Of beauty and utility in Montreal: Changing patterns in the New France ceramic market

Summary

Material culture from the French colonial period forms a distinctive ensemble but it is far from homogeneous in time and space. This paper will explore differences between ‘early’ and ‘late’ French ceramics, as seen particularly on one site that has a clear stratigraphic separation about 1688. At Pointe-à-Callière in Old Montréal, the same site was occupied by two successive governor’s residences, those of Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve and Louis-Hector de Callières. While the ceramics from both periods include common green-glazed pottery from south-western France, the rest of the ceramics are quite distinct before and after 1688. At the time of Maisonneuve, we find polychrome mugs and bowls from Saintonge, and terrines from Dieppe. These products disappear entirely in the 18th century, in favour of French faïence and Saintonge green-glazed coarse earthenware. This paper will look at changes in supply networks and consumption patterns during the 17th and 18th centuries in New France, using ceramics as markers.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2014   •
• Ceramics from French sites: Current Directions

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): SYM-67,05