Ceramics from the Hothouse





The largest ceramic group from the hothouse excavations is creamware, a lead glazed refined earthenware, generally charterized by its cream colour and the yellow/green of its pooled glaze. Creamware was perfected by Josiah Wedgwood in 1762 and became the most important development in ceramics in the second half of the 18th century. A general date for creamware is c.1762 to c.1820.
Creamware artifacts, 37kb



The second largest ceramic group from the hothouse is pearlware, a type which evolved from creamware but existed concurrently with it. Pearlware is the most common ceramic type found on North American archaeological sites dating to the early 19th century. The development of pearlware began about 1775 and it remained popular into the 1830's. Pearlware was the most diverse ceramic type recovered from the hothouse, exhibiting a surprising variety of decorative styles and patterns for a utilitarian building. This is likely testament to the fact that meals were consumed in the building, especially during the winter when constant vigilance was required.
Pearlware artifacts, 46kb.



Three pieces of pearlware from the hothouse bear the impressed marks of the Herculaneum Pottery of Liverpool, England. The Herculaneum Pottery was established by Samuel Worthington in 1796 and operated under him untilit was sold in 1833. The pottery continued to operate under the new owners until 1840. There are pieces of Herculaneum pottery in the collection of Uniacke House and pieces were recovered from the lake in 1980. One of the marked pieces bear a "12", which most likely represents 1812.
Herculaneum pearlware artifacts, 46kb.


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