Faurholmovnene

The Faurholm kilns By Niels-Knud Liebgott This medieval pottery-kiln complex was found in 1973 at Faurholm, some 35 km north of Copenhagen. The find came to light in connection with the construction of a road across an open field. In 1974 the present author carried out an archaeological investigationon on behalf of the National Museum of Denmark. The complex consisted of two kilns, with the same construction, lying close beside one another. The kiln situated to the west was at a deeper level and was the better preserved of the two. The kilns were of a type with an oval, almost pear-shaped kiln chamber, 1.20 × 2.00 metres in size, linked by a flue to a stoke pit 1.60 × 1.70 metres in size, with its floor-level slightly higher than that of the kiln’s floor. In both kilns the red-fired clay dome, built on hazel branches using the wattle and daub technique, had collapsed but was preserved in the form of sizeable pieces found within the kiln. There was no trace of specific kiln furniture, and both kilns had a relatively simple structure known from other Danish finds from the Roman Iron Age. Both kilns had been rebuilt several times after the dome had collapsed. In the western and better- preserved kiln 5 phases could be distinguished, and 3 phases in the eastern one. In the case of both kilns it could be seen that they had been abandoned after a final firing which was at least partially unsuccessful. The collapsed domes had been left undisturbed, and the 30 or so complete vessels that can be assembled from the sherds in the western kiln suggest that probably the whole last firing in this case was abortive. In connection with the excavation in 1974 a number of attempts at dating were made. The archaeo-magnetic samples provided no useable results. Thermoluminescence dating resulted in a median dating to the year 1317, with a range from 1282 to 1352. A further thermoluminescence dating attempt in 1997 gave no useable dating result. The pottery workshop at Faurholm cannot have functioned for such a long period (70 years) as the two outermost dates would imply. Even though two kilns have been identified, and even though the two kilns might have been rebuilt eight or ten times in all, most likely with several successful firings between each rebuilding, it is difficult to imagine that the Faurholm complex was productive for more than one or two years, or at most a period covering a few years

Keramikken fra Farum Lillevang

The pottery from Farum Lillevang By Niels-Knud Liebgott The pottery that was found when the kilns at Farum Lillevang were excavated in 1953 (see article on the Farum Lillevang Kilns) provoked a re-evaluation of the pre-existing view that all glazed and decorated pottery in medieval Denmark was imported from England or from the Netherlands. It was now demonstrated that the potters in Denmark could master the whole repertoire and make products of a standard equivalent to what was made in the large production locations abroad. Given the lack of other Scandinavian finds of medieval pottery production sites (no kiln has so far been found in the other Nordic countries), during the 1950s and 1960s many archaeologists believed, as one can observe in the archaeological publications from those decades, that all glazed pottery in those countries must have come from Farum Lillevang. This view has now been abandoned, not least in the light of the later finds of medieval pottery workshops in Denmark. The ceramic material collected during the investigations in Farum Lillevang in 1953 and 1970/71 amounted in all to some 6-7 tons. The way the sherd material has been handled since excavation has made systematic processing problematic. It can be established, however, that about 75% of all vessels produced in Farum Lillevang consisted of greyfired unglazed kitchenware – mainly globular and tripod pots. The glazed material consists chiefly of decorated or undecorated jugs with handles. A few matrices (stamps) used for the decoration of glazed pottery were found during the excavation (figs. 13-15). It seems that production in Farum Lillevang must have lasted for one decade at most. With a calculated success rate of 80% it can be estimated that the total of grey-fired vessels alone reaching the market must have been at least around 15,000. But only very few examples of finds outside Farum Lillevang can be associated with this production site with any degree of probability. There are a few vessels from Roskilde, that fall within this category (fig. 21)

Keramikken fra Faurholm

The pottery from Faurholm By Niels-Knud Liebgott The total amount of pottery collected during the investigation of the Faurholm kilns in 1974 makes up about 1 cubic metre. By far the largest part of this was found in the western kiln, KILN 1, and it consists of all or most of the last pottery firing in that kiln. The Faurholm potter did not make grey- or black-fired kitchenware, such as that which made up most of the pottery from Farum Lillevang (see article on the Farum Lillevang pottery). Even though globular and tripod pots occur in the Faurholm material, the production there – apart from some bowls which are unique in Danish medieval pottery – consisted mainly of large jugs, up to 32 cm in height, with handles and pinched-out spouts. Some jugs have a decoration painted with iron oxide -- either a chevron pattern or vertical stripes. The Danish Technical University undertook a number of analyses of the sherd material in 1974, with a view to determining the colours and composition of the glaze, and the firing temperature and technique. These analyses show for instance that the green glaze used did not contain copper, as expected, but only iron compounds and, of course, lead. The sought-after green colour of glaze was therefore achieved by first firing the pottery in an atmosphere with oxygen present, and then finishing the firing with a phase where the temperature would have to reach about 900 degrees Celsius, in order to form the glaze, and with reduced oxygen in the atmosphere. To carry out this complicated firing technique with a relatively primitive kiln construction must have made heavy demands on the potter’s craftsmanship and skills, but it is also the explanation for the frequent failures of the firings at Faurholm with the collapsing of the kiln as the result

