Hello- there's a very interesting article, "Tradition and Adaptatin (sic) in Moravian Press-Molded Earthenware by Johanna Brown"
on Moravian press molded ceramics which includes some mention of casters- though not really a specific description of what they are. Its at http://chipstone.com/publications/CIA/2009/brown/brownindex.html (this is apparently the online component of the Ceramics In America publication- article is contained in the 2009 edition with other Moravian ceramics articles.)
If you check out the illustrations, #'s 26, 37 and 38 are all listed as casters, including #38- a chicken shaped caster with numerous small holes near the top of the piece. Brown says that ""Chickens" (fig. 38) and "foxes,"[were] designed for dispensing spices or fine powders".
Item#37's description is also useful (the object is a small press molded figural bottle in the shape of a lady). Brown writes, "It has a cluster of small holes in the back and a single, larger hole
in the bottom, suggesting that this object functioned as a caster."
Hope that helps-
-Leo Demski
> Date: Mon, 8 Nov 2010 11:01:47 -0500
> From: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Moravian casters
> To: [log in to unmask]
>
> Hi, castors are sugar shakers, and have a perforated top. They are
> generally larger than salt or pepper shakers, and were in use much earlier.
> Olive Jones
>
>
>
> From: Michael Bathrick <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Date: 11/06/2010 10:58 PM
> Subject: Re: Moravian casters
> Sent by: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
>
> Possibly a cruet?
>
> Mike
>
> On 11/5/2010 8:55 PM, Justin Rego wrote:
> > Hey!
> >
> > Could it just be a colloquial term for cast ceramic objects?
> >
> > On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 7:43 PM, Mark
> Branstner<[log in to unmask]>wrote:
> >
> >> Hi,
> >>
> >> Just got back from a ceramics exhibition in Milwaukee that focused on
> >> Moravian ceramics from North Carolina ...
> >>
> >> Very, very good exhibition of slip-decorated and cast objects, including
> >> all those really great figural bottles!
> >>
> >> My question is this ... Some of the smaller ceramic figures were
> described
> >> as "casters" ... What the heck is a caster? A quick internet search
> found
> >> nothing relevant.
> >>
> >> Thanks, Mark
> >> --
> >>
> >> Mark C. Branstner, RPA
> >> Historic Archaeologist
> >>
> >> Illinois State Archaeological Survey
> >> Institute of Natural Resource Sustainability
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> >> 23 East Stadium Drive
> >> Champaign, IL 61820
> >>
> >> Phone: 217.244.0892
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> >>
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> Anonymous
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> >>
> >
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