Physical Description

Three conjoining fragments of the earthenware lid of a toothpaste pot. Label is a polychrome transfer print featuring Queen Victoria. Maker's mark indicates it was manufactured by John Gosnell & Co, London. Manufactured after circa 1840.

Physical Description

Three conjoining fragments of the earthenware lid of a toothpaste pot. Label is a polychrome transfer print featuring Queen Victoria. Maker's mark indicates it was manufactured by John Gosnell & Co, London. Manufactured after circa 1840.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Royal Exhibition Building Western Forecourt Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions, Historical Archaeology, Royal Exhibition Building

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants (GML), Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University, Australia Gallery, History & Technology Department, Museum Victoria, 18 Jan 2010

  • Manufacture Date

    c 1840-c 1898

  • Context Number

    J13//

  • Site

    Australia, Victoria, Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building Western Forecourt

  • Distinguishing Marks

    Maker's mark. Gosnell website states that a full stop after toothpaste (as on this lid) indicates it may have been manufactured pre-1875. 'Ltd' (which this pot does not have) was included in the company name after 1898. Polychrome transfer prints were available from circa 1840. Coloured cosmetic pot lids were at the height of their popularity in the 1860s. Few were produced after 1890.

  • Activity

    Hygiene

  • Specific Activity

    Teeth

  • Decoration

    Transfer-printed

  • Colour

    Polychrome

  • Classification

    Historical archaeology

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Archaeology - Historical

  • Type of item

    Object

  • References

    Majewski and O'Brien 1987: 143; Fletcher 1975: 8; Williams-Wood 1972: 39
    [Article - Journal] Majewski, T & O'Brien, M J. 1987. The Use and Misuse of Nineteenth-Century English and American Ceramics in Archaeological Analysis. Advances in Archaeological Method and Theory. 11: 97-209., 1987, 143 Pages
    [Book] Fletcher, Edward. 1975. Collecting Pot Lids., 1975, 8 Pages
    [Book] Williams-Wood, Cyril. 1972. Staffordshire Pot Lids and Their Potters., 1972, 39 Pages

  • Keywords

    Archaeology, Dental Hygiene, Royal Exhibition Building, World Heritage