Vince Pitelka on mon 11 dec 06
Chris -
I do not have any specific technical information about colored porcelain in
the 19th century, but if one looks at the Josiah Wedgewood work done during
the 18th and 19th century, it is fairly evident that the color was achieved
with oxides - the Jasper ware, basalt ware, and the marbleized by Thomas
Whieldon and others - it all looks like oxides, mostly cobalt and iron.
I do not know when fritted ceramic stains were first used, but I imagine
that they were already in use in the 19th century, especially when one
considers the phenomenal glaze and underglaze technology being used in
Europe and East Asia.
- Vince
Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft, Tennessee Technological University
Smithville TN 37166, 615/597-6801 x111
vpitelka@dtccom.net, wpitelka@tntech.edu
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/
http://www.tntech.edu/craftcenter/
Chris Campbell on mon 11 dec 06
I received this inquiry yesterday and was
not able to answer the question with any
historical accuracy.
Can anyone on this list provide information
or point this gentleman in the right direction
to find this historical background info?
Please answer to the list or to my e-mail and
I will forward it to him.
Thanks so much!
I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
colored porcelain paste. In other words, pigment
mixed with porcelain clay to totally remove the white
prior to firing.
As an archaeologist, I have been confused about
most of the archaeological literature, at least, saying
that white clothes buttons from the 19th century were
usually porcelain, specifically Prosser porcelain buttons,
but that some similar white buttons were made of glass.
I have an archaeological collection that I'm working on
with the so-called Prosser porcelain buttons present, but
also some exactly like them in form, and in every respect
of the porcelain identification criteria, that are colored through
and through---deep aqua blues, blacks, etc. All of the buttons
appear to be milk glass and colored glass buttons to me,
but probably the white ones are indeed Prosser porcelains,
but I'm confused about the colored ones.
Would greatly appreciate any clarifications and info you can
provide re the possible existence of solid-colored porcelain
items, whether buttons or pottery, etc.
Thank you,
Jim Atkinson
Starkville, Miss.
via
Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
Snail Scott on mon 11 dec 06
At 11:30 AM 12/11/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
>colored porcelain paste. [19th century buttons]...
Wasn't 19th c. Wedgwood ware (blue, green,
black, etc.) made of colored porcelain?
It's not tough to make colored porcelain,
and colored clays of other types were common
in that period also. As for buttons specifically,
I can't say. It was certainly possible in
terms of manufacturing capability.
I'm curious: are these buttons glazed (shiny)?
A glazed porcelain or china button would have
to have an unglazed area (inside the shank
or on the back) so as not to stick during
firing, or would have little stilt marks from
a support. A shiny-all-over button would
probably be opaque glass.
-Snail
Russell Sheptak on mon 11 dec 06
The short answer is yes, there were colored body prosser buttons in the
19th century, and they can be confused for glass buttons.
http://home.pon.net/behrbaum/history1.html reports:
"There also exist colored-body calico buttons with white transfer
patterns, although they are not plentiful. Body colors are pink, dark
blue, light blue, brown, tan, gray, turquoise, orange and green."
in talking about US manufactured calico buttons. A PDF talking about
button recording into a database at this URL:
htt://www.anthro.utah.edu/IMACs/475-Buttons.pdf
talks about how Prosser process buttons can be confused with glass
buttons (p. 3 of PDF)). Page 4 of the PDF describes them as
"Patented in 1849, the process is one combining high fired clays to
produce a
glass or vitrified appearance. The most common varieties are black,
white, or
calico having an appearance of opaque pressed glass. The backs have a
pebbled or orange-peel surface (Sprague 1983:167-172)."
A good reference is
Sprague, R.
2002 "China or Prosser Button Identification and dating",
Historical Archaeology 36(2): 111-127.
Abstract: China buttons of 'small chinas', glass-like ceramic buttons,
are one of the most often misidentified artifacts in 19th and 20th
century sites. These buttons, manufactures by the Prosser process, date
after 1840. The common varieties are characterized by the top side
being quite smooth, the underside with an 'orange peel' surface, and a
noticeable seam around the edge. Fancy examples include such varieties
as calicoes, ginghams, igloos,brid cages, and pie crusts. Button
collectors have not only known for many years that these are ceramic
not glass, but have created an excellent classification system that
should be utilized, in a modified form, by historical archaeologists.
