Archaeology Query -- Officer on Ceramic?

[AndyHall]

This inquiry came across the Historical Archaeology Mailing List:

Hi All,
Here is a photo

<https://www.dropbox.com/s/0naqt1vurnllciv/2016-01-13 15.20.42.jpg?dl=0>
of a small mug fragment we uncovered during this past summer's excavations at a circa 1800 house, at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH. The house's longest stretch of occupation was by an Irish immigrant family who moved in as tenants in the mid-1800s, and later purchased the house in the 1870s, remaining there until the matriarch died in 1909.

This sherd was uncovered from fill right below the front entry stairs that included everything from 20th c. screws to 18th c. ceramics, but obviously dates itself to sometime after the Civil War. My lab volunteers have been combing Google images for look-a-like soldiers -- so far there are two bets on Ulysses S. Grant based on the stars on the shoulder marks. Any ideas on who and when this represents? Was there a 19th c. set of commemorative Union soldier mugs out there?
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Expired Image Removed

 

[Nathanb1]

This inquiry came across the Historical Archaeology Mailing List:

Hi All,
Here is a photo

<https://www.dropbox.com/s/0naqt1vurnllciv/2016-01-13 15.20.42.jpg?dl=0>
of a small mug fragment we uncovered during this past summer's excavations at a circa 1800 house, at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth, NH. The house's longest stretch of occupation was by an Irish immigrant family who moved in as tenants in the mid-1800s, and later purchased the house in
the 1870s, remaining there until the matriarch died in 1909. This sherd was uncovered from fill right below the front entry stairs that included everything from 20th c. screws to 18th c. ceramics, but obviously dates itself to sometime after the Civil War. My lab volunteers have been combing Google images for look-a-like soldiers -- so far there are two bets on Ulysses S. Grant based on the stars on the shoulder marks. Any ideas on who and when this represents? Was there a 19th c. set of commemorative Union soldier mugs out there?
​

Expired Image Removed

It's the Franklin Mint George Thomas chamber pot!

Seriously, if not Grant or Thomas, what about one of the Irish Brigade officers? Or some Irish officer in the ACW?

 

[lelliott19]

I think the hairline is all wrong for Thomas. If not Grant, maybe McPherson, Fitz John Porter, or Quincy Gilmore?

 

[John Winn]

Doesn't ring any bells for me. It does look like the image probably copies a photograph; i.e. doesn't look just generic. I definitely don't think it's Grant - not even close. Too bad they didn't find any more of it. It might have had some other stuff on it that could help narrow things down. Do let us know if somebody figures it out.

 

[AndyHall]

Someone on the mailing list found an intact example:

I found a very similar pattern on the Transferware Collectors club
database, ID#7595. Their description is as follows: "Plate, 5.12 inches.
The pattern is part of a series that depicts soldiers and events from
the American Civil War (1861-1865). It is illustrated in Shipkowitz
2002, p. 148 (Figure A29) on a 5 inch black printed plate. Page 148
includes many Civil War related patterns. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885)
was the 18th President of the United States and the military commander
of the Union Army during the Civil War and of the U.S. Army during the
post-war Reconstruction period. To learn more about Civil War patterns,
search for American Civil War or Civil Ware in the General Search of the
database," with a reference to Shipkowitz, Davida and Irving. The ABC's
of ABC Ware. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2002.

This link may give you the example:
http://www.transcollectorsclub.org/tware/img/ptn/7595_L_Grant.jpg

​

 

[bdtex]

Someone on the mailing list found an intact example:

I found a very similar pattern on the Transferware Collectors club
database, ID#7595. Their description is as follows: "Plate, 5.12 inches.
The pattern is part of a series that depicts soldiers and events from
the American Civil War (1861-1865). It is illustrated in Shipkowitz
2002, p. 148 (Figure A29) on a 5 inch black printed plate. Page 148
includes many Civil War related patterns. Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885)
was the 18th President of the United States and the military commander
of the Union Army during the Civil War and of the U.S. Army during the
post-war Reconstruction period. To learn more about Civil War patterns,
search for American Civil War or Civil Ware in the General Search of the
database," with a reference to Shipkowitz, Davida and Irving. The ABC's
of ABC Ware. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2002.

This link may give you the example:
http://www.transcollectorsclub.org/tware/img/ptn/7595_L_Grant.jpg

​

Sure doesn't look like wartime U.S. Grant to me.

 

[AndyHall]

Sure doesn't look like wartime U.S. Grant to me.

It doesn't, at all.

The embossed alphabet around the rim suggests this is a child's dish. "Eat all your porridge to see the general!" Sounds goofy, but it beats seal hunting:

 

[Frederick14Va]

I have previous seen a small cup with the similar black transfer image of Lincoln on it.. it was described as part of a childrens dish set...

 

[John Hartwell]

A very poor representation of Grant. It's probably generic -- they could put the name of most any full-bearded Union general on it and it would serve as well.