Tortoise Shell Mug

Tortoise Shell Mug

South, Stanley A.

Archaeology.

Wachovia (N.C.)--History.

Artifacts.

Pottery.

Moravians.

Christ, Rudolph, 1750-1833.

This reconstructed, delicate redware mug is decorated in a tortoise shell glaze. The red clay body was coated in white slip and fired. After firing, a mix of copper oxide, manganese, and clear glaze was applied to produce the polychromatic tortoise shell finish. The body of the mug has three sets of incised lines on the exterior. One is just below the rim, one just above the foot, the last is midway between the two.

In 1773, William Ellis arrived in Salem and offered to teach Gottfried Aust how to make English Staffordshire-style earthenware in exchange for clothing and lodging. Ellis had been the superintendent of John Bartlam’s China Manufactory and Pottery in Charleston, SC. While Aust chose to continue producing the more traditional wares, his apprentice Rudolph Christ began producing finer wares influenced by the English Staffordshire-style.

This mug was recovered from feature B55, Christ’s Waster Dump #2. It was discarded due the glaze either not being applied to a portion of the vessel, or the glaze not adhering. Christ operated his pottery shop in Bethabara from 1786-1789.

The mug is marked B55-3-1-27 and B55-C5-1-27 in black ink.

Dimensions: 3” dia. rim, 2.75” dia base, 3.875” tall.

Christ, Rudolph, 1750-1833

1786-1789

Physical Object

JPEG

2018.2.34

OC2-Historic Bethabara Archaeology Collection Exhibit

Historic Bethabara Park Archaeology Collection

Stanley South Manuscript Collection Box – Folder 4-10

Stanley South Manuscript Collection Box – Folder 8-4

Rights held by Historic Bethabara Park, Inc. Use and reproduction restrictions apply. Contact Historic Bethabara Park Archives.

Photographer: Daniel Ferguson

Historic Bethabara Park, Inc.