A Proposal for Research into the Styles and Patterns of Delftware Found at the Read House
The project will study a collection of Delftware
ceramics that the owners discarded in a trash pit on the property in the first
decades of the 18th century.
I.
The main purpose of the research will be to trace
the decorative patterns from their origins in Asia to Europe to America
–concentrating on how the designs and their meanings changed as they entered
new cultural settings.
II.
Another area of interest is why certain styles
were chosen. What, if anything, do
particular patterns say about the owner’s social class? What was the availability of the styles? Were they regional, local, or special
order? Did a vessel’s function
influence the design used to decorate it?
III.
The proposed research will be conducted in the
following way:
a. The
first step will be to acquire background information on the history of New
Castle, the history of delftware and porcelain, and the history of American
trade with Europe and Asia. This information
will provide a foundation for later analysis.
b. The
second step will be to analyze the styles and patterns found on the Read House
delftware. They will be categorized
according to…
i.
Non-decorated vessels
ii.
Decorated vessels
1. Colors:
Blue/white vs. Polychrome
2. Types
of pattern: “oriental” vs. floral
3. Percent
of vessel decorated
4. Use
of vessel
c. Step
number three will be to research the design characteristics found during the
analysis.
i.
Attempt to trace the design back to its origins
in Asia and determine how and why it had changed.
ii.
Requires comparison of Chinese porcelain, early
European delftware and knowledge of trading between Europe and Asia.
d. The
last major step in this research will be to travel to other facilities to
compare the delftware found at the Read House with delftware found in other
colonies.
i.
How do the styles differ (if they do)?
ii.
What was the social standing of the other owners?
iii.
Speak to other researchers and experts and to
compare findings.
iv.
Places to visit will include Winterthur,
Jefferson Patterson Park and Museum, Jamestown, Colonial Williamsburg, and
other sited in New York and Pennsylvania.
-Written and Researched by: Allison Krieger