 years old and his occupation is listed as “Stoneware Manufactory”. They are living next door to Francis Devillin, age 44, potter. According to Cinda Baldwin (page 53), Thomas Chandler had $1500 invested in his pottery at that time and eleven slave and journeyman potters working. A full range of forms were produced. Thomas set up a trust for his wife and children in 1852. He placed all of his property, including slaves, in that trust. He died in North Carolina in 1854 (Baldwin, pages 54 and 75). Thomas Chandler appears to have played an important role in the development of decorated Edgefield wares. Cinda Baldwin (page 148) states “Chandler was clearly a key figure in the production of Edgefield decorated stoneware, having turned ware at all of the Edgefield factories where slip decoration was widely used” (research courtesy Carole Wahler).