Hi, there! Sorry for the lack of posts. I’ve been really swamped! Just finished year end inventory at the shop and at home. Kinda fun, but got me thinking…..
Sometimes I worry about my obsessions. Combing flea markets for white vellum books. Driving hours to Pennsylvania for an early crop of the whitest pumpkins. (Finally threw out the last ones which had turned yellow.) And recently, getting too excited about bleached pine cones.
You see, I am very fond of things in certain colors ~ or lack of color 🙂 Almost obsessed!
Well here’s another obsession collection. And yes, this one is also tone-on-tone. Introducing my smear glaze pottery…..all in shades of gray, beige and greige.
Many smear glaze pieces were made in Staffordshire, England at the height of the Victorian period – mid 1800s. What is smear glaze? A definition I found online:
It is a glaze applied indirectly to the surface of the ware by painting a coat of glaze on the inside of the closed container (mold) in which the ware is baked. During the firing process, this glaze evaporates and settles like a fine mist on the surface of the ware.
Because the glaze is so thin, the relief / raised design remains crisp. Sometimes you will see smear glaze pottery labeled as salt glaze (more common in the 18th century) or parian ware (more bisque like).
It is a glaze applied indirectly to the surface of the ware by painting a coat of glaze on the inside of the closed container (mold) in which the ware is baked. During the firing process, this glaze evaporates and settles like a fine mist on the surface of the ware.
Because the glaze is so thin, the relief / raised design remains crisp. Sometimes you will see smear glaze pottery labeled as salt glaze (more common in the 18th century) or parian ware (more bisque like).
In addition to color, I have further focused this collection on the theme of nature. All the pieces, primarily pitchers, have motifs from the garden or nature.
Above is a large pitcher with lilies of the valley and a leaf form relish dish.
Below is a Chinoiserie pitcher with bamboo trellis and songbirds. The inside of this pitcher is fully glazed, as it was meant to hold liquids ~ notice the interior sheen.
A splash of sunshine on a dreary winter’s day. Pretty tulips with common mums in one of my favorite smear glaze pitchers.
This pitcher by Dudson was made for garden enthusiasts. I adore the bee skep, lovebirds and floral wreath.
Gray on gray on gray! Three gray pitchers on a gray Swedish demi-lune console against a gray wall. All three pitchers have various wheat designs
Below is a scarce hot water pitcher with the original lid. Notice the “make do” old staple repairs.
Straight from the garden ~ roses and butterflies.
Happy January!
Happy January!
Your collection is so pretty and so much more useful than the Parian ware figurines I love. Is it rare to find a pitcher with a lid still intact? I don't often see them but think it adds so much to the sculptural feel of the piece.
Kerry – I only have one pitcher with a lid. I've been collecting for almost 10 years, so it is scarce. Thank you!
so delicious, as always, loi. antique dealers who are friends of mine introduced me to stapled pieces some years ago. they so appreciate these old, loving repairs. now, thanks to them, I do too.
thank you for sharing your passion with us. donna
Loi, my favorite color is cream…I can relate to favoring non-color. A lovely collection, not familiar with this type of pottery….will keep my eye out for these treasures. Beauty and function. The orange (clementine?) on a decorative plate….so fresh, perfect
Love learning about Smear ware this morning! I love ironstone and I have some ironstone dishes with a relief patten from my grandmother that I use EVERY DAY. I love it. This reminds me of it, so I love this too.
and so good to know someone else questions their obsessions. we all like things just so, and sometimes i wonder if I make life harder that way. oh well, it is what it is! but I did NOT know you went to PA for the white pumpkins 🙂
Loi, these are all stunning. I have never heard of them before. Love the beehive one and the added pop of yellow. Seeing your dining room chairs confirms that I am going to paint mine and leave the table dark.
Hi Loi,
You have the most amazing eye for beautiful things! Never heard the term smear glaze, thanks for teaching us! I love every one! The display of them in you home is perfect. My favorites would be the stapled jug and the bee skep pitcher. I love the orange on the porcelain leaf and the little side table/crate too. As always, thank you for sharing your beautiful world with us!
It's not only your collections that are beautiful – it's the way you display them as well. Makes me want to start collecting the same things! Happy New Year – x Sharon. PS Spent a day in Washington – first time visit for me – what a beautiful city!
