Short Summary of Artifacts (Left to Right):
For this section each of the artifacts were chosen by students in the class to write longer biographies on for the season's site report. Here they have each given some basic facts about each artifact, but encourage you to read the full report in the field report to get an in depth knowledge about the specific history of the artifact type, and the significance of it in the broader context of the John Brown House.
Window hardware and glass:
The pulley is from context JBH 73, and the glass sherds are from (JBH 65,68, and 73). The vast quantity of building construction hardware found, and the Hale Ives House image from a 1923 photograph, architectural trends of the 19th c., and comparisons to modern-day objects, it was concluded that these were part of a window. Further research about Georgian and Federalist architecture, as well as general window hardware, led me to the conclusion that these artifacts were once part of a sash window. A sash is the framework that holds the window's panes inside the window. A string is attached to the window on each side, which runs over a pulley within the wall and ends in a counterweight. This weighted pulley system enables the window to easily move and to stay in the open or closed position desired.
Sash windows came into wider use in the late 1700s because they were more practical and aesthetically pleasing to the then-current architectural standards than casement windows (which swing outward/inward by a hinge on the side). Sash windows are one of the defining characteristics of Georgian and Federalist architecture. They remained popular until the turn of the 20th century, approximately, at which point the popularity of casement windows saw a resurgence. Today, sash windows are one of the most popular types of windows.
Both historical and architectural trends, and the photograph of the Hale Ives House, support the claim that this pulley and the glass fragments were once part of a sash window. -Laura Leddy 12/09/2010
Pipe Fragment with Maker's Mark:
This was a significant find in context JBH 68 as pipes are a common and helpful tool for archaeologists when dating a site. This piece is part of the bottom of the bowl, the spur/heel, and a small portion of the stem. Printed on the spur is a small mark, which is incomplete, most likely due to damage after its disposal. Pipes were made of a cheap clay, and broke easily into small pieces, consequently meaning that at many sites there are hundreds of sherds of pipe that had been tossed. This was the first piece of this kind to be found with a maker's mark at the JBH. The mark however, turned out to be impossible to locate, as it was made in 1720-1750, when pipe making was becoming an increasingly popular industry and there were hundreds of recorded and unrecorded makers in England, the Netherlands and America. This artifacts date is concluded from analysis of images of different pipes and the existing innovations (the 1700's was when they first added a heel to pipe construction) and most importantly the bore width. The width of this pipe is 5/64 which is characteristic of that time period. I chose to write about this object as I had seen clay pipes in many historical works of art and was curious about their origins. I will continue my search for the maker's mark even when this class is over.- Allison Iarocci 12/07/2010
Perfume Bottle:
This bottle was found in Unit 10 context 68 and is from circa 1903-1915. It is a perfume bottle manufactured by C. H. Selick, Inc. It is embosseed with 'Selick Perfumer New York. Embossing was popular in the late 19th/early 20th century, before the switch over to painted paper labels in the late 1930s to early 40s. This bottle was made with an early full automatic bottle machine. These were invented in 1903 by Michael Owens. They leave two types of diagnostic scars, either a continuous seam that extends from the base all the way up to the rim or a circular "Owen's suction scar" on the base. Successful cosmetics and pharmaceutical companies made the change to automatic bottles beginning in the 1910's. The bottle also has the stopper in tact, which is cork attached to a metal cap with an exterior screw top,, which were common in the late 19th and early 20th century.
Brick Fragment with 'York':
This was found in context 68 and the date of this item is unknown. The function appears to be part of the decorative brick lining outside of a structure. It is very hard to do research when the date is unclear. I am not a member of unit 10, but I chose to investigate the history of this artifact because it seemed distinctive, as it is the the first brick like this that I had ever seen. The unit was interested to find out not only about its use, but its history of manufacture. What is special about this brick is that it is cut with the outside edge sticking out, its yellow color, and that it has been marked with the word YORK.
Iron Piece of Door Hardware:
This was found in context 68 and is most likely part of door hardware. It appears to date from around the 18th or 19th century, therefore probably around the same time the Robert Hale Ives House. It clearly screws into a surface, and when it does so, the nick will be oriented upward, allowing a locking pin or another piece of hardware to slot in. Either meant to hang something (a door sign?) or as part of a lock mechanism.I decided to do it simply because it was such a mystery for such a large find, but it seems to remain largely unknown. It is definitely residential hardware, but could be any number of things, including window hardware, a hook of some kind.
