Best advice for late 18th and early 19th-century ceramics, wear white socks. Distinguishing between cream, white, and blue casts gets you a long way in field identifications. And creamware and pearlware tend to spall more readily than later white paste wares. In the end, however, there is no substitute for having staff spend a lot of time in the lab learning the differences. If it's in your head, you don't need pockets. 

James G. Gibb 
Gibb Archaeological Consulting 
2554 Carrollton Road 
Annapolis, MD 21403 USA 
443.482.9593 

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David Parkhill" <[log in to unmask]> 
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2009 11:32:59 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern 
Subject: Pottery Characteristics 

Friends, Roamins and Country persons I come before you with a challenge!!! 

In an effort to become more knowledgeable (doing it the easy way) My 
ship hath run aground. 

I am trying to develop a SHORT hand held reference for pottery, 
ceramics identification. Something that says , "You have Pearlware!". 
I have much o files on what, how etc. but nothing to tell a newby, 
"What is that piece?" 
Earthenware, pearlware, pottery etc. I do have a neat booklet (pocket 
size) "Baylors' Pocketbook Guide to Antique Porcelain & Pottery",by 
Nancy and Jack Baylor, Baylor, Inc., 720 West 7th Street, Tulsa, Ok 
74127 as well as their "Pocketbook to Antique Glass". 

As the old "Dragnet" detective says, "I want just the Facts, just the 
facts!" All help will sincerely be appreciated