Sea pottery (also known as sea china, sea porcelain or beach pottery) is

pottery Pottery is the process and the products of forming vessels and other objects with clay and other raw materials, which are fired at high temperatures to give them a hard and durable form. The place where such wares are made by a ''potter'' is al ...

that is broken into worn pieces and shards and found on

beach A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from Rock (geology), rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle beach, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological s ...

es along

ocean The ocean is the body of salt water that covers approximately 70.8% of Earth. The ocean is conventionally divided into large bodies of water, which are also referred to as ''oceans'' (the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Indian, Southern Ocean ...

s or large

lake A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from ...

s. Sea pottery has been tumbled and smoothed by the water and sand, creating small pieces of smooth, frosted pottery. It is often collected with more common

sea glass Sea glass are naturally weathered pieces of the glass, anthropogenic glass fragments of typically List of glassware#Drinkware, drinkwares, which often have the appearance of Tumble finishing, tumbled stones. Sea glass is physical weathering, phys ...

by beachcombers.

Origins

Sea pottery originates from pottery, including

earthenware Earthenware is glazed or unglazed Vitrification#Ceramics, nonvitreous pottery that has normally been fired below . Basic earthenware, often called terracotta, absorbs liquids such as water. However, earthenware can be made impervious to liquids ...

stoneware Stoneware is a broad class of pottery fired at a relatively high temperature, to be impervious to water. A modern definition is a Vitrification#Ceramics, vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic made primarily from stoneware clay or non-refractory fire ...

and

porcelain Porcelain (), also called china, is a ceramic material made by heating Industrial mineral, raw materials, generally including kaolinite, in a kiln to temperatures between . The greater strength and translucence of porcelain, relative to oth ...

which breaks into smaller pieces and is smoothed by the acidity and motion of an ocean or lake. The sand or grit polishes the edges like a natural tumbler. Some sea pottery contains discernible patterns, such as flowers, figures, historic places and scenes, or hallmarks, factory stamps and dates which allow the pottery to be dated using pottery reference guides. Sea pottery shards can give insights into historical trade routes, manufacturing techniques, and daily life in previous centuries. Pottery pieces can be traced back to specific manufacturers and periods, providing information for historians and archaeologists. As an example of the significance of sea pottery in global history, there is an abundance of sea pottery, or "Chaney," buried in the beaches of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. The term "Chaney" blends "china" and "money," referencing the broken pieces of European pottery brought over by colonial powers including, England, France, the Netherlands, and Denmark. These shards ended up in the earth through various means: discarded by sailors avoiding taxes, shattered in rituals rooted in European traditions, tossed away as plantation refuse, or trampled into the ground during nineteenth-century labor uprisings. Chaney is a layered symbol of colonialism, ownership, and historical disruption.

Collectors

Collecting sea pottery has become a popular hobby among beachcombers and collectors, with finds being valued not only for their aesthetic appeal but also for the historical context they provide. Sea pottery is often used in household decorations and furnishings as well as

jewellery Jewellery (or jewelry in American English) consists of decorative items worn for personal adornment such as brooches, ring (jewellery), rings, necklaces, earrings, pendants, bracelets, and cufflinks. Jewellery may be attached to the body or the ...

. Some enthusiasts fill jars with sea pottery to display. As

plastics Plastics are a wide range of synthetic or semisynthetic materials composed primarily of polymers. Their defining characteristic, plasticity, allows them to be molded, extruded, or pressed into a diverse range of solid forms. This adaptab ...

and

Tupperware Tupperware is an American company that manufactures and internationally distributes preparation, storage, and serving containers for the kitchen and home. It was founded in 1942 by Earl Tupper, who developed his first bell-shaped container and ...

became more utilized during the 20th century, glass and ceramics became less popular.

Environmental impact

Sea pottery highlights issues related to marine debris and ocean pollution. Many pieces of sea pottery originated from discarded or shipwrecked items, demonstrating the long history of human impact on marine environments. Collectors and environmentalists often work together to clean up beaches, finding sea pottery while also removing harmful debris. Efforts to conserve and protect coastal environments play a crucial role in preserving sea pottery. Beach clean-ups and educational programs help raise awareness about marine pollution and the importance of protecting oceans. Conservationists emphasize responsible collecting practices to ensure that natural habitats are not disturbed.

Notable locations

Certain locations around the world are renowned for their abundance of sea pottery. Beaches in the United Kingdom, such as Seaham Beach in

County Durham County Durham, officially simply Durham, is a ceremonial county in North East England.UK General Acts 1997 c. 23Lieutenancies Act 1997 Schedule 1(3). From legislation.gov.uk, retrieved 6 April 2022. The county borders Northumberland and Tyne an ...

, and sites in the United States, like Glass Beach in California, are famous for their rich deposits of sea pottery and glass. These sites attract tourists and collectors alike, eager to find unique pieces.

References

* Richard LaMotte, "Pure Sea Glass," (Chestertown, MD: Sea Glass Publishing, 2004). * C.S. Lambert, ''Sea Glass Chronicles: Whispers from the Past,'' (Down East Book, Camden, ME: 2001) * *

External links

Catawba Valley Pottery - History and Illustrations

Contemporary Catawba Valley Pottery

NEA Profile of Burlon Craig
{{Pottery Collecting Ceramic materials Pottery Ocean pollution