The ceramic art of Great Britain from pre-historic times down to the present day, Volume 1 (of 2) : $b being a history of the ancient and modern pottery and porcelain works of the kingdom and of their productions of every class — John Shaqi
The ceramic art of Great Britain from pre-historic times down to the present day, Volume 1 (of 2) : $b being a history of the ancient and modern pottery and porcelain works of the kingdom and of their productions of every classJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The ceramic art of Great Britain from pre-historic times down to the present day, Volume 1 (of 2) : $b being a history of the ancient and modern pottery and porcelain works of the kingdom and of their productions of every class
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Pottery, British -- History
Among the most special objects found at Wilderspool are two tetinæ, a
tragic mask, and a triplet vase. Of the mask, engraved on Fig. 186, Dr.
Kendrick says:--“Although it is sadly mutilated, an earthenware mask
or visor for the human face is certainly the most rare and curious of
the Roman antiquities discovered at Wilderspool. As such it has been
described and figured in the seventeenth volume of the _Journal of
the Archæological Association_. In the British Museum is a single
specimen of the comic mask, such as we often see represented on Greek
and Roman sculptures or intaglio seals; there is also another mask,
with the mouth closed, for the silent actor. The Wilderspool mask
appears to be an equally solitary example of the tragic mask, although
Pollux, an ancient writer, enumerates twenty-five typical or standing
masks of tragedy--six for old men, seven for young men, nine for
females, and three for slaves.”
The tetinæ, or feeding-bottles, are engraved on Figs. 187 and 188;
they have tubular spouts at the side, and, when used, they were no
doubt furnished with soft nipples or teats for the tender mouth of
the infant. When found the mouth of each was covered by a fragment of
pottery, and, from their upright position and contents, there can be no
doubt that they contained the ashes of one or more children. It is also
curious to remark that one handle was suited for the right hand of the
nurse, and the other for the left, as if to compel a change of posture
for the infant.
The triple, or triune vase, restored on Fig. 189, is an excellent
specimen, the connecting bands being hollow tubes, so that when the
liquor was placed in one, it rose to the same height in each. Many
other objects of great interest were found at Wilderspool, and have
been carefully described by Dr. Kendrick and illustrated by his
daughter.
At Ashdon, in Essex, a potter’s kiln was discovered by the Hon. R.
C. Neville in 1852. It was of square form, being, as nearly as could
be measured, eighteen feet square, inclusive of the outer walls. The
furnace appeared to have been at the south-west end, immediately
communicating with the central and largest flue; in it was a
considerable quantity of charcoal and black ashes. This flue was two
feet six inches across at the entrance and two feet in width along the
entire length, which divided the structure into two equal portions.
From it eight lateral flues (each seven inches wide) diverged opposite
each other on either side. It was closed by the north-eastern wall,
which was carefully constructed of Roman tiles, which, as well as the
flanged tiles in other parts, had evidently been used in some former
building. Many fragments of tiles and pottery were strewed about, but
no perfect vessel was found.
[Illustration: Fig. 190.
Fig. 191.
Fig. 192.
Fig. 193.
Fig. 194.
Fig. 195.
Fig. 196.
Fig. 197.
Amphoræ, &c.]
[Illustration: Fig. 198.--Chesterfield.]
[Illustration: Fig. 199.--Chesterfield.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account