Ironstone

Ironstone

Ironstone is characterized by a white, vitreous or semi-vitrified paste with a clear, glass-like glaze. The temperature at which it is fired is variable but is likely between that of stoneware and porcelain (between 1200-over 1300°C). Ceramics of this type generally have thicker bodies that are not translucent, distinguishable from porcelain, though they are often confused. Ironstone is generally utilitarian and can be found in a variety of areas, both rural and urban. Ironstone is sometimes known as “Stone China”, particularly referencing ceramics of this type produced after 1830, but not in all cases. Prior to the 1830s, ironstone was often heavily decorated with a blue-tinted glaze; this declined in popularity after the 1850s (Miller 1991:9-10). Between the 1850s and early 1900s, a “white granite paste” was more commonly seen; this consisted of a hard paste with some variation in “graininess”, sometimes appearing like stone and otherwise appearing like a grainy stoneware (Miller 1991:10). This often depends on the vitreosity of the paste and inclusions or chemicals added during the firing process.

In some collections, ironstone can be broken down into more categories, including hotel-ware or industrial-ware. These distinctions are difficult to differentiate from one another and share a multitude of similar qualities. Hotel-ware can then be broken down into three categories based on thickness: 7.9-9.5mm (armed forces and lunch counters), 3.9-6.4mm (hotels and restaurants), and under 6.4mm (home use wares). While this distinction is not necessarily relevant to this collection, it is potentially relevant to others.

Miller, George L.
1991 A Revised Set of CC Index Values for Classification and Economic Scaling of English Ceramics from 1787 to 1880. Historical Archaeology 25: 1-23.

https://apps.jefpat.maryland.gov/diagnostic/Porcelain/Index-Porcelain.html https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/typeceramics/type/ironstone-undecorated/

1700s-1900s; for the purposes of this collection, 1850s-1960s

Historic Ceramic

p45/ACC 133, p467/ACC 170, p5362/ACC 170, p4719/ACC 170, p5329/ACC 170, p5329/ACC 170, p1966/ACC 170, p5240/ACC 170, p485/ACC 170, p1839/ACC 170, p4719/ACC 170, p4720/ACC 170, p5362/ACC 170, p4720/ACC 170, p4719/ACC 170, p4720/ACC 170, p5296/ACC 170, p4834/ACC 170, p304/ACC 190, p304/ACC 190, p367/ACC 193, p45/ACC 212, p45/ACC 212, p251/ACC 220