Keramikken fra Faurholm

Resumé

The pottery from Faurholm
By Niels-Knud Liebgott

The total amount of pottery collected during the investigation of the Faurholm kilns in 1974 makes up about 1 cubic metre. By far the largest part of this was found in the western kiln, KILN 1, and it consists of all or most of the last pottery firing in that kiln. The Faurholm potter did not make grey- or black-fired kitchenware, such as that which made up most of the pottery from Farum Lillevang (see article on the Farum Lillevang pottery). Even though globular and tripod pots occur in the Faurholm material, the production there – apart from some bowls which are unique in Danish medieval pottery – consisted mainly of large jugs, up to 32 cm in height, with handles and pinched-out spouts. Some jugs have a decoration painted with iron oxide -- either a chevron pattern or vertical stripes. The Danish Technical University undertook a number of analyses of the sherd material in 1974, with a view to determining the colours and composition of the glaze, and the firing temperature and technique. These analyses show for instance that the green glaze used did not contain copper, as expected, but only iron compounds and, of course, lead. The sought-after green colour of glaze was therefore achieved by first firing the pottery in an atmosphere with oxygen present, and then finishing the firing with a phase where the temperature would have to reach about 900 degrees Celsius, in order to form the glaze, and with reduced oxygen in the atmosphere. To carry out this complicated firing technique with a relatively primitive kiln construction must have made heavy demands on the potter’s craftsmanship and skills, but it is also the explanation for the frequent failures of the firings at Faurholm with the collapsing of the kiln as the result.