Ironstone isn’t likely to rock the boat on an archaeological excavation as it is a relatively common find ranging in production from about the mid-19th to the mid-20th century. This Ironstone bowl base fragment broke in all the right places, however, revealing a charming boat scene - perhaps one that is reminiscent of the Lewis and Clark expedition. What do you think??
Ironstone, a durable refined earthenware, is often dated based on its decorative style and color, as certain motifs and colors were more heavily produced within a particular range of time. This example is transfer printed in light blue, placing its production within the approximate range of 1840 to 1867.
Its period of use, however, is largely dependent upon the archaeological context in which it was found, which might indicate that it was used much later than that. Unfortunately, this piece was displaced and its actual period of use is unknown.
You can learn more about archaeological methods of dating (no dinner required!) here: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dating-in-archaeology?fbclid=IwAR16mVoB71IIBGGZN3eaasCnApSNRAW1qhGGZuZveWO-8cgCjUKHy_eeOGw
📸: Alexis Alemy