Small Ceramic Objects

     Hundreds of fragments of decorative ceramic items and several whole pieces were recovered. The shapes include guitars (A and B), vases (C, D and E), miniature shoes (F), animals (G) and a violin or cello (H). These unusual forms are probably the gift items in the cargo list.

     Small, rounded jars with fitted lids (I and J) also were on the wreck. The jars range from 1.7 to 2.7 inches in diameter and from 1 to 1.5 inches tall. These jars may have been the small bowls or pots on the list of cargo. Most of these pieces are gray in color, although some were once hand painted. The faded paint shows that many floral and geometric designs were used.

     All these items were called Guadalajara ware, and they probably were made in the village of Tonala. For scale, the ceramic guitar in the far left corner stands about 5.1 inches tall.

Click on the image to the left for a closer look.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J