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Jar with Cover Rendered by Hedwig Emanuel watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard, 29.8 x 22.8 cm (11 1/16 x 9 in.) Index of American Design 1943.8.6169 |
Object 2 of 17
Frequently, redware was glazed to seal the surface, making the pottery less absorbent and easier to clean. Early colonial potters dusted powdered lead onto the unfired clay. Later potters often dipped the unfired ware into a liquid that combined powdered lead, fine sand, and water. During the firing process, the lead melted and fused with the silica in the clay to form a hard, transparent coating, or glaze. For decorative effect, manganese oxide was often added to the glaze to produce mottling, which ranged from brown to black. On this covered jar, you can see how the transparent glaze is enriched by splashes of dark color. The handsome surface is further enhanced by a series of incised lines that encircle the vessel and emphasize its roundness.
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