[H]25.5cm __[L] __[W] __[Th] __[Diam]9.8cm (Base) 3.6cm (Top of lip)
A large, ceramic bottle that has been reconstructed from eight, coarse red earthenware sherds. There are several cracks and chips visible in the surface where the pieces fit together. The bottle is cylindrical in shape but has shoulders that flare out slightly wider than the base before tapering upwards toward the neck and lip. The lip of the bottle has a rounded rim and widens slightly toward the neck. About halfway to the shoulders, the lip slopes inwards. The bottle is finished with a "Yellow-Green" glaze that appears light brown, and there is extensive residue and discolouration throughout the outer surface, almost as though it was partially burned. There are two impressed maker's marks, one above and one below the ridge of the shoulders, that appear to read as "J. TARIT".
This bottle or jug was found in the 1865 fire layer of the 1844-1865 Market Wing building and has been completely reattached. The process of restoring ceramics is formulaic, yet restorers begin with a close examination of the sherds to determine the best suited course of action for the particular vessel. The sherds are carefully cleaned and dried before bonding, when the proper adhesive must be used. Earthenware bodies are porous, thus adhesives that are more easily drawn into them are avoided. Most often when reattaching, sherds are held within a sandbox or other malleable support that is stabilizing yet accommodates their shape. The total process time depends on the nature and number of the sherds, as each piece must be completely set before moving onto the next, and often a precise order for reattaching is required for the best result. The most vital part of restoration is that everything is reversible.
