Distinguishing Marks and Flowering Design: Baltimores Utilitarian Stoneware Industry - Assignment Example

Baltimore’s Utilitarian Stoneware Industry “Distinguishing Marks and Flowering Designs: Baltimore’s Utilitarian Stoneware Industry.”1. a. Why is the Baltimore stoneware industry important?Baltimore stoneware industry is important because it provides a relationship to the economic, cultural, and technological forces and the functional qualities that area associated with their use. There other importance if the location advantages of Baltimore stoneware industry due the presence of native clay, nearness to coastal and overland trade routes. b. What is the scope of the authors study here?

The scope of the study is to gain an understanding of the utility and limitations of “Baltimore stoneware maker’s marks, characteristic types of decoration, functional aspects of utilitarian wares, different forms of marketing, and the mechanization of what was once a craft industry” (Kille, 2005).2. What are the authors principal findings concerning makers marks, decoration, functional forms, marketing methods, and production process?Baltimore city makers sporadically marked their wares and the motifs and stoneware forms had a high similarity to the wares from other regions making them hard to document Baltimore utilitarian industry stones.

Baltimore stoneware potters used different markings on their wares including freehand incising, impressed typesetting lettering, stamps, and the time filling or underlying using cobalt for an augmented visibility (Kille, 2005). Decorations were made on the stone wares as a measure of making them more beautiful and fascinating to the audience. This would be added by ensuring the name, date, and place of manufacture is inscribed to denote the manufacturer. Decoration techniques used include brushed, incised, slip-trailed, stenciled, and slip-dipped (Kille, 2005).

Decoration differed with the porter including Peter Herman who used a three-petaled flower design on his wares. Exuberant flower decoration on an extra large jar show William Linton’s inscription. Other decorations in the area are German inscriptions and cobalt floral design by Philip Miller and birds designs made by different porters in the Baltimore area. There were different functional forms of the porter’s wares in Baltimore in the 19th century from large jars, inkwell wares, milk and butter pans, pitchers, chambers, crocks, and churns (Kille, 2005).

Marketing methods included making advertisement in the print media of sales describing the quality of the designs, sales location, the manufacturers, amount of stoneware available for sale, and the place of manufacture of the stoneware. Advertisements were made on Baltimore, Fredericksburg, and Richmond papers to ensure a high audience is reached. Other marketing forms included wholesale of stoneware and shipping of wares to as a far as South Carolina. The production process was changed during the 19th century in Baltimore to ensure it included marking and inscribing the wares to reflect the date, place, and producer of the wares as a measure of reacting to local competition, desire to present a lasting legacy through their wares on a special occasion, and identification of manufacturing place for exported wares.

Other potters would inscribe their signatures and names to their wares as a means of identification and differentiate their wares from that of other makers in the Baltimore area in 19th century. Production was affected by the construction sites of kilns for burning of wares and potteries and later laws were developed restricting kiln stacks emissions and requirements for construction and design plans of kilns.3. What wares appear to stand out in the author’s essay? Explain. The stone wares that appear to stand put in the essay include jars, inkling wares, milk and butter pans, and pitchers that were made in the highest quality and lasted over a long period meeting all the needs of the consumers in the Baltimore area (Kille, 2005).

The reasons for these wares to stand out are the presence of high demand for these wares for use daily in the Baltimore area and beyond. These wares were used for water storage, serving in bars and hotels, keeping milk, butter, and other foods, among other uses that necessitated the making o these wares in high amounts and meet the needs of the consumers. 4. What are the author’s conclusions about the Baltimore stoneware industry inthe middle 19th century? Explain.The author’s conclusions on the Baltimore stoneware industry in the middle 19th century are that the stoneware of Baltimore in the 19th century reflects the economic, cultural, and technological changes in the area (Kille, 2005).

The marking and decorations provide insight on production and the forms represented meeting of consumer needs. Mechanization eclipsed the pottery industry in Baltimore through new product lines and competition from outside competitors. The reason for the conclusion is that Baltimore stoneware industry represented all facets of the society and was among the main social, economic, and technological activity in the area affecting the lives of many people. ReferencesKille, J. (2005).

“Distinguishing Marks and Flowering Designs: Baltimore’s Utilitarian Stoneware Industry.” Ceramics in America. Hanover and London: Chipstone Foundation, University Press of New England; 93-131.