Modern-era pottery excavated in the Old Town of Brzeg (Brieg)

Abstract

Archaeological excavations conducted in 2006–2007 in the Old Town of Brzeg (Brieg) (voivodship of Opole) at 10–12 Dzierżonia Street revealed numerous fragments of ceramic dishes. Most of the artefacts (preserved or reconstructed) come from finds of mixed medieval and modern-period materials excavated in sewage pits dated to the 15th–17th c. The numerous modern-period artefacts, even though they do not form a chronologically consistent collection, provide valuable data on the craft of pottery in Silesia in the 16th c. The technological and stylistic analysis of the finds indicated that pottery production thrived in Brzeg since the 16th c. The vessels were wheel-thrown using well-prepared clay bodies; they were thin-walled, usually of cream or brick-red colour. Most potsherds were coated with yellow, brown, green or orange glaze. The finds included pots, jugs, covers, bowls, plates and miniature dishes. There were examples of dishes decorated with glazing and overglaze techniques, of the types known also from other towns of the region, e.g. Wrocław (Breslau), Nysa (Neisse), Świdnica (Sweidnitz) and Głogów (Glogau). Previous research on decorated ceramics indicates that in the 16th c. Brzeg was an important centre that manufactured pottery of high artistic value. Among the most interesting finds are richly painted plates described as majolica, half-maiolica or mezzomaiolica, of the type also known from other Silesian towns, where they are dated to the period between the second half of the 16th c. and the 18th c. The modern-period pottery finds from Brzeg bring valuable data on the material culture of the inhabitants of this town.