On several archaeology sites in downtown Savannah (within the bounds of the battlefield) I have a found a mysterious decoration on several ceramics. It appears to be hand painted purple. One shade of the purple is flat, the other is metallic/iridescent.
In the first example I found, the design appeared to be painted on whiteware. Unfortunately, this sherd has been sent into deep storage, and I don't have any pictures of it. The three sherds pictured below were found in the 1980s and labeled "lustrous manganese creamware" or "lustrous manganese pearlware". This decoration style has appeared on porcelain and white earthenware. The earthenware has yellow or blue tints to the glaze, or the glaze is completely white.
Can anyone identify this more specifically than "handpainted"? Does anyone have a time frame or TPQ for this type of decoration?
Many thanks!
Sherd 1- refined earthenware. white glaze has a blue tint.
Sherd 1, showing metallic purple
back of Sherd 1
Sherd 2- refined earthenware. glaze is yellow-ish. Note there are two shades of purple present.
Sherd 3- porcelain. hand painted glaze is two shades of purple: the lighter, flat color and the darker, metallic color
Sherd 3 side view
Sherd 3
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