Made for use: the pottery of C.A. Haun

Abstract

The study of utilitarian ceramics is one which focuses on the craftsperson and their practice, but what of the pot itself? This thesis looks closely at the dirt formed into pots by East Tennessee potter Christopher Alexander Haun (1821-1861). Haun, who signed his pots “C.A. Haun,” was a rural part-time earthenware potter who formed local clay into exceptional ceramic vessels, which were then decorated with expressive copper- and iron-oxide rich slip. This thesis is particularly interested in understanding the effect of place on pottery making in Greene County, in addition to analyzing the formal and visual aspects of Haun’s ceramic wares. To achieve this, the unique geological, cultural, and social conditions of East Tennessee are explored through analyses of migratory patterns, foodways, environment, and the clay body itself. Looking at a variety of extant ceramics produced by Haun, as well as archaeological collections from his known kiln site, this thesis follows the process of making a pot. The first section defines the demand for ceramics in East Tennessee; the second chapter reconstructs how clay was gathered, processed, and thrown; and the third chapter deals with both bisque and gloss firing, taking a particular look at the glaze decoration produced by Haun. This thesis adds to the scant literature on Southern utilitarian pottery and contributes place-based perspectives to the study of American material culture.