Tuesday Talk 02.2024: Form and Function - American-Made Red Earthenware at the DAR Museum

The clay needed to make common red earthenware, also called redware, was found in abundance throughout the colonies in early America. It gets its name from the iron oxide in the clay that gives the pottery its signature red color. Like stoneware, red earthenware was an important material in early American homes from the 1700s to the 1870s. The DAR Museum acquired its first piece of redware in 1924 and continues collecting today. Recently reevaluated and cataloged, the collection can now be shared and interpreted, shedding light on this important household staple. The red earthenware at the DAR Museum is comprised of mostly household and kitchen items including storage jars, bowls, dishes, mugs and other food processing vessels. Join Curator Carrie Blough as she describes the collection, how they came to the museum, what types of items are in the collection, and where they were made.

Speaker: Carrie Blough, Curator/Registrar at the DAR Museum