Mark,

Thank you - that's both very helpful and spot on.

It's not necessarily as rare as you're describing on all of the sites I've
been working on, but it's definitely extremely uncommon.  In the assemblage
I've been dealing with this week, it's about 0.5% - very rare, but less so
than in your experience.

But in general I'm getting the feeling that while these 'bluewares' are
extremely uncommon everywhere, they're somewhat less uncommon within the
"British Empire" (UK, Australia, New Zealand) than in North America.  That
raises obvious broader issues in keeping with some other research on
Imperial trade patterns I've been working on for the last few years.

Which raises the question...  Whither Canada?  Any takers north of the
border?

Alasdair Brooks

-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 13 February 2004 16:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Blue-bodied earthenware

Guys,

This is NOT classic unglazed, matte-finished Jasperware.  This is, if you
must, Jasperware with a clear, interior/exterior glaze, but in this case the
monochrome paste is a sky blue color, a "brighter" blue than classic
Wedgwood blue
....  Although it may be technologically related to classic Jasperware, this
is something different, much more akin to the clear-glazed "Canewares" of
the
mid-nineteenth century.

Alasdair, the problem that you are having describing this ware, and the
apparent problem of the listening audience in understanding what you are
describing, is clearly a function of its rarity on American sites.  Babson's
description
of a 5% presence is way over the top ...  I would put it more likely at .01%
or less, probably closer to .001%;  this is very rare.  I have only seen one
or two sherds amongst several hundred site assemblages.

Mark C. Branstner

Great Lakes Research, Inc.
210 E. Sherwood Road
Williamston, MI 48895

1.517.347.4793 / [log in to unmask]