Mochaware and Creamware

by Abby Knights

During the 2025 archaeological dig at the Colonel Paul Wentworth house many sherds of creamware and mochaware were recovered. According to Saint Mary’s University, creamware was developed in 1762 by Josiah Wedgwood in England. The name creamware comes from the creaminess of the lead glaze. It can also appear as more yellow or green in certain pieces. Creamware is also known as ‘Queen’s ware’ due to its usage by Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III. After being gifted a tea set by Wedgwood, she had a dinner set of 925 pieces commissioned. 

mended creamware vessels from the Wentworth House

hand painted creamware from the Wentworth House

There were over 500 pieces of creamware found at the Wentworth House. From these pieces we have been able to mend together pieces of multiple vessels. These are pictured above. Another piece found that is pictured above includes a dark blue linear design that appears to have been hand painted on. This design doesn’t match with any other piece of creamware or other form of refined ceramic earthenware found. The largest intact piece of creamware found is believed to be part of a bowl. The piece includes a large portion of the base, as well as the wall of the bowl.

The popularity of creamware began to wane in the 1800s due to the popularity of pearlware. Another form of refined ceramic earthenware that was found during the excavation is known as mochaware. This is a form of decoration that is used on different forms of refined earthenware like creamware, pearlware, or whiteware. 

mochaware with dendritic decoration from the Wentworth House

Mochaware originally only referred to the fern or tree-like design as shown in the pictures above. This design, known as dendritic, originated at the port city of al Mukha in Yemen. This city is widely known for its exportation of coffee (which is where the name ‘mocha’ comes from) and moss agate. The dendritic design was created as a reference to the mosslike patterns in the moss agate. 

various mochaware from the Wentworth House

Since then, the term ‘mochaware’ has been expanded to include other forms of dipped wares. Another form of mochaware shown includes the variegated surfaces. This technique uses multiple different colors to create a marbled surface. The main colors found in the variegated earthenware at the excavation were blues, oranges, grays, and whites. Another form of dipped ware found at the site is known as annular. This is seen in the black stripes in the mochaware. This feature can be used in conjunction with mocha or variegated designs on a piece or it can be separate. In the pictures above there are examples of annular designs with and without the mocha or variegated. One piece, shown by itself, was mended back together in the lab to form annular designs on both sides of the vessel. 

Due to its ability to be easily applied to many forms of the refined earthenware, mochaware was regularly used as a design from the 1790s until 1939. This end date indicated the beginning of World War 2. Factories were instructed to stop adding designs to wares to focus production on necessity and war efforts.