Covered Bean Pot

Art Historical Context

Nestled in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum Art, this Covered Bean by Lyman, Fenton & Co (1849–58) mid-19th-century Americanware craftsmanship. Crafted mottled brown earthenware, it stands at 8 3/4 inches tall, a practical size for household use. Lyman, Fenton & Co., prominent pottery firm based in Bennington Vermont, specialized in durable stoneware and earthenware, producing everyday objects that blended utility with modest decoration during the height of America's industrial pottery boom. The mottled brown glaze, a hallmark of Rockingham ware—a style popularized in the United States after British influences—creates a rich, variegated surface through controlled firing techniques that produced earthy tones and subtle textures. Bean pots like this were kitchen staples in New England, ideal for slow-baking the region's beloved Boston baked beans, reflecting the era's emphasis on self-sufficient home cooking amid rapid urbanization. Acquired through the Rogers Fund in 1914, this piece highlights the artistic merit of functional American ceramics, bridging folk art and industrial production. It invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary objects captured the ingenuity and cultural rhythms of 19th-century life.