This is a prime example of how costly it can be when archaeologists
ignore the collectors and their published body of knowledge. For the
sake of clarity it is suggested that china buttons be referred to as
Prosser buttons int he archaeological literature.
Hope this helps.
rus
----------------------
Rus Sheptak rus@sonic.net
On Dec 11, 2006, at 8:30 AM, Chris Campbell wrote:
> I received this inquiry yesterday and was
> not able to answer the question with any
> historical accuracy.
>
> Can anyone on this list provide information
> or point this gentleman in the right direction
> to find this historical background info?
>
> Please answer to the list or to my e-mail and
> I will forward it to him.
>
> Thanks so much!
>
>
>
> I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
> colored porcelain paste. In other words, pigment
> mixed with porcelain clay to totally remove the white
> prior to firing.
>
> As an archaeologist, I have been confused about
> most of the archaeological literature, at least, saying
> that white clothes buttons from the 19th century were
> usually porcelain, specifically Prosser porcelain buttons,
> but that some similar white buttons were made of glass.
>
> I have an archaeological collection that I'm working on
> with the so-called Prosser porcelain buttons present, but
> also some exactly like them in form, and in every respect
> of the porcelain identification criteria, that are colored through
> and through---deep aqua blues, blacks, etc. All of the buttons
> appear to be milk glass and colored glass buttons to me,
> but probably the white ones are indeed Prosser porcelains,
> but I'm confused about the colored ones.
>
> Would greatly appreciate any clarifications and info you can
> provide re the possible existence of solid-colored porcelain
> items, whether buttons or pottery, etc.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jim Atkinson
> Starkville, Miss.
>
> via
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
> _______________________________________________________________________
> _______
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
Jeoung-Ah Kim on mon 11 dec 06
Wedgwood coloured porcelain bodies are NOT glazed.
The decoration parts by different coloured porcelain bodies are originally hand casted (hand press casting with plaster mould) and then glued (by slip from its own coloured porcelain bodies) on the surface of leather hard porcelain body.
Snail Scott wrote:
At 11:30 AM 12/11/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
>colored porcelain paste. [19th century buttons]...
Wasn't 19th c. Wedgwood ware (blue, green,
black, etc.) made of colored porcelain?
It's not tough to make colored porcelain,
and colored clays of other types were common
in that period also. As for buttons specifically,
I can't say. It was certainly possible in
terms of manufacturing capability.
I'm curious: are these buttons glazed (shiny)?
A glazed porcelain or china button would have
to have an unglazed area (inside the shank
or on the back) so as not to stick during
firing, or would have little stilt marks from
a support. A shiny-all-over button would
probably be opaque glass.
-Snail
______________________________________________________________________________
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
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---------------------------------
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Frances Howard on mon 11 dec 06
Interesting question about buttons, but was the coloured Wedgwood ware I
think he is referring to porcelain? I always thought it was a fairly low
fired ware. more like earthenware.
. (I could well be wrong). Hamer's dict. doesn't give any details and I
believe the operation at the time was a bit of a secret, surely not now? It
was certainly a coloured body and not glazed. I've never heard of Wedgwood
buttons, but that would be easy to check.
It is good to know that an archaeologist is checking with clayart, a first
perhaps? I have a small book/pamphlet on early pots in England where the
archaeologists thought that cooking pots with rounded bottoms acquired them
by the clay falling into that shape when lifted off the wheel.
Incidentally Josiah Wedgwood who started the factory was the grandfather of
Charles Darwin, must have influenced him a lot I should think and Wedgwood
money must have been a great benefit. (His parents despaired, Charles, you
really must find yourself a good job and settle down).
Frances Howard
----- Original Message -----
From: "Snail Scott"
To:
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 2:32 PM
Subject: Re: Coloring Porcelain in the 19th Century?
> At 11:30 AM 12/11/2006 -0500, you wrote:
>>I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
>>colored porcelain paste. [19th century buttons]...
>
>
>
> Wasn't 19th c. Wedgwood ware (blue, green,
> black, etc.) made of colored porcelain?
>
> It's not tough to make colored porcelain,
> and colored clays of other types were common
> in that period also. As for buttons specifically,
> I can't say. It was certainly possible in
> terms of manufacturing capability.
