Glaze tint varies for many reasons. While early cream and pearlware do have distinctive colors, this varies due to a number of factors ranging from the potters glaze formula, and firing conditions, to use and deposition history. Also, don't forget that blue and cream tinted wares were intentionally produced throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. I can't tell you how many times I have seen single sherds of creamware or pearlware identified in otherwise late contexts. Glaze tint is only one of many characteristics (density, firing, decoration, vessel form etc) you have to look at to accurately date a vessel or sherd, so micro-analysis of glaze tint is something I wouldn't get too hung up on, personally. But do keep us apprised of your results! Carl
Carl Steen
-----Original Message-----
From: Conrad Bladey <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 7:49 am
Subject: Re: Colorimeter for ceramics
Color is often formed my after market environmental conditions I would suggest
chemical analysis more helpful but that too. Would be modified by soils and heat
etc.
Conrad
----------------------------
This message has been written by fingers that are too big!
On Feb 20, 2012, at 6:56 AM, Bob Genheimer <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Chris
>
> I just completed a large scale examination of Cincinnati-area yellow ware, and
utilized a full-color Munsell book(s) for color comparison. The Munsell is not
fully adequate, because there is still a small range of color within each chip
match. I recognized that a colorimeter was the way to go, but taking hundreds
of vessels to the colorimeter was just not an option. I would be very
interested in comparisons of colorimeter data with Munsell matches.
>
> Bob Genheimer, RPA
> George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
> Cincinnati Museum Center
> 1301 Western Avenue
> Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
> 513-455-7161 office
> 513-846-4898 mobile
> 513-455-7169 fax
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Christopher Nicholas Marini
> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 3:47 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Colorimeter for ceramics
>
> Dear List,
> I am a graduate student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and I am
currently looking to begin work on my master's thesis. The project I am
considering involves using a device called a colorimeter, which measures color,
to develop a scale for identifying ceramics, most notably creamware, pearlware,
and whiteware, as I have had personal experience with the difficulty in
identifying these artifact types.
>
> I have done some research into this topic, but am unsure whether or not anyone
else has already attempted it. I have looked through several major journals and
have not found any reference to such a project. If anyone knows of work of this
type that has been done, please let me know of it so that I may incorporate it
into my project or switch thesis topics.
>
> Thank you for your time,
> Chris
>
>
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