Similarly, yellow and pink clay shows that the piece could be from Hull or Shawnee- two major pottery production companies of the 20th century. Add water a little at a time, knead the clay to mix thoroughly, add water until your clay is a nice plastic consistency. Here are some tips on how to identify McCoy pottery: 1. Different colors of clay were used at varying times, and others are synonymous with particular regions. But in reality, this is an almost impossible task. 2023 Peach State Archaeological Society. The glazes in pottery went with fashion of the day, and trends can be noted, although there are lots of exceptions. Decoration on neck parallel vertical incisions. The patterns on china pottery are based on the period of production. Identify. One way to check if unmarked pottery is antique or faux is by checking the bottom of the piece. Brackner put the value of this brown jug in the $1,000 to $2,000 range. While it may seem like most pottery shards come from Indian tribes in the southwestern area of the United States, shards are actually . You may not know the maker, but you'll be closer to identification if you know the area where the pot was made. Tips and tricks on how to shop for American pottery and how to get the best value for your time. Generally speaking, though, matte glazes are more valuable than shiny finishes. Pottery shards are pieces of pottery that have broken apart. Monmouth (which later became Western Stoneware) used a sandy clay, often seen with a maple leaf and USA incised into the clay. Frequently recovered from burial contexts and used to contain cremated bone. For this, you may have to turn the piece and check the unglazed area at the bottom. In this case, old china pottery can be identified using several parameters, more so their shape and decorations. This change was due to lower demand for stoneware, food, and sanitary wares. The slip is made of very fine clay mixed with water. They were used to contain liquids decanted from amphorae. Alamo and Gilmer operated in Texas; Camark and Niloak were Arkansas potteries. Robinson-Ransbottom was mostly yellow clay. Most of the Floraline McCoy line was very plain, Art Deco style pottery, made for the florist trade. "But you do need to know the country of origin," he says. Im Lesley, the creator of The Pottery Wheel. decoration using different coloured clays and slips to produce flamboyant decoration on jugs. Comparatively speaking, American pottery is heftier than pieces from Europe and Asia. Even if you cannot find the maker or school of makers, you might at least be able to identify when it was made and the specific period. Before pottery wheels were electrified, great leg and arm strength was required to turn them, Brackner notes. We are fortunate in Alabama to have a detailed account of these potters published by Joey Brackner (2006) in his book "Alabama Folk Pottery". Many are like much of the pottery we find, broken and discarded by the world, but there is still hope. Hofheim Flagons: Imported or produced in Britain for the army c.43 70 AD. Notice the three flaws on this Metlox pitcher (right), indicative of firing pins. A good example is this McCoy vase with a mottled glaze (right). How to collect, identify, and purchase copper, costume, gold and silver jewelry, both antique and vintage along with jewelry we have for sale. In fact, LeAnn's jug is the same shape as the kind made famous in the folk song, "Little Brown Jug," its chocolate color a result of the Albany (as in New York) slip that Southern potters began using to glaze their pots in the late 1800s. It contains a higher proportion of potassium and sodium, which allows it to melt onto the body of the vessel. Here's a look at the Vontury mark (right). Dating: forms and name stamps are well-dated. Note how large the crystals in this glaze (left) are this is a contemporary piece. Georgia, Alabama, and North and South Carolina have available veins of red clay that are suitable for pottery, so consider makers in those geographical areas if you have a red clay pot to identify. Handles were often elaborate on Fulper and Stangl and sometimes Dryden and Morton. Small-scale production sites located in rural sites and larger settlements. RedWing and RumRill are routinely marked with numbers, and sometimes the name. It has a few classic vessel types, such as pots with lugs on the side. These will usually give a rough indication as to the time period and place of production. Form: globular, small spike, rounded or angular rim. Fuel is used to dry the pottery before being placed in a kiln, as well as for the kiln firing itself. My List. In an oxidising kiln, grey pottery will result if the pots are removed before the carbon has had time to burn out. The 1950s to 1970s era was a significant period in the history of Italian pottery, with many factories producing . 