Friday, January 28, 2011

Salters

Salt was an important seasoning throughout period. In my series "for the kitchen" here is an example of an item that was just for keeping salt safe on the table. Thought, it doesn't really look like the safest place to keep salt.

Accession number: 5904
Collection place: Surrey/Hampshire border
Production date: 1551-1700
Material: ceramic; earthenware
Measurements: H 61 mm
Museum Section: Post-Medieval
Summary: Surrey/Hampshire border ware salt with a yellow glaze on the nowl and on underside of the bowl in places. There are kiln scars on the rim and some of the rim is chipped.
Location: Object stored at Mortimer Wheeler House (Ceramics and Glass store)
Sub-category: Surrey/Hampshire border ware.



Here is another one for good measure.

Accession number: 83.463/25
Collection place: Surrey/Hampshire border
Production date: 1567-1633
Material: ceramic; earthenware
Measurements: H 58 mm; D (base) 54 mm; (rim - incom) 85 mm appro
Museum Section: Post-Medieval
Summary: Surrey/Hampshire border ware pedestal dish with a green glaze on the outside. Part of the bowl is missing.
Location: Object stored at Mortimer Wheeler House (Ceramics and Glass store)
Sub-category: Surrey/Hampshire border ware.




From the broken one, you can see more how it is shaped and works more.

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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Funerary urns: art throughout the ages

Throughout history and in many cultures, death and how it is handled, is somewhat of an art form. Burying noble Kings and Queens, powerful Chieftains, with all their worldly goods for their "afterlife" is an ongoing theme is a number of lands, throughout the centuries. And while, we as modern Americans mostly don't surround our bones with chariots and furniture (well... not usually) we do have a few fancier ways of handling death.

I realize this is a sensitive subject for most people. As a potter, the urn is something rather important as it is a tribute to ones life and spirit. It has been made, again, throughout the centuries in most if not all cultures. In Egypt, jars were made to hold precious organs of the dead. Vikings and Gauls alike had urns to hold their ashes and to this day, ashes are displayed in some of the most fantastic pieces of artwork you can possibly imagine.

While this is modern, I wanted to share this LA Times article on Funerary Urns as Modern Art. The article itself is really fantastic and the urns are inspiring.

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Sunday, January 02, 2011

More kitchen essecentials

These are a little on the later period side for SCA members, however, like I mentioned in a previous post, storage vessels are an important part of the kitchen. A number of SCA participants want to make complete kitchens, so I figured I would try to make suggestions wherever I could.

Accession number: 5933
Collection place: Surrey/Hampshire border
Production date: 1550-1700
Material: ceramic; earthenware
Measurements: H 83 mm
Museum Section: Post-Medieval
Summary: Surrey/Hampshire border redware skillet with clear glaze internally and long, straight side handle; one side of the vessel is missing.
Location: Object stored at Mortimer Wheeler House (Ceramics and Glass store)
Sub-category: Surrey/Hampshire border ware.

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