All depends on the questions you wish to ask.
Once ceramics enter secondary contexts these sort of distinctions become
less important
As they decline in importance with context change then essential material
attribute description becomes more important.
Conrad Bladey
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 8:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Colorimeter for ceramics
I agree with Carl. When looking at an assemblage you should be more
concerned with the larger picture. What are the other ceramics found in
association. You can take a piece of white paper and layout the pearlware
and creamware sherds and make divisions rather quickly. Creamwares or CC
wares were being produced in Trenton as late as 1905, specifically
chamberpots. This just goes back to my point about the association of the
wares in context.
Bill Liebeknecht, MA RPA
Hunter Research, Inc.
-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carl
Steen
Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 7:59 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Colorimeter for ceramics
Glaze tint varies for many reasons. While early cream and pearlware do have
distinctive colors, this varies due to a number of factors ranging from the
potters glaze formula, and firing conditions, to use and deposition history.
Also, don't forget that blue and cream tinted wares were intentionally
produced throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. I can't tell you how many
times I have seen single sherds of creamware or pearlware identified in
otherwise late contexts. Glaze tint is only one of many characteristics
(density, firing, decoration, vessel form etc) you have to look at to
accurately date a vessel or sherd, so micro-analysis of glaze tint is
something I wouldn't get too hung up on, personally. But do keep us apprised
of your results! Carl
Carl Steen
-----Original Message-----
From: Conrad Bladey <[log in to unmask]>
To: HISTARCH <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Mon, Feb 20, 2012 7:49 am
Subject: Re: Colorimeter for ceramics
Color is often formed my after market environmental conditions I would
suggest
chemical analysis more helpful but that too. Would be modified by soils and
heat
etc.
Conrad
----------------------------
This message has been written by fingers that are too big!
On Feb 20, 2012, at 6:56 AM, Bob Genheimer <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:
> Chris
>
> I just completed a large scale examination of Cincinnati-area yellow ware,
and
utilized a full-color Munsell book(s) for color comparison. The Munsell is
not
fully adequate, because there is still a small range of color within each
chip
match. I recognized that a colorimeter was the way to go, but taking
hundreds
of vessels to the colorimeter was just not an option. I would be very
interested in comparisons of colorimeter data with Munsell matches.
>
> Bob Genheimer, RPA
> George Rieveschl Curator of Archaeology
> Cincinnati Museum Center
> 1301 Western Avenue
> Cincinnati, Ohio 45203
> 513-455-7161 office
> 513-846-4898 mobile
> 513-455-7169 fax
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Christopher Nicholas Marini
> Sent: Sunday, February 19, 2012 3:47 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Colorimeter for ceramics
>
> Dear List,
> I am a graduate student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania and I am
currently looking to begin work on my master's thesis. The project I am
considering involves using a device called a colorimeter, which measures
color,
to develop a scale for identifying ceramics, most notably creamware,
pearlware,
and whiteware, as I have had personal experience with the difficulty in
identifying these artifact types.
>
> I have done some research into this topic, but am unsure whether or not
anyone
else has already attempted it. I have looked through several major journals
and
have not found any reference to such a project. If anyone knows of work of
this
type that has been done, please let me know of it so that I may incorporate
it
into my project or switch thesis topics.
>
> Thank you for your time,
> Chris
>
>
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