Thanks to all the list members who gave me suggestions on our mystery
ceramic. I suspect the diagnosis of the brown band as just being a clear
slip over the paste is correct. I'll go back to my source books and look a
little harder at redwares (especially Astbury types).
One comment on using descriptive terms like redware as opposed to Astbury,
Jackfield, etc. I understand the argument, and generally try to follow it
when making lists of ceramics for reports, but I have to confess that at
least when I'm told something is Jackfield, I immediately know what is being
described. And besides, it makes for a more colorful, interesting read to
have all these place/maker names! I guess I just like tradition.
Lucy Wayne