Glazed brick fragment (Archaeological Find)
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Title:
Glazed brick fragment
Subject:
Most colonial-era bricks were manufactured at the sites where they were used, although some were transported from England as ballast (Hume 1962, 82). Massachusetts regulations on brick production from 1670 and 1711 suggest that the industry was established early on (Carroll 1976).
Bricks were typically produced in ovens called clamps, where uneven heat caused different brick qualities (Harris 1723, How To 2019). Richard Neve wrote in 1736 that “The first and best sort for lasting are those which lie next the Fire, and have as it were, a Gloss on them, which proceeds from the Salt-petre inherent in them, which by the Violence of the Fire, runs and glazes them; these are called Clinkers” (Hume 1969, 81; Neve 1736, 74). These might have served a decorative purpose (Pyska 2017). Although some scholars insist clinkers were discarded (Akthar 2013), Neve’s account and other contemporary descriptions that state clinkers were “used in architecture” (Harris 1723) suggest that these bricks were utilized.
This specimen displays clinkers’ characteristic glossy exterior and dark body (Balme 2009, 378). Since clinkers were “eliminated” as production improved in the late 19th century (Akthar 2013, 3) and this artifact was discovered alongside a 17th century roof tile in Level 1, which suggests mixing occurred, it is likely that the brick dates to an earlier period. It may have adorned Harvard’s Indian College or the chimney of the 17th century Old College building (Davis 1890, 16), for which a foundation trench was discovered nearby. Alternatively, it might date to a later structure, like the old Harvard Hall building, which burnt down in 1764 (Saved 2001).
Description:
Supporting Sources:
This video from Colonial Williamsburg provides a brief description of brick production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUtEcVxaXXQ
This is a very similar artifact that was excavated in New York. Like the HYAP brick, it displays glazing on three sides: http://archaeology.cityofnewyork.us/collection/search/south-ferry-terminal-104404-brick-fragment/keyword/vitrified%20brick
You might also be interested in:
Omeka #901: Brick Fragment
This brick fragment is uneven and displays dark patches along the edge. This suggests that it might also be a partially vitrified clinker.
Omeka #859: Plinth Squint
Like clinkers, plinth squints were a special kind of decorative brick. Plinth squints were uncovered from the excavations of Harvard’s Indian College.
Omeka #1474: Large Fragment of a Curved Roof Tile
Roof tiles, like clinker bricks, may have served a decorative and ostentatious purpose. These roof tiles can be clearly linked to Harvard’s Old College, which might also be the source of the clinker brick.
Source:
Akhtar, Alafia. 2013. “One Man’s Trash Is Another Man’s Treasure: The Transition of Clinker Brick from Disposable to Decorative.” Columbia University. doi:10.7916/D8HX1C1C.
Balme, Jane, and Alistair Paterson. 2009. Archaeology in Practice: A Student Guide to Archaeological Analyses. John Wiley & Sons.
Carroll, Orville W. 1976. “Early Brick Laws in Massachusetts.” Bulletin of the Association for Preservation Technology 8 (2): 20–23. doi:10.2307/1493512.
Davis, Andrew McFarland. 1890. The Early College Buildings at Cambridge. Worcester [Mass.]: C. Hamilton. http://tinyurl.galegroup.com.ezp-prod1.hul.harvard.edu/tinyurl/9rmU81.
“How to Make Bricks for a 17th-Century Tower - YouTube.” 2019. Accessed April 25. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUtEcVxaXXQ.
Hume, Ivor Noël. 1969. A Guide to Artifacts of Colonial America. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.
Harris, John. Lexicon Technicum: Or, an Universal English Dictionary of Arts and Sciences: Explaining Not Only the Terms of Art, but the Arts Themselves. Vol.II. By John Harris, D.D. Late Secretary to the Royal Society, and Chaplain to the Lord High-Chancellor of Great Britain. 1723. The second edition. Vol. Volume 2. 2 vols. London. http://find.galegroup.com/ecco/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=ECCO&userGroupName=camb55135&tabID=T001&docId=CW3313012729&type=multipage&contentSet=ECCOArticles&version=1.0&docLevel=FASCIMILE.
Neve, Richard. 1736. The City and Country Purchaser’s and Builder’s Dictionary. The third edition, Corrected and improved throughout. London. http://find.galegroup.com/ecco/infomark.do?&source=gale&prodId=ECCO&userGroupName=camb55135&tabID=T001&docId=CW3308483188&type=multipage&contentSet=ECCOArticles&version=1.0&docLevel=FASCIMILE.
Pyszka, Kimberly. 2017. “Anglican Church Architecture and Religious Identity in Early Colonial South Carolina.” Material Culture; University Center.
“Saved from the Flames.” 2001. Harvard Magazine. May 1. https://harvardmagazine.com/2001/05/saved-from-the-flames.html.
Schmidheiny, Martin John. 2014. “Seeing Red: Characterizing Historic Bricks at Sylvester Manor, Shelter Island, New York 1652-1735.” M.A., United States -- Massachusetts: University of Massachusetts Boston. http://search.proquest.com/docview/1650693349/abstract/90CE7DD69A234405PQ/1.
Object Name:
Glazed brick fragment
Inventory Description:
Glazed brick fragment
Peabody Number:
2018.24.223
Intrasite:
H962 Level 1
Depth:
50.0-59.0cm
Class 1:
Architectural
Class 2:
Brick
Quantity:
2
Height (cm):
5.5cm
Width (cm):
4.5
Depth/Thickness (cm):
3.1
Notes:
Exterior of brick is glazed brown-green.