Someone handed me a copy of an article from the magazine COUNTRY LIVING,
January 1994, entitled "Unearthing Mochaware: At Colonial Williamsburg, in
Williamsburg, Va., a groundbreaking exhibition traces the history of graphic
utilitarian wares that once served as America's everyday dishes". The article
details a collection made by Jonathan Rickard that is on display at Colonial
Williamsburg called "Mocha Mania".
  Mochaware dates from about 1780-1840. The article states "Now recognized for
its rarity, historic significance, and graphic energy...". Not to burst
anyone's bubble over this type of pottery, I would like to point out what the
article carefully didn't say. Mochaware gets its odd design from a combination
of tobacco juice and human urine. The potters would spit the tobacco juice
into a chamber pot and urinate into it for the glaze that was used. We fondly
refer to it as "pissware" on a few of our historic archaeological digs such as
the Presidio of San Diego, where we found a chamberpot in mochaware (fitting).
   I just thought that I would provide this moment of levity.
 
Anita Cohen-Williams; Reference Services; Hayden Library
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ  85287-1006
PHONE: (602) 965-4579              FAX: (602) 965-9169
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