Kiln vs. Pottery

Courtesy, Washington and Lee University University Anthropology.

I  have been in Virginia for a few days researching the archaeological kiln collections at Washington and Lee University. These are from the Rockbridge Baths kiln site, operating around the mid-nineteenth century.
I thought I would share a quick photo of a great piece I found last Friday. This is of a handle fragment with a large chunk of kiln attached to it. Essentially what happened was that a brick which had been deteriorating and melting over time fell on top of the piece of pottery. Hence, kiln vs. pottery. In this case, the kiln won! A lot of the sherds show other drips from the kiln bricks. It is funny to think as a contemporary potter how today we get worried about losing one or two pieces of pottery in a kiln firing, but do not usually have to consider the atmosphere or condition of the kiln bricks, the risk of kiln furniture not functioning, the lack of shelves being used, and stacking pots one on top of another. I think what we would consider a glaze flaw or kiln fail today would have passed as a first rate piece of pottery then! I will share more photos when I get home later this week.

Handle fragment. Courtesy, Washington and Lee University University Anthropology.

Courtesy, Washington and Lee University University Anthropology.

Backside of the handle, showing the melted kiln brick and other materials covering the fragment. Courtesy, Washington and Lee University University Anthropology.

Courtesy, Washington and Lee University University Anthropology.