Material Culture Final Project: Group 4

Kate DeeleyJonathan Song

Mahdi VafaiHalsey SinclairEsther Jones

Ceramics: Context

“During the early 19th century, meals take on the form of a ritual and are the time when women affirm moral values of the family (Wall 1987:25)”

“ Wall equates changes in ceramic assemblages of the New York households with this increasing ritualization of meals, which in turn is linked to the growth of women’s sphere in

households.”(Klein 79)

Rebecca Yamin Wealthy, Free, and Female: Prostitution in 19th century New York

Five Points brothel in the 19th century New York City

* “Identifying distinctive aspects of prostitutes' lives through their artifacts is difficult unless there is a base line of normalcy,” compares

assemblages of residential homes and brothels

*Draw interpretations from cost, distribution and types of ceramics of our own assemblage with Yamin’s findings

1.) Distribution of Ceramic ware types

“The preponderance of alcohol drinking in the parlor house is matched by a correspondingly low occurrence of vessels for serving and eating solid foods: 27% in the parlor house compared to 54% in the residences.” ( Costello 118)

Teawares: 34.3%Tableware: 26.7Serving Pieces: 9.3%Food preparation : 2.6%

• Suggests more importance on drinking with higher volumes of tea ware and wine bottles within the household, less serving and dining ware

• Suggests majority of meals that did occur were small snacks due to vast majority of small plates

• Entertainment of guests through tea parties, drinking, and snacks

Amongst Table ware:Twifflers and muffins:53.3%Dinner plates: 33.3%Soup plates :13.3%

Ceramics: Vessel Types

Tea

Table

Serving

Preparation

Storage

Multi-Purpose

Unidentified

Misc.

Hygiene

House

2.) Cost differentials of ware types

• Plates- majority of tableware is shell-edged, cream ware, all common place plates

• Tea wares- significantly more expensive and elaborate in design and aesthetics

-i.e. Chinese export porcelain, printed and painted had the highest C.C. ‘s

“These elaborate tea wares suggest that, for the purpose of entertaining, the brothel put on an elegant face. Tea, coffee, and alcohol, as well as snacks served on small plates, were probably offered to clients rather than full meals. “ (Yamin 2003:14)

Ceramics: Ware Types

Redware

Tin Glazed

Creamware

China Glaze

Pearlware

Whiteware

Chinese Export Porcelain

Bone China

Gray Stoneware

Stone China

White Granite

Yellowware

Other

Ceramics – Everyday Wares

Blue Shell-Edged

Pearlware

Green Shell-Edged Pearlware

Commemorative Plates

• Found in Assemblage : Franklin’s Tomb (Blue Printed) Macdonnough’s Victory Commemorative (Blue Printed)

• Popularized in Europe and the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries

• “fancy dishes decorated with scenes of war and patriotism that would appeal to male fantasies (unscratched plates decorated with LaFayette contemplating the tomb of Franklin and with Commodore MacDonnough's Victory were among those recovered).” ( Yamin 2003:16)

Function: Aesthetics that charm upper middle

class male clientele American patriotism Images on plates associated patriotism

with illegal prostitution

MacDonough’sVictory

Canova Pattern

Willow PatternLaFayette at Franklin’s

Tomb – Handleless Cup

Glass

Wine Bottles

Glass Tumbler

Glass: Tumblers

Brothel vs. Domestic Residence• “The most dramatic difference

between the two assemblages is seen in the occurrence of tumblers and stem ware (goblets and wine glasses). Represented by 160 items, tumblers and stemware constitute 66% of the parlor house's food vessels and an average of only 30% of the residences' (range 19-42%). “( Costello 2005: 116)

• “Drink sales constituted a significant source of income in parlor houses, and glasses were an important part of the commercial activities: part of the staged, opulent ambiance, which encouraged abandonment of moral and fiscal inhibitions.” ( Costello 2005: 117)

Glass Vessels within our Assemblage

• Plates: 4

• Tumblers: 65

• Wine glasses: 11

• Dessert glasses: 1

• Punch cup: 2

Ethical Bottles

Henry’s Calcined Magnesia Bottles

Essence of Peppermint Bottles

Urinal for WomenPerfume Bottle

Small Finds

Bone Buttons Mother of Pearl Buttons

American Dime (Liberty Head) American small cent (Indian Head)

Pipe Bowls

Pipe Bowl with Masonic Crest