View all examples of COLUMBIA PLAIN GUNMETAL
| Type Name: | COLUMBIA PLAIN GUNMETAL |
| Type Index: | MAJOLICA |
| Production Origin: | SPAIN |
| Date Range: | 1490-1650 |
| Defining Attributes: |
Light cream to buff paste color, with a soft, chalky clay texture. Occasionally pink. Medium to dark grey or blue-grey tin enamel covering the vessel, produced by the addition of iron oxide or manganese to the tin glaze. Otherwise undecorated. |
| Vessel Forms: |
ESCUDILLA PLATO |
| Comments: | There has been some debate among archaeologists about whether the dark blue-grey of Gunmetal Columbia Plain was an intentional attribute, or one that occurs as a post-depositional consequence on sherds submerged or buried in substances high in iron or manganese. Some cross-mended archaeological examples show that this latter situation does, indeed occur (see Columbia Plain Type Index Specimen # 2885), however the presence of Spanish museum examples with this kind of coloration (see Lister and Lister 1987:109), suggests that the gunmetal enamel also comprises an intentional variety of Columbia Plain. |
| Published Definitions: | Deagan 1987; Lister and Lister 1982,1987 |