John Bartlam: America’s First Porcelain Maker and His Cainhoy Legacy

Today, Cainhoy is better known as a growing residential and commercial sector within the City of Charleston. But beneath the modern development lies a remarkable layer of history where an English craftsman once tried to rival the great factories of Europe from the banks of the Wando. 

From Staffordshire to South Carolina

John Bartlam was a master potter from Staffordshire, England, which, back then, was the global center for the manufacturing of fine ceramics. Around 1763, he made a bold decision – to leave England and establish a pottery manufactory in South Carolina. His first workshop was set up in Cainhoy, then called “Cain Hoy,” in St. Thomas Parish just north of Charleston. 

The choice was practical. Cainhoy offered good quality clay, river access for trade and proximity to Charleston’s bustling port. By 1765, Bartlam was producing earthenware and, as the South Carolina Gazette reported, had promised to make “every kind of earthenware that is usually imported from England.” His ambition was nothing less than to challenge England’s dominance in the American pottery market. 

Stirring Competition with Wedgwood 

Bartlam’s Cainhoy venture only lasted a few years before he moved his operation to Charleston and later to Camden, South Carolina. But Cainhoy holds special importance as it was where Bartlam first proved American clay could be used to make refined ware. 

Archaeologists began uncovering pieces of his pottery in the 20th century. Fragments of creamware, tortoiseshell glazes and even experimental porcelain have been found around St. Thomas Point in Cainhoy. Some sherds reveal intricate decoration, like Chinese-style boatman delicately painted with a brush so fine it may have had a single hair.  These discoveries confirmed that Bartlam was not only ambitious but also highly skilled and willing to innovate with local materials. 

An American First

Though Bartlam’s Cainhoy site closed by 1770 and he died in Camden in 1781, his impact endures. He is now recognized as the first American potter to produce creamware and, more importantly, as the first to manufacture soft-paste porcelain in the colonies.

The Cainhoy connection is central to this story. It was here that Bartlam first tested Carolina clays, set up kilns and laid the groundwork for what became a uniquely American contribution to the history of ceramics. 

Image Credit: The Antique Collecting Magazine