This is the first comprehensive book on salt-glazed stoneware in Early America. Imported from Germany and England and domestically made, salt-glazed stoneware vessels were an integral part of daily life in America from the time of European settlement until the dawn of the last century. Because it is impervious to the harmful effects of highly saline or acidic solutions, salt-glazed stoneware was uniquely well suited for use in preparing and storing a wide range of liquids and foodstuffs. Particularly in the first half of the seventeenth century, before the development of the British green glass bottle industry, stoneware was the only appropriate material for foods preserved by pickling or brining. Even after glass bottles became prevalent, stoneware's durability made it the material of choice for both domestic and tavern use. "Salt-glazed Stoneware in Early America" chronicles the traditions of stoneware imported from England and Germany as well as the often overlooked work of American potters during the eighteenth century. Drawing on archaeological and documentary sources, and featuring objects drawn from Colonial Williamsburg's holdings as well as from dozens of public and private collections, the book provides an invaluable overview of the goods found in early America. More than 300 photos present the wide range of early American stoneware. The book's broad scope makes Salt-glazed Stoneware in Early America an essential reference for archaeologists, curators, and collectors, and its accessible style will appeal to specialists and nonspecialists alike. The authors long study of the subject has resulted in a handsome and highly informative compendium on all things stoneware relating to early America, just as the title promises. . . . All told, Salt-Glazed Stoneware in Early America belongs in the lap of anyone interested in ceramics and early American material history. Maine Antique Digest [Skerry and Hood] offer sweeping coverage of the fascinating early development of [salt-glazed stoneware] in America. Salt-glazed Stoneware in Early America . . . is a solid reference further enhanced with 300 richly colored illustrations. The Auction Exchange and Collectors News --The Auction Exchange and Collectors News Skerry and Hood have crafted an innovative and useful volume documenting the American colonies consumption of stoneware from the early 17th century until the early 19th century, when American production took over. Relying on period documents, surviving objects in US and foreign collections, and the evidence of archaeology, the authors trace two centuries of changing patterns of importation, style, form, and use. Recommended. Choice --Choice "A winner that is destined to be the standard reference for years to come. This book is well-researched, well-written, wonderfully illustrated, and incredibly useful." Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology --Journal of Middle Atlantic Archaeology “A must-have volume for all ceramic enthusiasts, Salt-glazed Stoneware in Early America is a long-overdue tribute to the often-neglected but indispensable role that stoneware played in the American context. Janine E. Skerry and Suzanne Findlen Hood’s comprehensive research celebrates the functional, durable, and often sublimely beautiful character of stoneware.” (Robert Hunter, editor, Ceramics in America) JANINE E. SKERRY has been curator of ceramics and glass at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation since 1993. SUZANNE FINDLEN HOOD is associate curator of ceramics and glass at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.