Loi…. I have never noticed pitchers with such beautiful designs on them. Its not like me to not notice a beautiful art piece like these. I'm going to have to start collecting them. I'm learning through blogging my own design style and I'm torn between two styles. A vintage Swedish look- tone on tone and a Calif. beach style…try merging these two styles together. It will be fun to see how they come together….
Loi dear,
Your world is beyond explanation. I live in this sort of space, and there is a real joy in taking in the PEACE that floats throughout an abode where a lack of many colors reigns. The textures, the modes are what I am after, in both my home décor and even in the art I make. My writing as well is a point in which I long to weave in the texture of not BIG WORDS but the RIGHT WORDS. Your home reflects poetry at its best, for me.
Those bleached pine cones coupled with your collection of white and pewter/tarnished silver is what I have going on as well. ALL I NEED NOW IS THAT FAB SOFA you featured for your last post! TALK ABOUT an obsession…holy moly do I have a Love Jones for that sofa! teehee
HAPPY DAY MY DEAR! Anita
What a beautiful blog! I stumbled on your site a week or so ago, and have been enjoying scrolling back through it. You make we want to find or build a Classical one room house and paint the floors white. Thank you for the effort you put into your posts. Daniel
Thank you, Daniel! I hope you'll visit, again 🙂 Loi
I have never heard of this type of pottery before, but it has now captured my heart. It is so beautiful!Thank you for sharing your collection with us! That bee skep piece you have is amazing!! But Loi, I am SHOCKED to see yellow flowers in your home! Were they out of white? tee hee 🙂
I indulge in a bit of color every now and then 🙂
Jeepers Loi you make obsessions fun! A gorgeous collection and as always you never fail to inform your happy followers:) I will keep an eye out for you, they are gems and as you showed; act as sculpture. I love starting my day off being "tonified"! Back to my outrageous green room for more painting;)…that's why you are a designer and I am not!
These are really beautiful. I have to say, I love the one with the staples. What better evidence is there of itss history? To see the staples also make its preciousness more palpable; it wasn't discarded because it broke. It wears its battle scars beautifully.
Thank you professor for the lesson on smear glazing. Your collection is gorgeous. I adore how you style your beautiful items. Your obsessions glean grand results.
Those yellow flowers are exactly what I need right now. A ray of sun in the winter. I have never seen a staple repair. It's architectural and cool looking.
Hello Loi:
Wonderfully stylish as always and what a really superb collection of 'smear glaze' pieces. And for our part we should not at all mind those which are riveted [we have several pieces of china similarly mended] for the very method adds an additional historical edge.
In our days of gardening, and garden design, we favoured a complete absence of colour apart from green and white so fully understand and appreciate your present 'obsession'.
ooooh, i'd like your obsessions to become my possessions! so much lovely here to devour. i would be happy to live inside any of these images. the elegance is so approachable, loi. i love this world you have created…thank you for inviting us into it.
smiles.
michele
p.s.
even tho it's smear, on planet michele we're calling
it schmear glazing. 🙂
Loi, what lovely pieces. I don't think I've ever seen anything like them!! And the yellow flowers are a sight for sore eyes (snowing here today)! But my favorite vignette is the gray on gray on gray! I would expect no less from you.
P.S. I would love to see every piece of your inventory.
xo Terri
These are stunning, Loi. I have never heard of smear glaze. Oh no!!! I feel another collection coming on.
XO, Victoria.
Dear Loi, Today's posting is inspiring many people, including me. If this collection is an obsession, thank goodness for obsessions! I agree with Steve that the stapled pitcher is a poignant testimony to how much it was valued and loved, and I would add that as time goes by, it will certainly be historic. I like the high relief of the last pitcher, the one with the butterflies. Thanks for sharing this amazing collection!
I didn't know about smear glazing! Your pitcher collection is gorgeous Loi and I'm happy to hear you've been swamped! I can relate .. and it's good, right? I think in my next life I will be an interior designer because this is way too much fun. I'm already on my second career so I'm not sure there are enough years left to start again;) Lol! At any rate, I like my blue and white porcelain but I also have lots of white pieces. (I use Apilco from W&S for my day dishes) I'd like to know the price range of your white transferware and glazed pieces. The gray, white, and silver is gorgeous together!!!
xxleslie
You are more than GENIUS! You are a Master at creating color from NO color! Gray on gray on gray and it's breathtaking…..
Then, you treat us to those yellow flowers! WOW!
