Abstract
Ceramic assemblages have long been scrutinized by archaeologists. Yet, remarkably little attention has been given to food-related objects not found in the archaeological record. This study assesses the role of pewter—one such “missing artifact”—as an alternative and companion to ceramics, and thus provides a documentary framework of consumer choice amidst social and marketing pressures. Probate inventories of Albemarle County, Virginia, from 1770 to 1799 reveal a nearly standard presence of pewter in households of varying economic levels even after the introduction of the “fashionable” creamware, and the slow addition of ceramics to—not substitution for—pewter in more wealthy households. Comparing pewter and creamware purchases at contemporary retail stores estimates the time between an object’s purchase and its recording in the probate process, and demonstrates real regional variability and rural conservatism. Finally, a consumer’s view of pewter is attempted through an understanding of its economic and symbolic value and its uses within a household.
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Martin, A.S. The role of pewter as missing artifact: Consumer attitudes toward tablewares in late 18th century Virginia. Hist Arch 23, 1–27 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03374105
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03374105