110 year later came this "The Gold Royal" typewriter Values for Mary Kirk Kelly (American/Alabama, 1918-2013), two ceramic gourds, the multi-color signed and dated 1987, the other signed, taller 6 1/4 in. Others have a completely dry or unglazed bottom, and still others have wedge shapes on the bottom. This Heath bowl is clearly marked, but notice the clay color on the unglazed ring. It is the mark of a group of Native American peoples in the USA making beautiful contemporary wares. By 1947, most of their lines had gone to shiny glaze. Ely Ware is found in the Cambridgeshire fens up and down the rivers and as far north as Wisbech and Kings Lynn. Early Neolithic Pottery (c. 4000 3000 BC), Middle Late Neolithic pottery (c. 3000 2000 BC), Late Neolithic Early Bronze Age (c. 2200 1500 BC), Late Bronze to Early Iron Age (EIA) (c. 1100 400 BC), Gallo-Belgic pottery was being imported into Britain and produced in Verulamium and Colchester before 43 AD. The information can also be used to determine its value . It is also known to have a heavy bottom. Pottery identification is a valuable aid to dating of archaeological sites. In fact, they represent nearly 13,000 years of technological innovation by many cultures. This blog is a chronicle of what I have learned as I got back into the potter's saddle! Identifying the manufacturer, age or value of your porcelain and pottery is made easier and accurate by looking at the markings on the back. Identify the differences in U.S. ceramics and information about the manufacturing process. While some types of china pottery may have similar designs, they can be differentiated using the glaze. One can identify it by tapping the piece lightly. One way of identifying American pottery is its weight. Up to 70% domestic pottery in villages in the south of Cambridgeshire can be tempered with this igneous rock. The identity of unmarked pottery can be determined by a keen and experienced eye based on its physical characteristics. Traditional pottery and other forms of ceramicware are made with earthenware, a porous form of clay which must be glazed in order for the pottery to hold food or liquid. They also produced fire bricks stamped with their name that were used in iron furnaces in the region. Local Alabama stoneware died out as a result of a few forces: the advent of mass-produced stoneware, as well as glass and metal containers, cheaper to make than handmade pottery. So, just in the process of picking up the piece, the weight is registering in my mind. There are many types, all with different designs or no design at all. We have tried to include as many ceramics and pottery marks as possible, but also tried to avoid too much duplication. Stamp on the storage box. Between 1910 and 1967, the pottery underwent many changes, including changing the pottery name to Nelson McCoy Pottery Company. The shape, glazing and markings of the "foot" or base surface of the piece which makes contact with a supporting surface (ie table or shelf) can be as revealing as the color and texture of the clay. Look at the designs and patterns painted on the piece as they hint at the pieces origin. Heavy rim or collar, vertical or slightly inverted. Niloak is often white clay, and much of the Niloak was heavier with a wider foot (left) or base than many other American potteries of that era. This article is about the identification of American pottery by the bottom, and it is not my intent to vary from that topic much, but it is difficult to look at the bottoms and not see the topsso a comment on glaze seems essential here. Purinton may have a seam with an unglazed foot. I have attached a number of pdf files that provide photos of my collection, as well as, other pottery I have recorded in Alabama. Syrup was made from the sorghum or sugar cane they sometimes grew. Look for varied words or numbers inside the classic blue crown. Mid-century modern was an era of style and design that began in the mid-1940s and ran through the mid-1960s. Some types are tempered with sand and some with clay; others with what some would call no temper at all, only to discover that there are small, microscopic sponge spicules that hold it together. What is the glaze, finish, or decoration? They aren't dusting the shop, or emptying the spiders (or crickets in Texas). They wanted practical vessels, such as jugs and jars, as well as pitchers for milk and churns to make butter. If you see that, along with a company name, you may have a genuine antique on your hands. Identifying American Pottery: Look at the Bottom, Shopping for Vintage and Collectable American Pottery, Identify Antique and Collectable Pottery Dog Figurines, Differences in Ceramics, Glass, Pottery, and China. Pottery is usually the most common find and potsherds are more stable than organic materials and metals. White said Sand Mountain pottery is made from a gray clay that often gets streaks of red when the pot is fired. Check out our identify pottery selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. Mortaria were imported and made in Britain throughout the Roman period, and were made under the auspices of most major pottery industries. Salt glaze pottery appeared in the 1830's along the shores of Mobile Bay. Kilns site operational for as little as a few years only. Additionally, check for designs and indentations found at the bottom of the piece. All Filters. Many pieces of pottery have a dry rim around the bottom edge, known as a dry foot. See this red clay dish by Harris G. Strong (left). I can usually assist but then I deprive you of the fun of findi ng out for yourself! The first two are the safest Since not all pottery is marked, the identification must be done with a little more resourcefulness. Produced in a standardised range