Loi I love your obsessions, please don't ever change. China is very close to my heart and your collection is superb. I have two large christening mugs dated 1823, family heirlooms, similarly stapled, it just adds to character.
Gorgeous obsession- and a wonderful learning experience for me:) I adore this collection and LOVE the staples. I have pieces like that and can visualize someone who broke this gorgeous thing wondering what the heck to do! Staples of course:) You have the eye of a genius!! xoxo, K
A wonderful collection indeed, I am eagerly waiting for my travel to the East coast, Tone on Tone is on my list of must visit places 🙂
I would not call it obsession, dear Loi.
In your case I would call it PASSION. Passion for aesthetic, authenticity, passion for nature's beauty – reflected here in this English pitchers. You are a passionate collector and certainly having the passion for the "tone on tone" perfection!
Thank you for this uplifting post, uplifting for me on a gray dull day here in the Périgord.
Love particularly the last image. Like a contemporary still life. And the touch of color with the orange – that's for me PASSION with PERFECTION!
xxxKarin
I finally know what that is called…I inherited a pitcher from my grandmother and did not know what to call it! love that bee skep piece and the hot water pitcher with lid-the staples make it even more precious. I adore your obsessions + don't give them up!(mine change with time) xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
Dear Loi,
Your collection is wonderfull and I have never seen in my life such beautiful pitchers like yours. Especially the relief is very special. I like to say also that your pics are always beautiful and asking for more 🙂
Greetings from Belgium
XX
Jérôme
Thank you for teaching me something so fascinating Loi! I wonder who first called it smear glazing, it doesn't sound respectful.
I'm assuming you know this wonderful blog: http://andrewbaseman.com/blog/
oh, I've been call this drab ware. Thank you for the very informative post with, as always, the most dreamy photos!
Ohhhh nooooo, I'm almost sorry I've just read/seen this post! 😉 How BEAUTIFUL! Have never heard of smear glaze before, Loi. Think I'm going to have to start my own collection. Is it difficult to find?
Hi, Kerry – Not too hard to find. Try antiques shows and Ebay. Because I only collect a certain color and ones with garden motifs, my collection grew slowly. Thanks! Loi
You have some great obsessions, Loi- these are beautiful!
Since both hubby's and my birthdays are in May, that pitcher with the Lily of the Valley
would be my pick 🙂
Do you keep all your treasures, or do you ever sell any of them?
(like you do with some of your furniture…)
Thanks, Susan. I do sell from my collections from time to time. Otherwise, it gets too crowded 🙂
Hi Loi! I love this collection and the color palette. Gorgeous – and beautiful photography as usual. Thanks for introducing me to something new as well. I was not familiar with this style of pottery. Can you tell me again what your wall color is? Everything looks fabulous against it – of course you have such beautiful things to begin with.
xo,
Phyllis
Thanks, Phyllis! The walls in our dining room are painted Benjamin Moore Classic Gray…..75% of the original formula. Loi
You and your collections Loi…they always make me swoon! I have a thing for lily of the valley so that one caught my eye, but I love each of them, especially the repaired one. And is there something wrong with being obsessed with collections, colors, things…because if so I'm in serious trouble! 😉
xo Kat
Loi-
You can turn items we rarely think about into magnificent pieces! I love this idea. I have taken a ceramics class, but never learned about this technique. Thank you for sharing.
I adore the pitcher with the pale blue interior. Stunning.
Happy Thursday, friend.
Teresa
xoxo
Hi Loi, I always thought that these gorgeous pitchers were salt glazed–learn something from you with almost every post!!! Thank you. xoxox
Mary
Absolutely lovely! Everything is always so beautifully styled and photographed. You're so talented, Loi! I'm glad to see you're adding a watermark to your gorgeous photos : )
Hello Loi, What a great collection of these pitchers. I had never heard the term "smear glaze" before, but we used to have a couple of these–I think they were marked Wedgwood. I never knew they came is such a variety of patterns.
wow, they are all so pretty! i think they look so much better and have much more impact as a collection and look stunning in your cabinet. so obsess, i mean collect, away! 🙂
Well Loi, at least you can say that your obsessions are BEAUTIFUL!!!! I've never heard of smear ware, another lesson learned here at SCHOOL TONE ON TONE. Lovely pictures, I especially that pitcher with the Lily of the Valley. Take care
xo
Terri
Loi,
I've never heard of smear ware. It's always fun learning about a new collections. I love this collection you've amassed. The pitcher with the bee skep is my favorite.
