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Glass Identification - Post here for all ID requests => Glass => Topic started by: Frank on June 20, 2006, 05:52:55 PM

Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Frank on June 20, 2006, 05:52:55 PM
Quote from: "Posted for Roger Smith"
I am an underwater archaeologist in Florida.  We have been recording a shipwreck that appears to date circa 1840 (from diagnostic ceramic sherds), and may have been carrying a cargo of bricks to build the coastal Forts Taylor and Jefferson in the Florida Keys.

I wonder if you can help us to identify the type and maker of a glass shard that we have sampled from the site?  

State Underwater Archaeologist
Bureau of Archaeological Research
Division of Historical Resources
Tallahassee, FL, U.S.A.


Images
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-2342
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-2341
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: pamela on June 20, 2006, 07:56:07 PM
Roger and Frank,
I have got no idea I am afraid, but I like it and I'd like the intact plate  :P
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Max on June 20, 2006, 08:15:43 PM
I had to cut this posting.  The motif of the ship reminded me of the old British ha'penny, with the ship being the Golden Hind.   Not at all sure this tallies with the already dated items.

However, even the circular impressed dots around the ship looked like coinage to me.  Sorry, probably a wild goose chase here.
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Paul ADK on June 20, 2006, 09:21:37 PM
I strongly suspect you will find the ship depicted on the shard is "Old Ironsides," the Frigate Constitution.  During the period 1830-33, following the publication of the Oliver Wendell Holmes poem, the Constitution was a very popular subject for glass manufacturers here in the states.  I know there were a quite a number of items produced with that motif, including cup plates, bowls and boxes.  Knowing the size and shape (curvature or side view) of the shard would be helpful.

Paul ADK
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Sid on June 21, 2006, 12:58:38 AM
Hello:

This appears to be a cup plate like this one:

http://www.cupplates.org/610ALightGreen.jpg

The shard appears to to be pictured from the base and the intact example from above.

Apparently there are variations so you might want to contact the folks at this web page  to see what they can tell you.

http://www.cupplates.org/

Sid
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Frank on June 23, 2006, 07:02:50 AM
Quote from: "Posted for Roger Smith"
Sid's response pointed me in the right direction, and Dave at the cupplates.org site immediately helped me to nail the sherd down to a series of cup plates with the ship Cadmus depicted, made at Sandwich Glass ca. 1840.
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Max on June 23, 2006, 07:05:09 AM
Thanks Sid, great reply and educational too.   :D
Title: Glass shards from shipwreck
Post by: Frank on June 25, 2006, 05:30:42 PM
Quote from: "Posted for Roger Smith who "
We think the vessel was a schooner carrying bricks to build Fort Taylor (Key West) or Fort Jefferson (Dry Tortugas), which are the largest masonry structures in the Western Hemisphere.  There are other brick wrecks in South Florida, as well.  These forts were part of the early U.S. coastal defense strategy, were never involved in any real defensive actions, and are now parks and tourist attractions.