Lucy

We have also have red-bodied ceramics from securely dated late 1860s
contexts at Cadmans Cottage in Sydney Australia.  These are plates, with a
hard, non-porous red body very similar in colour to terracotta roof tiles,
but in the thicker sections above the base ring, the cross section shows the
upper and lower surfaces as a consistent red colour, but with a dark grey
core.  The plate upper surface has moulded raised bands on the rim, two of
which were painted with a thick medium-green paint.  The underside (yes,
underside for some reason) is clear glazed.  An impressed base mark of Wm
Fairbairn and Co. was present.  Godden's Encyclopaedia of Pottery and
Porcelain Marks has noted this (Mark 4429).  He can only trace one Fairbairn
(Newbottle Pottery, Sunderland).

Hope its useful.

Denis Gojak
Historical Archaeologist
National Parks and Wildlife Service
PO Box 1967
Hurstville NSW 2220

Ph:     +61 2 9585 6469
Fax:   +61 2 9585 6325
Email: [log in to unmask]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: SouthArc [SMTP:[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: Thursday, 5 August 1999 0:00
> To:   [log in to unmask]
> Subject:      ceramic help
>
> Help ceramics experts--
>
> We have a single small sherd of a ceramic which I haven't been able to
> identify using my usual sources.  It's not critical to understanding the
> site but it has pricked my curiousity, so any help would be appreciated.
>
> The sherd is a thin, very hard red paste (yes--red).  The interior is
> white
> slipped and the exterior has zones or bands of deep blue and
> brown/black--divided approx. equally on the entire exterior surface of the
> small fragment (approx. 1.5 cm square).  The junction between the two
> colors
> is not a sharp line--sort of softened.  Both sides appear to have a clear
> glaze.  Based on the curve, I'm guessing a bowl or cup.
>
> The other ceramics from the site are typical mid-19th to early-20th
> century
> wares (whitewares and ironstones).  Historic information on the property
> suggests settlement perhaps as early as Second Seminole War (1836-42) but
> primary occupation is probably ca. 1850's when it was part of a
> plantation.
>
> Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
>
>                         Lucy Wayne