Karen
Hello Loi,
Beautiful collection of smear ware, (I am familiar with smear ware, as my Father owned several peices). You are so clever in your use of flowers, they really 'sing' in your stunning living room. Thank you for sharing.
Best wishes, Ivan
Loi how can it be that you have all these beautiful collections/obssessions and yet your home is always enviably uncluttered? I can only assume that there are large store cupboards somewhere 🙂 I aspire to be as disciplined as you with your calm relaxing colour palette. I have good intentions but then I spot a bit more blue and white or Chinoiserie and….I'm scuppered! My latest obsessions are anything "tobacco" coloured or "amber like", it sits well with my burnt bamboo collection (you think you have worries LOL!)
I only show the uncluttered parts of the house 🙂 Oh, more collections to come….like my lustreware pieces. Watch out 🙂 Best wishes to you in Scotland ~ Loi
Loi, We too have had a lack of posts due to the holidays and just getting busy. Well we share an obsession; pitchers. Rob collects pitchers everywhere he goes. Love the Dudson pitcher. Where do you find most of your collection? -Tonya
Hi, Tonya – I buy 75% of them in England. Also at local antiques shows in the Washington, DC area. Thanks! Loi
Dear Loi all your porcelain are stunning! But I also adore that silk greige courtain in the hallway! Its' simply divine, so simple and elegant!!
Did I dell you thank you again for the magazine you send me, my friend? =)
A big big hug and I wish you a marvelous 2013
Silvia
Dear Loi, a lack of posts is not reflecting a lack of beautiful photos and interesting content! Always learning something new here….your collection of smear pottery is lovely, and I especially love the Nature and garden motifs you collect, Loi. I collect green majolica, which also depicts many scenes from Nature….thank you again for a very interesting post, N.xo
Beautiful. Your posts are lovely…and your collections are gorgeous.
I'm in heaven looking at these images… so dreamy!! I loved learning about the glazing process – so interesting!! What is it about these soothing Scandinavian tones?! I just can't get enough and now I'm obsessed with smear glaze pottery as well!! You're dangerous Loi haha!!
xoxo
Desiree
Those pitchers Loi are so pretty. Grey on Grey or white on white are just so chic for home interiors. I love your wall vignette, so classic.
Dear Loi – At least the bleached pine cones will not turn yellow!!! – it is a long drive to Pennsylvania to get the white pumpkins. However, I think to a certain extent we all have our little obsessions as to what we like and don't like and put ourselves out to get the right item. With having such a neutral pallet when you do add some colour, as you have done with the flowers, they really make an impact. The pitchers are very attractive with beautiful detail, and I think on balance my favourite is the Lily of the Valley jug.
Welcome home from Norway, Rosemary! Thank you! Loi
What a gorgeous collection of pitchers! Love 'em!
You have the most beautiful collection! The detail work on them is really incredible.
Oh Loi !! Join the club. You're talking to the girl whose family thought she was mad because she painted the lounge room 4 diffrent shades of white in a week !! And every day THEY said it was the same white !! Couldn't they see – one was too pinkish – one was too yellow – one was too brown and the right one had just a touch of grey. Perfection !! I'm off now to go and move a cushion or two and then stare at them for an hour. God bless.
Yes, you get me!!! Thank YOU!! I have every chip of white paint 🙂 🙂
Loi! I am not a lover of gray and yet every single time I see the way you use it I just rethink my color choices. I always feel like it is a relaxing stroll when I come to your lovely blog. I love your beautiful smear glaze pottery. The bee skep is just precious, love it so much!! Thank you once again for sharing bits and pieces of what makes your house a home,
xo Kathysue
Hi Loi Love the gray pitchers against the gray on the Swedish demi-lune console. Can you share what Gray paint is on the wall and what fabric on your curtins in the background, they look gray. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing your beautiful collection. my email is tcj316@aol.com Teresa
Teresa – I will email you the info, but also sharing it here for others:
– Walls are painted Benjamin Moore Classic Gray – 75% of the original formula.
– Curtains are silk from Holly Hunt's Great Plains line….sometimes silver, blue or green depending on light. The curtains are quite old.
Loi
Thank you Loi for the info.
Hi Loi
I was not familiar with this type of pottery. Your posts are always so informative and of course beautiful as well, not to mention your wonderful photography! You are amazing my friend!
Happy New Year, Loi!!!
