Alasdair
I have been lurking about this dicussion, and must confess that I agree with Mark. It would be difficult for me to overestimate the rarity of this material. In more than 25 years of excavations and investigations in the central Ohio Valley, I have seen so little that I do not even remember any specifics. But, I have seen it in the collector's market. A Civil War pitcher (with embossed soldier, etc.) was auctioned last year in Cincinnati that I believe meets your description. I do not have the catalogue data on it, but it could be American. Would be gald to send an image offline if you wish.
Bob Genheimer
George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
Cincinnati Museum Center
1301 Western Avenue
Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
513-455-7161
-----Original Message-----
From: Alasdair Brooks [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 12:56 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Blue-bodied earthenware
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]
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