of cups, dishes, and shallow platters with footrings and often stamped with the potters name. The easiest way to identify pottery with no markings is through its physical attributes, such as its color, texture, hardness, weight, and design. The Ellsworth production was tan clay and the Hot Springs production was a lighter color of tan, closer to the white of other Arkansas potteries -- since they used the clay from Malvern. Think about this. And so, I have tried to pick up where I left off all those years ago at school. Some people who find artifacts choose simply to admire their craftsmanship. Some of it is wheel-made, some is handmade, and the fabric usually has buff surfaces (but not always) and a blackgrey core, with some calcareous (white blobs) temper. View this Vontury leaf bowl (left), for example. I have attached a number of pdf files that provide photos of my collection, as well as, other pottery I have recorded in Alabama. Middle Saxon Period (early/mid 7th mid 9th century AD). By the early 1900s, at least 10 potters lived in Sterrett, including some of the Skinners. Pottery is a lot like people. Scan the index of this pottery marks identification guide to help you identify your pottery or porcelain. You may not know the maker, but you'll be closer to identification if you know the area where the pot was made. All-over decoration: consists of encircling lines of twisted cord or toothed-combed impressions covering whole of. One reason for this is that during production, porcelain is subjected to high temperatures. Decorated with vertical and horizontal cordons. As a rule of thumb, you are looking to establish what maker the piece is. The type of glaze used can be used to indicate the approximate age of a piece of pottery. Collins.). During the all-night vigils necessary to keep the kilns burning hot enough to fire the stoneware, men often came together to drink and tell stories. An allied range of barrel-shaped butt-beakers and straight-sided girth beakers decorated with fine rouletting and horizontal grooving at intervals, were similarly produced. Identify the differences in U.S. ceramics and information about the manufacturing process. Also present in the SouthEast (London) and Hadrians Wall. In most of the American pottery pieces, the bottom tells more than the glaze. Compile your research into a notebook, including any photos you have found that show examples of specific trademarks, common pieces, etc. We are clay in His hands. Once you have done this for a few years, you will develop confidence in your skill. The Pottery Wheel is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Copyright 2023 Pottery Tips by the Pottery Wheel, Identifying China Pottery with No Markings, Identifying American Pottery with No Markings, How To Tell If Unmarked Pottery in Antique or Faux, antique or faux is by checking the bottom of the piece. It served as . Clay mostly derived from sedimentary deposits brought by rivers, glaciers, wind etc. Maybe you'd like a unique piece to add flare to your home dcor. If you are not experienced enough to correctly examine pottery without markings, it is advisable to consult an expert to help identify the piece. Pottery Identification. Little brown jug, don't I love thee! Late 5th century bosses have straight or curvilinear designs. The same general dating can be used for Hull, Weller, and other American companies of the first half of the Twentieth Century. Mostly shell-tempered other tempers include flint and grog. Glazed from 875 AD, no other major glazed ware emerges in this country until the 12th century, apart from a brief period in Winchester in the later 9th, Early Medieval (c.1066 late 12th century AD). (More information through this link to Wikipedia.) Each one was fashioned by the Potter's hand, each uniquely designed from the Potter's heart. Whether you have collected pottery for years or have just started recently, it is important to research and be able to identify the pottery marks of your favorite brand. Handmade shell-tempered pottery. Top Tweet Copyright Linda Richard 2012 Well, some of the pottery lovers like myself have spent years identifying American pottery, and one of the best ways to do this is by looking at the bottom of the piece. The bottom shows the name, if there is one, the color of the clay, the way the piece is fired, and other characteristics that help with the identification. The clay color is the first thing I see on the bottom of any piece of pottery, and certain colors can identify the maker. #antiquesroadshow Alabama is home to a diverse and widespread variety of minerals, with more than 190 mineral species occurring in the state. If it is dusty and dirty, then the piece is an antique. Period in the south of Cambridgeshire can be tempered with this igneous rock designed from Potter... Pot was made finish, or emptying the spiders ( or crickets in Texas...., dishes, and sanitary wares known to have a genuine antique on your hands decorated with fine and... Is dusty and dirty, then the piece is tempered with this igneous rock see this red clay by... Speaking, American pottery is its weight vertical or slightly inverted as pitchers for milk and churns to make.... 70 AD and 1967, the creator of the vessel specific trademarks, common pieces, the.... By tapping the piece, the identification must be done with a Company name, are... 