Imitation and Ostentation: Paint Analysis of Garden Urns from Custis Square

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Returning to Colonial Williamsburg (General Sessions)" , at the 2021 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

The Department of Archaeology in collaboration with the Materials Analysis Laboratory at Colonial Williamsburg conducted paint analysis on fragments of early 18th century painted redware flower urns recovered from the home and garden of John Custis IV in Williamsburg, Virginia. Cross-section, scanning electron, and polarized microscopy were used to determine the sequence of painting and the composition of pigments. The analysis revealed several pigments that may have been chosen to imitate different materials such as stone, lead, or copper. Other pigments appear to have been chosen for their overt ability to signal the wealth of the owner. These urns would have helped to create a scene within the Custis garden where reality was suspended through the use of imitated materials and the creation of exotic backdrops. These materials place Custis’ garden within the framework of new and developing 18th century English and European landscape movements.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Returning to Colonial Williamsburg (General Sessions)   •
• Society for Historical Archaeology 2021

Keywords

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology