Second hand ceramics and privies filtration practice are both very
interesting concepts. Of course, we get privies with the top few feet filled
with broken ceramics, glass and mangled metal objects too. But, I have never
heard anyone suggest there was a cognitive belief the junk served as a
hygeine filter.

Out here in the west, most folks assume that goods purchased for consumption
were right off the boats from England and the American Eastern seaboard. The
possibility that shops sold used goods is plausible because Sheriff's
seizures for litigation settlement was common. I will look into those
Sheriff's records and think about that possibility. This might address a
recent collection I analyzed at the Roeslein Homestead, CA-SDI-316, which was
patented in 1895 but contained primarily 1860s-1870s whiteware table
ceramics. I simply thought Roeslein brought old goods to the new place.

Ron May
Legacy 106, Inc.