Farum Lillevangovnene

The Farum Lillevang kilns By Niels-Knud Liebgott Farum Lillevang is situated about 25 km north of Copenhagen. The complex of medieval kilns there was discovered in 1953 in connection with an investigation of a deserted village (mentioned in 1370) carried out by a local historical association. This was the first time that a medieval pottery workshop had been located in Scandinavia. The archaeological excavation took place in 1953 and in 1970/71 under the supervision of the National Museum of Denmark. During the first phase of the excavation the base of an oval pottery kiln – 2.6 × 4 metres in size – built partly of brick (figs. 1 & 2) was uncovered. At the south end there had been a stokepit. The kiln had without doubt had a clay dome. No further details about the construction of the kiln or kiln furniture etc. were found, apart from two “vent-stoppers” of fired clay with handles (fig. 3). The archaeological investigations in Farum Lillevang were resumed in 1970/71. At that time two rectangular brick kilns were excavated which were closely associated with the kiln previously identified. At the time of construction of the earliest of these brick kilns another oval pottery kiln had been almost completely removed, and only part of the damaged clay dome remained (fig. 5). In the remains of that kiln there were parts of the last firing, in the form of grey-fired pottery sherds which could be assembled to form five almost complete vessels. The brick kilns had been used for firing ordinary bricks, and also for architectural elements, floor tiles etc. (figs. 8-10). Unfortunately the archaeological investigations were not carried out to an acceptable academic standard. There are no available stratigraphic observations and excavation reports are virtually non-existent. Several attempts have been made – the latest initiated in 1997 by the present author – to collect C-14 and thermoluminescence datings, but without viable results. The dating of the find can however be established by a typological comparison of the pottery, and falls within the period around 1250-1350

Em torno da mesa do rei: artefatos, convivialidade e celebração no Rio de Janeiro joanino

Este artigo aborda um aspecto relevante do ritual das refeições na corte de D. João VI, no Rio de Janeiro: a prataria de mesa. Isto é, objetos de luxo destinados a servir e a consumir os alimentos. Com base em um inventário de bens de mesa enviados do Rio de Janeiro para Lisboa junto com o monarca em seu retorno a Portugal, em 1821, este artigo procura refletir sobre as funções e possíveis usos desses objetos, assim como sobre a importância desse universo material para o funcionamento, representação e celebração da Casa Real portuguesa na sua nova sede. O artigo argumenta que a presença e o uso de baixelas de prata de serviço, mas também de grande aparato, nas refeições públicas da família real pode contribuir para se repensar a imagem de uma corte pobre e sem brilho recorrentemente reforçada na historiografia do período joanino.This article discusses a specific issue of the royal dinner's rituals at the Court of Rio de Janeiro: the silver service: some luxury artifacts of different forms specially made to serve and consume food. Based on a inventory of these silver objects and also on a stock of table linen which were shipped to Lisbon, along with the royal family in 1821, The article intend to explore the functions and utilities of those objects at the table, as well as, analyze the importance of this material universe for the functioning, representation and celebration of the Portuguese Royal House in its new headquarters.The article argues that the use and even the exhibition of the banquet silver in public ceremonies may contribute to change a rather depreciative image of poverty the royal court in Brazil, which has being explored by the historiography for more than a hundred years

The pots and the bronze vessel from Rådved

                The pots and the bronze vessel from Rådved The coins from the Rådved treasure were hidden in an unglazed jug and a pot with a rounded bottom (»Kugeltopf«). A fragment from a green-glazed jug was placed as a lid and the whole arrangement finally covered with a cast bronze vessel turned upside down. The pottery seems rather primitive compared with contemporary products from east Denmark whereas good parallels can be seen in the finds from east Jutland. All three pieces of pottery were, however, produced on a fast wheel. The bronze vessel has been equipped with three legs, now all missing. On the rim the mark of the manufacturer can be seen together with an arrow, the arms of the German city Stralsund. The three pieces of pottery are an important addition to the existing Danish collection of coin-dated pottery from the period appr. 950-1450, now amounting to 55 pieces from 44 finds. The green-glazed fragment is the youngest, precisely dated sample in Danish finds of the mediaeval decorated jug. Niels-Knud Liebgott