Redware and Brown Earthenware and its Use in the 19th Century

by William Chapman

Surely almost everyone in the living history community is familiar with the sometimes primitive, sometimes beautiful glazed pottery that has come to be known as Redware. This earth-toned pottery has been known for ages for its strength, its rich color, and its versitility. Commonly, this type of pottery is associated with the 18th century, but it has enjoyed a much longer history than that. Miriam Webster's dictionary defines redware as "earthenware pottery made of clay containing considerable iron oxide". It is this iron oxide that gives it its beautiful rust-colored appearance. Redware has been found extensively in archaeological digs all over the western hemisphere, and there is no doubt that its use was widespread. However, by the mid nineteenth century, who was using it? What was it used for? Was there any particular social class that used it more than others?

19th century redware pitcher with brown glaze.

Let's start with some background on redware. Redware is one of the oldest forms of pottery, found in Europe long before recorded history (some dating back to the 12th century BC). It is composed of one of the several major types of potter's clay, red-firing clay, which is prevalent in America. Red-firing clay, because of its high iron content, turns red when exposed to high heat. In its unglazed form, redware is also known as terra cotta, and has been used for flowerpots and tiles for hundreds of years. Redware has been in production on American soil since the 1600's. In the recent excavations at Jamestown, evidence of earthenware made in Europe as well as on-site has been dug in large quantities. Redware is glazed, just like most pottery, and certain glazes can be identified with different areas. Most glazes were clear, but a black glaze appears on English-made pottery. Elaborate artwork can be done on the pottery either by scratching the surface and glazing over it or "slip trailing", which is done by drawing designs on with a different color of clay, usually yellow.

In its mineral composition, brown earthenware is not much different from redware other than the fact that it contains less iron oxide, giving it less of a rust color.

By the dawn of the 19th century, England had moved on to producing more fashionable pearlware and china, leaving America to produce inexpensive and durable earthenware. America's elite and growing middle class bought the British-made goods, while the lower class relied on red, brown, yellow, and cream colored earthenware for their everyday needs.

Redware has turned up in the excavation of Five Points, a 19th century neighborhood in New York city, in use for common domesic items such as chamber pots, pitchers, and even piggy banks. The use of redware in a middle and lower class area such as the Points would suggest that it was definately present in 19th century daily life. Most of the Five Points redware is fairly plain, sometimes bearing pressed designs or other small decoration, but it is far simpler than the elaborate slip-trailed redware of past centuries.

Redware makes appearances in lower-class 19th century context quite often, and there is even concrete evidence of its use by civilians in the Civil War years.

This image shows an officer in camp during the war with his wife and children. On the table is some kind of white-glazed pot, while a brown or red earthenware pot sits on the ground.

From the evidence that we have today, it appears that redware was most common among the lower and middle classes. Finding it in Five Points, other archeaological sites, and period photographs all seem to point towards this conclusion. Redware was inexpensive, practical for use in the kitchen and in the field, and easily obtained by the working class.

Comments

[Sandy]

Excellent post! I didn't realize that terra cotta was redware. I learn something every time you post!

[william]

Thanks!

[Sandy]

Happy Thanksgiving to you and all you hold dear.

[Willie Chapman]

Thank you, I hope yours was great as well.

[Sandy]

What happened to the newer post?