British Capital, Mercury Miners, and Transfer Print Ceramics in 19th Century Peru

Summary

During the late 18th century, Spanish colonies in South America increasingly liberalized their trade policies, leading to an increased access to British goods such as transfer print ceramics. In Peru, the importation of transfer print ceramics grew rapidly after independence in 1824, along with the entry of British capital into the mining sector of the Peruvian economy. This paper examines the role of transfer print ceramics at Santa Barbara, an indigenous mercury mining community located outside Huancavelica in the Central Peruvian highlands. While most archaeological studies of transfer print ceramics in 19th century South America have examined creole/urban contexts, this paper will provide a comparative case study by investigating a rural and indigenous mining community, highlighting the local incorporation of a global material culture.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Beyond Blue Willow: New Analyses of Transfer Printed Wares   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2018

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 798