Beyond Blue Willow: New Analyses of Transfer Printed Wares

Ceramics have long been the primary object of affection for archaeologists. Their durability, abundance, and decorative nature make them an ever present feature in any archaeological study. However, the same commonality that makes them so valuable to archaeologists also creates a tendency dismiss ceramic analysis as a new source of information. By taking a deep dive into the analysis of transferware ceramics, we aim to bring to light new insights on the types of questions and discoveries that in-depth analyses of historic ceramics can provide. We are focusing specifically on transfer printed wares, because their commonality makes them a regular feature of archaeological sites dating from 18th century onward, they are easily identifiable, and there is an abundance of information available about these wares through historic documents and ceramic collectors that makes in-depth archaeological analyses valuable to historic archaeologists working across the globe