Potter's Prints

I've seen a few collections of pottery in the last couple of months where I found the fingerprints of potters from 150+ years ago! While it's not terribly surprising to find, I just thought I would share the nerdy excitement. These materials are from South Carolina and Virginia.

Placing my fingers just above the fingerprints on the bottom edge of a saggar from the Yorktown pottery site. Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection 

 

It almost looks like the person who left these prints had the saggar in one position, and then shifted their hand to the outside a little more. See how the indentations are a little deeper toward the outside? Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection 

Kiln wadding. It only makes sense that a wad of clay would have the prints of a potter! Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection 

Putting my hands around the kiln wadding. Courtesy, National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown Collection 

Kiln brick from South Carolina kiln. See the mess of fingerprints along the upper edge? Courtesy, Steve Ferrell Studio, Edgefield, South Carolina

My fingers on another kiln brick from South Carolina. Courtesy, Steve Ferrell Studio, Edgefield, South Carolina