Canadian Historic Sites: Occasional Papers in Archaeology and History No. 16

The Western European Coarse Earthenwares from the Wreck of the Machault

by K. J. Barton

Appendix C. Supplementary Colour Descriptions of Coarse Earthenwares from the Machault.

by Gerard Gusset.

To supplement the descriptions of the colours of the coarse earthenware studied by K. J. Barton, the colours of the fabrics and glazes of most of the ceramics discussed in his analysis have been described using the Munsell colour notation system (Munsell Color Company 1960).

All colour measurements were made under artificial neon cool white light.

Kiln firing conditions can cause the colour of the fabric surface to differ from that of the fabric interior and therefore both measurements have been listed where possible. The glaze measurements given are the apparent glaze colours (as influenced to a greater or lesser extent by the fabric colour showing through the glaze) and may vary from what it would have been if a glaze chip alone had been examined. In a number of cases, the colour of a fabric surface, fabric interior or glaze was not measurable because the glaze completely covered the vessel; a clean sample of the interior of the fabric was not available; the vessel was not glazed, or stained glaze prevented measurement of the original glaze colour.

Green-Glazed White-Fabric Ware (Type 1)

Largest size jugs: glaze from 5GY6/8 to 2.5YR4/4, fabric surface typically 7.5YR7/4.

Second-largest size jugs: glaze from 2.5GY6/8 to 5GY4/6.

Third-largest size jugs; glaze typically 7.5GY5/6 and 5GY5/6, fabric surface 10YR8/4 and 2.5Y8/4

Smallest-size jug: fabric surface from 10YR7/4 to 7.5Y7/6, fabric interior typically 5Y7/2.

Flagons: glaze from 2.5GY6 to 2.5GY4/4, typically 2.5GY5/6; fabric interior typically 5Y8/2.

Barbers' bowls: glaze typically 2.5GY5/6.

Porringers: glaze (interior) 7.5Y8/6, glaze (exterior) from 7.5GY6/6 to 7.5GY4/6, fabric interior 5Y8/1.

Cream pans: glaze typically 2.5GY5/6, fabric surface 10YR7/4, fabric interior typically 5Y8/2.5Y8/1.

Skillets; glaze typically 2.5GY5/6, fabric surface 10YR7/4, fabric interior typically 5Y8/2, 5Y8/1.

Large lipped bowls with rims grooved on top: glaze typically 2.5GY5/6, fabric surface from 2.5Y8/4 to 2.5Y7/4, fabric interior 2.5Y8/2.

Large lipped bowls with egg-shaped rim sections: glaze typically 5Y6/8 and 5Y5/8.

Small bowls: glaze typically 5Y6/8 and 5Y5/8, fabric surface typically 10YR7/4, fabric interior typically 5Y7/2.

Lids of tripod everted-rim cooking pots: glaze typically 5GY5/6, fabric surface typically 10YR7/4, fabric interior not measurable. off-white, very light.

Tripod everted-rim cooking pots: glaze 2.5GY5/6, fabric surface 7.5YR6/6, fabric interior not measurable, variable buff.

Vertical-handled large storage jars: glaze typically 10Y4/4, fabric surface 7.5YR6/6, fabric interior 10YR7/6.

Smaller vertical-handled storage jars: glaze from 2.5GY5/4 to 2.5GY4/4, fabric interior 10YR8/2.

Small storage jars: glaze typically 5GYS/8, fabric surface 5Y8/2, fabric interior 5Y8/2.

Horizontal handle of a storage jar: glaze 5GY4/6, fabric surface 10YR7/4

Slip-Decorated Red-Fabric Ware (Type 2)

Flanged bowls: fabric surface typically 5YR6/8.

Flanged dishes: fabric surface typically 5YR6/8 but darkens to 10R4/8.

Flanged plates: fabric surface typically 5YR6/8 and 5YR5/6.

Undecorated, Unglazed and Partly Glazed Red-Fabric Ware (Type 3)

Largest cooking pots: fabric surface 7.5YR6/6 average, fabric interior 10YR7/4 to 5YR7/6 (irregular).

Small cooking pots; fabric surface 2.5YR/8 to 7.5YRS/8.

Storage jars: not measurable.

Storage jar rim; fabric surface typically 2.5YR6/6.

Miscellaneous Decorated and Undecorated Coarse Earthenwares

Red-fabric plates with "circles of dots" decoration: fabric surface typically 2.5YRS/6.

Marbled-slip red-fabric bowl: glaze 5YR5/8, fabric interior 2.5YR6/8.

White-slipped redware dishes with applied green colour decoration; glaze from 2.5Y8/4 to 5Y8/4, fabric surface typically 5Y5/6.

Fine brown-glazed red earthenware lids with black trailed slip decoration; glaze typically 2.5YR3/4, fabric interior 5YR6/6.

Fine brown-glazed red earthenware plates with black trailed slip decoration: glaze typically 2.5YR3/4, fabric interior 5YR6/6.

Fine brown-glazed red earthenware porringer handle with black trailed slip decoration: not measurable

Undecorated coarse earthenware cooking pot: fabric surface 10YR7/2, fabric interior 5YR8/4.