>
> I'm curious: are these buttons glazed (shiny)?
> A glazed porcelain or china button would have
> to have an unglazed area (inside the shank
> or on the back) so as not to stick during
> firing, or would have little stilt marks from
> a support. A shiny-all-over button would
> probably be opaque glass.
>
> -Snail
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Alistair Gillies on mon 11 dec 06
Hi Jim,
Not sure if this will help but:
20 plus yrs ago, whilst working for the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, I was
involved in producing reproduction tiles. My role was producing patterns for
relief tiles but at the same time there was research on developing a body
for replacement tiles for Osborne House on the Isle of White [Queen
Victoria's escape pad].
These were coloured tile in what we decided was a vitrifying clay - not
porcelain as we thought they were lower fired but still vitrified as they
where non-absorbant, were the same all of the way through, had a semi gloss
and were not glazed.
Perhaps this is an avenue for your gentleman's enquiries?
As I say this was tangential to my role but I still remember the cobalt blue
3" tile that I 'acquired' as an example - and probably still has somewhere!
regards,
Alistair
In the flooded Ironbridge Gorge [think small flood in a small gorge].
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Campbell"
To:
Sent: Monday, December 11, 2006 4:30 PM
Subject: Coloring Porcelain in the 19th Century?
>I received this inquiry yesterday and was
> not able to answer the question with any
> historical accuracy.
>
> Can anyone on this list provide information
> or point this gentleman in the right direction
> to find this historical background info?
>
> Please answer to the list or to my e-mail and
> I will forward it to him.
>
> Thanks so much!
>
>
>
> I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
> colored porcelain paste. In other words, pigment
> mixed with porcelain clay to totally remove the white
> prior to firing.
>
> As an archaeologist, I have been confused about
> most of the archaeological literature, at least, saying
> that white clothes buttons from the 19th century were
> usually porcelain, specifically Prosser porcelain buttons,
> but that some similar white buttons were made of glass.
>
> I have an archaeological collection that I'm working on
> with the so-called Prosser porcelain buttons present, but
> also some exactly like them in form, and in every respect
> of the porcelain identification criteria, that are colored through
> and through---deep aqua blues, blacks, etc. All of the buttons
> appear to be milk glass and colored glass buttons to me,
> but probably the white ones are indeed Prosser porcelains,
> but I'm confused about the colored ones.
>
> Would greatly appreciate any clarifications and info you can
> provide re the possible existence of solid-colored porcelain
> items, whether buttons or pottery, etc.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jim Atkinson
> Starkville, Miss.
>
> via
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
Maggie Jones on mon 11 dec 06
An example would be Wedgewood....cameoware. I am sure there are others
using the technique of colored clays and porcelain.
maggie
On Mon, 11 Dec 2006 11:30:43 -0500 Chris Campbell
writes:
> I received this inquiry yesterday and was
> not able to answer the question with any
> historical accuracy.
>
> Can anyone on this list provide information
> or point this gentleman in the right direction
> to find this historical background info?
>
> Please answer to the list or to my e-mail and
> I will forward it to him.
>
> Thanks so much!
>
>
>
> I'm trying to find out if there is such a thing as
> colored porcelain paste. In other words, pigment
> mixed with porcelain clay to totally remove the white
> prior to firing.
>
> As an archaeologist, I have been confused about
> most of the archaeological literature, at least, saying
> that white clothes buttons from the 19th century were
> usually porcelain, specifically Prosser porcelain buttons,
> but that some similar white buttons were made of glass.
>
> I have an archaeological collection that I'm working on
> with the so-called Prosser porcelain buttons present, but
> also some exactly like them in form, and in every respect
> of the porcelain identification criteria, that are colored through
> and through---deep aqua blues, blacks, etc. All of the buttons
> appear to be milk glass and colored glass buttons to me,
> but probably the white ones are indeed Prosser porcelains,
> but I'm confused about the colored ones.
>
> Would greatly appreciate any clarifications and info you can
> provide re the possible existence of solid-colored porcelain
> items, whether buttons or pottery, etc.
>
> Thank you,
>
> Jim Atkinson
> Starkville, Miss.
>
> via
> Chris Campbell - in North Carolina
>
>
_________________________________________________________________________
_____
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your
> subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
> melpots@pclink.com.
>
>
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