Description:
Despite their intricate patterns, British earthenwares decorated with colored and manipulated slips were some of the cheapest wares made for export to the American market. Made in Staffordshire and Yorkshire, England as well as in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, these extremely colorful ceramics were made in a utilitarian forms ranging from coffee and teawares, jugs, mugs, bowls, chamber pots, salts, and pepper pots. These marbled and combed slip wares are thought to be some of the earliest dipped wares created in England (found at William Greatbatch’s production site in a c. 1775-82 context). Like all other dipped wares, marbled examples were turned (trimmed down) on a horizontal lathe – then applied a field of colored slip onto the pot through a goose quill from a slip pot. With the body in its leather hard state, the pot began to immediately absorb the water in the slip. Next, the turner applied drops of different colored slips onto the wet slip field. The lathe turned slowly causing some of the slip color to run. (The dryness of the slips determined the runniness of the design.) Further enhancing the marbling process, the turner dragged a toothed tool through the wet marbling in a constant direction to create the combed effect. Archaeological finds throughout the eastern United States suggest that dipped wares were used in taverns and homes in a wide variety of economic circumstances, from humble slave quarters to Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. These dipped wares were also found in Deerfield, Massachusetts – at archaeological excavations at the Hinsdale and Anna Williams House and at the Barnard Tavern. Local account books can be vague and frustrating with references to ceramics called “variegated,” “myrtle,” “gingham,” “plaid”, and “moco.” Justin Ely’s invoice book from West Springfield, 1792, listed “Tuscan and marbled,” as well as “marbled mugs, salts, and pepper pots.” Thrown and lathe turned, cream-colored earthenware bowl, bowl has applied foot rim, the bowl is decorated with multicolored slips (liquid clay with the consistency of cream) in a marbled and combed pattern, the upper rim of the bowl is scored with a ribbed tool and then colored with green glaze, condition: glaze loss and minor chipping to the rim, small hairline crack extending into body from rim chip, and overall crazing and some staining to the glaze.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2017.40.2 |
