Place Made

Date Made

1790-1825

Medium

earthenware

Dimensions

HOA: 4 5/8″; DIA of base: 2 1/16″

Accession Number

C-357.1

Description

In the inventory of the Moravian pottery in 1796, eighty-seven “small barrels” are listed and later are referred to as “rundlets.” This form does not appear to have been made prior to 1796 and may be connected to the arrival of Carl Eisenberg. Carl Eisenberg came from Germany and introduced the use of tin glazing production line made by the Moravian potters.

The form is wheel thrown, then trimmed on both flat ends. A neck for the opening of the rundlet was thrown on the wheel separately from the body of the piece and later applied to the ovoid side after the clay was set up. There is a white slip over the red earthenware clay, and a green lead glaze over the slip. The interior is glazed, suggesting that it did serve the purpose of holding liquids.

The production of this piece made in Salem, North Carolina, dates to the time period in which Rudolph Christ was operating the pottery shop in Salem. Rudolph Christ apprenticed under Gottfried Aust in Salem, North Carolina. He established his own pottery in Bethabara in 1786 and worked there until 1789. He succeeded Aust as master potter in Salem from 1789 to 1821.

Brown, Johanna. “Tradition and Adaptation in Moravian Press-Molded Wares.” CERAMICS IN AMERICA (2009) 105-138.

History

LABEL NOTES: Belonged to H. Shaffner, the potter.
RELATED NAME: Shaffner, H. (owner)

Credit Line

On loan by the Wachovia Historical Society