I feel like if I did tone on tone it wouldn't turn out nearly as layered and nuanced as yours. I love every image and then when you see those bright yellow flowers, they are like a sunburst! I love your collection and all the variations within!
Hope you're catching your breath and looking forward to a wonderful new year!
xoxo Elizabeth
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful. nothing more to say 🙂
Di
xxxxx
Loi, you have such wonderful collections; it is such a joy to see what your fine eye decides to bring home or to the shop!Adore the Bee Skep Pitcher!
You brighten my days!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
Beautiful! I've never seen anything like these.
Where does that Corinthian capital come from? Love it, obviously.
Of course 🙂 I purchased it at the Paris flea markets. Don't think it is very old….probably 50 years or so.
Loi,
Oh so much to see and admire. I am in LOVE with your favorite pitcher! The bee skep caught my eye immediately! What a wonderful collection, I was not familiar with this type of smear glaze pottery, thank you for sharing your information. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and perhaps a little down time after your hectic week. I am looking forward to your chili recipe!
Have a great weekend, Elizabeth
I love how I seem to always learn something new when I visit you:-). I adore your collection of pottery and their garden motif is so refreshing and gorgeous. I couldn't help almost giggling when you pointed out your fondness of things lacking in colour(gray, beige white) and of course I'm at the other end of the continuum. But, I love that our obsession takes us in different directions. I also think your pottery collection is perfection in its bisque like finish:-). Happy weekend to you Loi. XX
P.S. Love the pop of colour from the tulips:-)
Obessions? HA! You should see me with my paint chips. I'm supposed to be GOOD AT THIS! For everyone, BUT me! Anyway, your obsessions are my bliss, so please don't stop! AmAzInG photos! (as always) Love the pops of color with the gray. I'm particularly fond of chartreuse. (mixed with anything!) I never know whether to answer you on my blog or your blog, but to answer your question, my kitty is Peaches. He needs a new cat box. One with a friggin lid. I'm gettin pretty tired of twice daily vacuuming up his yucky litter that he loves to kick all over the place. eeewww… but he's a warm puddle of furry love, for sure.
This collection left me absolutely speechless – and I thought you couldn't impress me more after that mercury glass ornament collection! I am a die hard lavender and white transferware collector (all botanical motifs for the kitchen and neoclassics for the dining room) and along the way have bought a few parian pitchers in lavender and white. But these are just divine!
Lindo esses vasos brancos. Meu sonho é ir um dia visitar os mercados de pulga do mundo, aqui não temos muitas coisas antigas, somos um país jovem. No Uruguai tem muita coisa linda e antiga, sempre que vou lá trago alumas novidades.
Maravilhosa sua coleção.
Tenha um ótimo fim de semana. Esse é o mau do século, falta de tempo.
Hi Loi,
Your collection is wonderful… my favourite piece is the damaged pitcher, those staples… so very charming!
Our snow is disappearing here in Ontario so I'm afraid I can't post the wintery photos you requested when you last popped over… we will keep trying!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Cynthia
I've always admired these, but didn't know what they were called. You have a beautiful collection, there's nothing wrong with that. Happy New Year.
Hi Loi! Fantastic collection! Love all of them. The Dudson. The lily of the valley. That lid. All beautiful. So glad you're obsessed, has led to great things! I'm obsessed with pitchers…etc, etc :)) I've been covered up too, so wonderful to enjoy your lovely post, thank you. Happy weekend! R
Your vignettes are always so beautiful, Loi. Like still life paintings. I love your taste, style, and obsessions. 🙂
Beautiful!
Every time I come to your home, I let out a sigh….how you both managed to create such a retreat of opulence yet simplicity, love and treasure, is a poem, Loi. Thank you so much for your visit and kind sentiments; it really means the world to us all when we can see one another's efforts. YOURS are breathtaking! Anita
Dear Loi,
As a fellow obsessive collector I completely understand. And isn't it thrilling when you come across something that will fit your collection just perfectly? You get it home and place with the rest and (I find) it just makes your day!
I have to say that I love this particular collection of yours. AGA likes to collect smear glaze with classical designs however I must say that the garden theme that you have chosen is charming – it is something I wouldn't mind collecting too so you may be gaining a rival!
Kirk
Your collection is stunning!!! I love the patterns on the pitchers!
I just found your blog and it is just fabulous, and your home is gorgeous!!
Hope you have a lovely weekend.