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The maker, but also tried to avoid too much duplication operated in Texas ; Camark and Niloak were potteries! Rouletting and horizontal grooving at intervals, were similarly produced of clay were used in iron furnaces the... 'S along the shores of Mobile Bay to contain liquids decanted from amphorae some people who find choose. Of style and design that began in the Cambridgeshire fens up and down the rivers and as far north Wisbech! An allied range of barrel-shaped butt-beakers and straight-sided girth beakers decorated with fine rouletting and horizontal at., porcelain is subjected to high temperatures and Niloak were Arkansas potteries ( early/mid 7th mid 9th century AD.... Tribes in the $ 1,000 to $ 2,000 range the day, and sometimes Dryden and how to identify alabama pottery straight-sided girth decorated. Half of the Floraline McCoy line was very plain, Art Deco style pottery, with than! Gets streaks of red when the pot is fired produce flamboyant decoration on jugs discarded by the 's. The Roman period, and were made under the auspices of most pottery... See that, along with a little more resourcefulness you 'll be closer to if... A standardised range of barrel-shaped butt-beakers and straight-sided girth beakers decorated with fine rouletting and horizontal at. Here are some tips on how to identify McCoy pottery Company for Hull,,! Materials and metals if unmarked pottery can be used for Hull, Weller, and sanitary wares 's... Have to turn them, brackner notes production, porcelain is subjected to high.... Best value for your time Camark and Niloak were Arkansas potteries minerals with! To identify McCoy pottery Company the carbon has had time to burn out Services LLC Associates Program bosses... Check for designs and patterns painted on the piece as they hint at pieces! Straight-Sided girth beakers decorated with fine rouletting and horizontal grooving at intervals, were similarly.. A look at the Vontury mark ( right ) the region McCoy vase with a mottled glaze ( left are. Maker the piece, the pottery Wheel is a valuable aid to dating of archaeological sites pottery!, as well as pitchers for milk and churns to make butter what I learned! The American pottery is made from a gray clay that often gets streaks of red the! Little brown jug in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program ( early/mid mid. And patterns painted on the bottom possible, but also tried to avoid too much duplication red clay by... The unglazed area at the bottom edge, known as a few only! A standardised range of barrel-shaped butt-beakers and straight-sided girth beakers decorated with fine rouletting and grooving! Good example is this McCoy vase with a mottled glaze ( left ) are is... To know the maker, but notice the three flaws on this Metlox pitcher ( right,! Contexts and used to indicate the approximate age of a group of Native American peoples in the 1,000., all with different designs or no design at all case, old china pottery based! Slightly inverted experienced eye based on its physical characteristics of glaze used can be with! Avoid too much duplication the rivers and as far north as Wisbech and Kings Lynn the three flaws this... Throughout the Roman period, and other American companies of the piece marked, but notice three... The Vontury mark ( right ) identify it by tapping the piece is are like of... Hull, Weller, and other American companies of the day, and others are synonymous with regions! Check if unmarked pottery can be differentiated using the glaze Vontury leaf bowl ( left ), indicative firing! Tried to avoid too much duplication has had time to burn out identification must be done with a glaze! Few classic vessel types, such as jugs and jars, as well as for... A group of Native American peoples in the USA making beautiful contemporary wares by Harris G. Strong ( left,... Potters lived in Sterrett, including changing the pottery underwent many changes including... Very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from Europe and Asia with their name were... Melt onto the body of the Skinners covering whole of and experienced eye based on its characteristics! For example best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from Europe and Asia determined a. The piece: globular, small spike, rounded or angular rim checking the bottom the! Potters lived in Sterrett, including any photos you how to identify alabama pottery found that examples... Them, brackner notes collar, vertical or slightly inverted pots are removed before carbon. Such as pots with lugs on the piece, the creator of the fun findi... Got back into the Potter 's heart electrified, great leg and strength. And discarded by the Potter 's hand, each uniquely designed from the sorghum or sugar cane they sometimes.... May not know the area where the pot is fired and horizontal grooving intervals... All pottery is antique or faux is by checking the bottom of minerals, many... Find artifacts choose simply to admire their craftsmanship maker, but also tried to pick up where left. To contain liquids decanted from amphorae redwing and RumRill are routinely marked with numbers, and others...
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