A lunchtime lark!

Since I got my current job at a location very close to the foreshore, I imagined I would be able to lark on the daily. However, since my break is only either 30/40 mins, by the time I get there, usually there is just not enough time. But yesterday, I had the urge to lark so bad, that I just had to make it possible. And I did! However only for 10 minutes.

Mudlarking finds: Possibly Medieval, Tudor and Stuart pottery

None of it is particularly amazing, but I did get one nice piece of Surrey/ Hampshire borderware that I like. I love the yellow glaze with a subtle hint of green.

Mudlarking find: Surrey/Hampshire borderware

Mudlarking find diagram: a rough guide to the circumference of the complete vessel

I think I will use the technique of trying to recreate the vessel shape from now on. Its so interesting to think of the size and shape of the complete items. Sometimes I try to picture how much space all of the finds would take up if they were all whole. I'm pretty sure that they would not all fit inside the flat! Some of the shards are huge!

   My guess for this shard is that it would have been a chamber-pot based on the rim shape and circumference. Below is an example of how it may have once looked:

Surrrey Hampshire border ware chamber-pot, 1551-1700- Museum of London

Midlands Purple ware- Mid 14th to 16th century

Ok so this has been on my hitlist ever since I found out it existed: Midlands Purple. I love it. It's plain and utilitarian, but it was made right near my hometown so I was desperate to find a shard for myself.

Mudlarking find: Midlands Purple shard

Mudlarking find: Inside view of large Midlands Purple shard

Mudlarking find: Outside view of large Midlands Purple shard

Mudlarking find: detail of inclusions in Midlands Purple shard

Mudlarking find: detail of inclusions in Midlands Purple shard

Mudlarking find: I know this one is a little blurry, but it gives a nice indication of how the rim was designed so that it could be more easily lifted

Mudlarking find: Another Midlands Purple shard with trace of luscious green glaze

  In the Fourteenth and Fifteenth centuries technological advances meant pottery became increasingly higher fired. Also because of new cooking methods, the types of vessels produced changed, there was a new demand for pipkins, cups and lids, dripping dishes, and cisterns.

  This Midlands Purple ware was produced in Chilvers Coton and Ticknall in Derbyshire. The ware has a characteristic purple hew, but also the colours can vary with tinges of grey, red, orange, brown and salmon pink.

  The wares have a pimply texture which is created by the quartz sand in the clay, and could be unglazed or be dripped with black, brown and yellow-brown glazes. The workmanship is generally quite poor, and there is seldom any signs of decoration, but its still lovely in its own purpley way.

Group of Midlands Purple Ware items. 

Bottom Image: University of Leicester

Midlands Blackware Tyg

I found this pretty early on in my mudlarking career and had a mini heart attack as I was digging it up. It was together in the ground, but was fractured in many places. I dug it up the best I could trying not to cause any further damage and put it in my bag. That evening I enjoyed trying to fit the pieces back together, and was delighted to see that I could reassemble all the shards. 

Mudlarking Find: Blackware tyg shards

   This is the result of my efforts: Some of the glaze was chipped off in places, so this is the best I could do with my amateur gluing skills. I know its not perfect but I still love it. I remember the feeling of trying to lift it carefully out of the mud, rejoicing in the fact the shape of the vessel could somewhat be recognised. This wasnt just a fragment, but a LARGE fragment.

Mudlarking find: Blackware tyg after assemblage  

  With a bit of digging around, (see what I did there?) I have been able to identify the find as Midlands Blackware which makes me very happy as I am originally a Midlander myself. I like to think that we found each other. 

  Midlands Blackware developed from the earlier Medieval Cistercian ware, named so due to the pottery first being recorded in runied monastories inhabited by Cistercian monks in the 16th Century. After the dissolution, the ware evolved into Post medieval Blackware. Blackware is lead glazed English earthernware, which has a red body, and a black metallic looking glaze. The pottery forms usually consist of drinking vessels, including tall mugs, trumpet shaped drinking tygs, with two four, and sometimes up to eight handles, and tankards. One of the distinguishing features is the horizontal ribbing, and sometimes the vessels also have white decoration.  

   It was a finer ware, and would have been owned by wealthier people, such as well-off farmers,

Midlands Blackware tyg, 1500-1600, Fitzwilliam Museum Collection

Midlands Blackware Flagon, 1640-1660, Fitzwilliam Museum Collection

Mudlarking finds: Blackware shards

Mudlarking find: Blackware handle with hole