Rob wrote:
How about tempering or grog for the clay lining of furnaces?
Jerry wrote:
Are the sherds glazed or unglazed?
I'm not sure that open hearth furnaces were lined and despite finding coal, coal ash, slags, and stone with vitrified surfaces, I have not come across anything that resembles clay lining material. I believe one has to think of the furnace as a similar type process to the lime kiln where one often finds vitrification on the inside of the stonework.
The sherds are both glazed and unglazed and of many differing fabrics. But tell me a little more about thimble crucibles and how they were used - this sounds interesting. We know that the crucibles in silver cupellation were made of bone ash and I have excavated the occasional small piece - very heavy - purplish in colour with considerable vitrification.
Kindest regards,
Trevor
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