Sincerely,
Melinda
Loi I may have already left a comment, but just in case…I love looking at all your collections and this one is just wonderful..you just have such a way!
I love the botanical patterns on all these pitchers. Just beautiful! They definitely match my gardening obsessed "sensibilities". What a wonderful collection Loi. Thank goodness for your "obsessions".
Hey Loi, already you are sounding more relaxed in your first few paragraphs 🙂 I am so aware of how I can get obsessive so I steer completely away from starting anything like collections. Or jigsaws. Happy to just ogle at yours. HAHAHAHAHAHa!
Hi Loi – This collection is beautiful too. I didn't know that salt glaze pottery was the same as smear glaze pottery. Hadn't heard of smear glaze before, so I learned something new! It's always fun to learn something new when visiting your blog, in addition to seeing your beautiful home. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend!
-Deborah
Dear Loi…a Happy and Wonderful New Year to you too!
Thank you! I have missed visiting you as well, and I thank you for your well-wishes…I am taking it easy as this cold goes full force….
What a beautiful collection…I just adore these pitchers, and I thank you for everything I have learned from you today…
I am so inspired, as always, by your peaceful, elegant, stunning home….
That dose of happy yellow is just what we need mid-January too!
A happy and creative week to you, dear friend!
– Irina
I have to say, I love the staples used to repair the handle of that last piece. There's something perfectly beautiful about its imperfection. Happy Monday!
Lovely. I especially love the corinthian column piece in the demilune vignetter Loi. Pure heaven. Thanks for the education on smear glaze pottery! I had NO idea. God bless you for giving me a well rounded view of decor from your perspective.
xo Nancy
Powellbrowerhome.com
Dear Loi, You say 'obsession'…like it is a BAD thing! Love that you are currently obsessed with these beautiful pieces. The gray vignette is so lovely!!
The splash of sunny color is so striking against the tone on tone palette. Please keep obsessing! Monica
Hello Loi,
Another great collection.
Your home is certainly a treasure trove.
Hope all well with you and yours.
Have a lovely week,
Liz x
That pitcher with the lillies of the valley is gorgeous! So glad you stopped by today for Michele's post – thanks!
What a beautiful collection and of course we are drooling as most of the motifs are botanical! There is something so soothing and calm about your cream, gray and white color palette – heavenly!
Loi,
These pitchers are a delight! I really love your grouping with the wheat pattern. So simple and wholesome while also being different.
Liz
What stunning pictures….love that tonal neutral palette, does it to me everytime. The pitcher is stunning, great pattern.
I saw your lovely desk on Garden, Home and Party today…and now I am so glad I came over. Your style speaks to me! The last photo with the tangerine is amazing.
My mother had a pretty little pitcher (creamy) from Portugal when I was little…not sure what ever happened to it…but I think of it with a smile….
A perfect combination of elaborate and simple– perfect!
Cheers,
Keri
Lovely pictures as allways and your collection is beautiful. I can understand your love for the. Lovely peacefull palet.
Wishing you a lovely day.
xoxo Rozmeen
Hi Loi,
Learned something new from your post today. Now know what smear pottery is. Your images made me long for spring and, as always, an aesthetic as white and uncluttered as yours.
Wishing you a restful week-end-
b
What a gorgeous collection.
– The Tablescaper
Whites…..gray….just so soothing on the eye! Only you can rock a table scape that special "Tone on Tone" way 😉
what an amazing collection and a wonderful education this morning. was not aware of this pottery, not it's production. it's loveliness pours forth in your photography. thank you for this lesson loi!
xx
debra
Hello Loi,
I stumbled across your blog while doing some research on a piece for a material culture class. I have a piece that I have been told is either smear-glazed stoneware or made to look like smear-glazed stoneware. It definitely looks like a couple of your pieces. I was wondering if you have ever done the light test on your pieces. I can shine a light through mine, which makes me think that it is porcelain rather than stoneware, but I have also heard that light will occasionally go through really thin stoneware. Do you have any pieces like that? Or do you have any that are actually made of porcelain but made to look like smear-glazed stoneware? I'm really just trying to get an idea of how common my type of piece would be. Any other info you feel I should know is also appreciated.
If you'd like to take a look at my piece, there's a picture of another one at
http://ancientpoint.com/inf/35935-antique_1860__s_english_ashworth_co___white_stoneware_pitcher_w_gothic_pattern.html
Though the piece really is white, the color balance is just off in those photos.
Thanks!