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Writer's pictureCatherine Losier

Artefact of the Week Series: Drumroll Please! We have some Grès Normand

Updated: Jul 16

Ceramics and stoneware are common finds on Turpin's Island, reflecting the island's various periods of occupation. As the site's occupations evolved, so did the types of ceramics! One of this week's exciting finds, Grès Normand or Normandy Stoneware, is a type of French stoneware from lower Normandy, France. This type of stoneware can date back to the 14th century! The few pieces found on Turpin's Island so far are linked to the French occupation of the site from around 1640 to 1713, when the Treaty of Utrecht was signed, ending a 12-year war between the English and the French. However, a smaller French population may have continued on the Southwestern shore of Newfoundland until around 1755. At the moment, we do not know if it was the case for Turpin’s Island.



Grès Normand is notable for its dark colour and dense, vitrified fabric with quartz inclusions. These qualities make the stoneware more dense and durable than earthenware, allowing the ceramics to serve various functions. The nonporous texture and colour variation result from high firing temperatures of 1100 degrees Celsius, combined with changes in the kiln's atmosphere. As a result, the core and surface colour can vary significantly on the same vessel; one side can look completely different from the other! These factors transform the malleable clay into some of the toughest stoneware available, making it water- and acid-resistant. The versatile nature of Grès Normand made it an ideal material for storage and transportation vessels, including jugs, pitchers, ointment containers, gourds, plates, and bowls. However, its most common use was in preservation jars for items such as honey, meats, milk, butter, wine, and alcohol!




Author:

Keelan Wells


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