The Dutch Werra Ware Problem Distinguishing German Werra Ware from Copies Produced in Enkhuizen
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Dutch Werra Ware Problem Distinguishing German Werra Ware from copies produced in Enkhuizen A.S. de Groot Master’s Thesis Archaeology of North-Western Europe Supervisor: dhr. prof. dr. J. Symonds 20-6-2018 Image title page: Fragment of a Werra Ware plate from Enkhuizen. Image database S. Ostkamp. Abstract Werra Ware was a popular product in the late-16th and early-17th century and is found in many parts of northern Europe, as well as countries surrounding the North Atlantic, and North America. The vessels mainly consist of plates and bowls and were elaborately decorated. Werra Ware was produced in the Werra region in Germany, but from 1602 to 1613 the ceramics were also copied in a workshop owned by the Dutch merchant Dierck Claesz Spiegel in Enkhuizen. The Enkhuizer potters were very good at imitating the German wares. Unfortunately, this means that it is difficult to distinguish between German and Enkhuizer Werra Ware. This study examines the possible ways to solve the so-called ‘Dutch Werra Ware Problem’ through visual inspection and physical analysis. The study concludes that it is possible to distinguish between Werra Ware from Enkhuizen and Germany by observing distinctive vessel shapes, decoration styles and figurative scenes. A review of previously published studies examining chemical and petrographic analyses, has shown that these methods also show real potential for distinguishing between German manufactured wares and Dutch copies. My conclusions include a step-by-step method that can be used by archaeologists when characterizing and sorting ceramics to better determine the production place of Werra Ware style finds. It is hoped that an improved ability to provenance Werra Wares may improve insights into trade and exchange and the circulation of ceramic products in late-16th and early-17th century Europe. Table of Contents Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 1. Theoretical Framework ......................................................................................................................... 3 1.1. Werra Ware ................................................................................................................................ 3 1.2. The ‘Dutch Werra Ware Problem’ .............................................................................................. 9 1.3. Trade and exchange .................................................................................................................. 15 2. Methodology ....................................................................................................................................... 21 3. Visual Inspection ................................................................................................................................. 23 3.1. Distinguishing potters ............................................................................................................... 23 3.2. Vessel shape .............................................................................................................................. 28 3.3. Decoration styles ...................................................................................................................... 32 3.4. Figurative scenes ....................................................................................................................... 37 4. Physical Analysis.................................................................................................................................. 43 4.1. Combined approaches .............................................................................................................. 43 4.2. Petrography .............................................................................................................................. 45 5. Discussion ............................................................................................................................................ 52 Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................ 58 List of figures .................................................................................................................................................... 59 Bibliography ..................................................................................................................................................... 63 Appendix I: Werra Ware findspots in the Netherlands Appendix II: Diagram – Step-by-step discrimination method Introduction This Master’s Thesis examines issues surrounding the identification of Werra Ware pottery. In the late- 16th and early-17th century, highly decorated slipware was produced in Germany in an area close to the river Werra. This so-called Werra Ware became very popular, mainly in coastal towns, and was exported to places around the North Atlantic. The pottery found its way to places in Scandinavia, the Low Countries, Britain and even North America. An almost identical type of pottery was produced for a short period in Enkhuizen in Holland between 1602 and 1613.1 Several authors have stated that it is difficult to distinguish these Dutch copies from the German exports and this has created problems of attribution for archaeological specialists. So far, no straightforward method has been established to distinguish the highly decorated pottery made in Enkhuizen from the Werra Ware that was produced in Germany. At first glance all the shapes, images and applied techniques seem to be the same. Indeed, the Enkhuizer potters were able to very closely imitate the German earthenware products.2 This has implications for current archaeological research as it is not always possible to determine whether a Werra Ware sherd was manufactured in Germany or Holland. In the light of this confusion, the main research question for this thesis is; How can German Werra Ware be distinguished from Dutch ceramic copies produced in Enkhuizen? To answer this research question, it is necessary to devise sub-questions. Firstly, the different ways in which German Werra Ware might be distinguished from Dutch copies from Enkhuizen must be explored. Although the two types seem to match one another at first glance, it might still be possible to distinguish them by close visual inspection of stylistic elements. Therefore, the following question should be asked: What is the utility of visually inspecting the possible use of different types of vessels, decorative styles, motifs and combinations? Another solution may lie in a petrographic analysis or chemical approach. How useful are these scientific analyses for solving the problem referred to here? Is it possible to find new ways to distinguish between German Werra ware sherds that have been found on sites around the North Atlantic and Dutch copies, perhaps involving a combination of visual and physical tests? The possibility that differences can be detected in German and Dutch products, leads to my final question: What are the implications of an improved ability to distinguish between German Werra Ware and Enkhuizen imitations for the study of trade and exchange and the circulation of ceramic products in early-17th century Europe? 1 Demuth 2015, 348. 2 Bruijn 1992, 49; Hurst, J.G./D. Gaimster 2005, 270. 1 The first chapter of this thesis will set out my theoretical framework. After a more detailed description of what Werra Ware is and what it actually looks like, some background information on the production of the German pottery will follow. After this, evidence from the early-17th century pottery production in Enkhuizen will be introduced, along with a discussion of the so-called ‘Dutch Werra Ware problem’. This section will be followed by an assessment of the current state of knowledge about the distribution of Werra Ware across the North Atlantic. Different find spots and possible trade routes will also be examined. Chapter 2 will set out my research methodology and will outline the types of study and steps necessary to answer the main research question. The subsequent chapters focus on answering the sub-questions. Chapter 3 deals with visual inspection and is divided into sections about the distinction between potters, vessel shapes, decorative styles and figurative scenes. Chapter 4 is about physical analyses. Composition and texture will first be discussed with reference to a study that investigated the use of scientific methods in the investigation of post-medieval slipwares. In section 4.2 the discussion will focus on the use of petrography, specifically for studying Werra Ware wasters. The results from the first four chapters will be brought together in the discussion in Chapter 5. All of the sub-questions will subsequently be answered and a practical method for distinguishing the provenance of ceramics will be presented. This method will be applied to test cases of Werra Ware sherds that have been found across Europe. This will support my conclusion that a structured visual inspection of sherds can determine differences between Werra Ware style ceramics produced in Germany, and Holland. 2 1. Theoretical Framework 1.1. Werra Ware Werra Ware was produced in Germany in the late-16th and early-17th century. The following section examines the known production methods, dating, appearance and function of these wares. Pottery production increased in villages in the lower Saxon