Undecorated and glazed sherds
At first I was puzzled by the large number of glazed and undecorated sherds of white pottery (only a small proportion of which are shown on these pages). Baker writes that 'only rarely was tableware left undecorated'. The reason for the high prevalence of undecorated glazed sherds is that often the decoration was applied after the glost (second) firing. The exceptions being slipware, underglaze transfers and Pratt ware (oxide decoration applied under the glaze) shown on other pages.
Overglaze transfers, enamel and lustre decoration were applied to 'blank' glazed items after the glost firing. We know that the attrition rates of the biscuit and glost firings were relatively high, as evidenced by the finds on these pages. So, presumably, commercially it made sense to hold off investing time and labour into decorating items until they had survived the first two firings. Once glost fired, these blank items were highly durable and less prone to breakage. The third and final firing was at a lower temperature (700–800°C). Two reasons why items were much more likely to survive their third firing, and a plausible explanation for why there are no pink lustreware sherds amongst the finds at North Hylton. (NB we know from records that Scott's pottery supplied neighbouring Moore's with glazed 'blanks' for decoration with overglaze transfers and pink lustre.)
So although glazed and apparently finished, all the items on this page were likely destined for further decoration. And it it's here we might most likely find pottery shapes associated with pink lustre.
Overglaze transfers, enamel and lustre decoration were applied to 'blank' glazed items after the glost firing. We know that the attrition rates of the biscuit and glost firings were relatively high, as evidenced by the finds on these pages. So, presumably, commercially it made sense to hold off investing time and labour into decorating items until they had survived the first two firings. Once glost fired, these blank items were highly durable and less prone to breakage. The third and final firing was at a lower temperature (700–800°C). Two reasons why items were much more likely to survive their third firing, and a plausible explanation for why there are no pink lustreware sherds amongst the finds at North Hylton. (NB we know from records that Scott's pottery supplied neighbouring Moore's with glazed 'blanks' for decoration with overglaze transfers and pink lustre.)
So although glazed and apparently finished, all the items on this page were likely destined for further decoration. And it it's here we might most likely find pottery shapes associated with pink lustre.
Below, an undecorated glazed sherd with a beaded border. Beside the sherd, a comparable complete object with over-glaze transfers, marked Dixon, Austin & Co. Unusually for a North East item, the ship in the transfer has an American flag. NB the North East potteries more usually made items for European markets, and this is perhaps a copy of a transfer found on Staffordshire items.
The first two images show a handled sherd from a small mug or jug. The last three images show handles from larger items. Although it is perhaps easy to imagine these larger handles on pink-lustre items, they have an extruded contour that to date I've not been able to match with any pink-lustre Dixon Austin item in my collection.
The extruded handles do, however, provide a good match for this earlier (dated 1826) hand-enamelled mug, with typical North Hylton inscription and flowers. The handle sherd is from a slightly taller vessel.
Below, two teapot spouts, the second with the strainer intact. Again, as we don't yet have a match for a complete item, it is unclear how these teapots might have been decorated.
Below either a sugar sifter/muffineer or large pepper pot (I've seen similar complete items described as both). It's quite common to find Yorkshire-attributed creamware examples that are undecorated. However, similar forms also appear with pink or copper lustre, mocha and feather decoration.
Photo Norman Lowe
The first item is the distinctive lid of a sucrier. I have included an unglazed sherd of the base it might have fitted with (below centre) and a tiny sherd moulded as a ram's head and glazed in cobalt blue (below right), which is likely one of two handles that would have fitted on either side of a similar item.
Below, some miscellaneous pieces of glazed undecorated pottery. Norman has many more yet to be photographed.
