North Devon Pottery and Its Export to America in the 17th Century Trivia Quiz Questions and Answers

What type of pottery was a major export from North Devon to America during the 17th century?

  • Stoneware
  • Sgraffito ware
  • Porcelain
  • Delftware

Correct Answer: Sgraffito ware

Correct Answer Explanation: Sgraffito ware, known for its incised designs, was a popular export from North Devon to the American colonies during the 17th century. It was used for decorative purposes in colonial homes.

Which of these is a distinctive characteristic of North Devon pottery?

  • The use of lead glaze
  • The inclusion of iron oxide in the clay
  • The presence of gravel in the clay mixture
  • The application of colorful enamels

Correct Answer: The presence of gravel in the clay mixture

Correct Answer Explanation: North Devon potters used gravel as a temper in their pottery. This made the pottery stronger and more durable, making it suitable for cooking and food storage.

What was the primary reason for the decline of the North Devon pottery industry in the 18th century?

  • A decrease in demand for pottery
  • The discovery of new clay deposits
  • Competition from other pottery centers
  • A shift in taste towards more elaborate styles

Correct Answer: Competition from other pottery centers

Correct Answer Explanation: The North Devon pottery industry faced increasing competition from other pottery centers, particularly Staffordshire and Bristol, which emerged as major producers of pottery during the 18th century.

What was a typical cargo load of pottery on a ship sailing from North Devon to America in the 17th century?

  • 10-20 dozen earthenware
  • 50-100 dozen earthenware
  • 100-200 dozen earthenware
  • 500-1000 dozen earthenware

Correct Answer: 50-100 dozen earthenware

Correct Answer Explanation: Ships sailing from North Devon to America in the 17th century typically carried large quantities of earthenware, ranging from 50 to 100 dozen pieces.

What was the name of the single pottery that has survived from the 17th century North Devon pottery industry?

  • Brannam’s Litchdon Street Pottery
  • The Barnstaple Pottery
  • The Bideford Pottery
  • The Fremington Pottery

Correct Answer: Brannam’s Litchdon Street Pottery

Correct Answer Explanation: Brannam’s Litchdon Street Pottery in Barnstaple is the sole surviving pottery from the 17th century North Devon pottery industry.

What type of North Devon pottery was commonly used for cooking and food storage?

  • Sgraffito ware
  • Gravel-tempered ware
  • Delftware
  • Majolica

Correct Answer: Gravel-tempered ware

Correct Answer Explanation: Gravel-tempered ware, known for its durability and strength, was a practical choice for everyday kitchen use in colonial America.

How did North Devon potters decorate their sgraffito ware?

  • By applying colorful glazes
  • By painting intricate patterns
  • By incising designs through a white slip coating
  • By using molds to create raised designs

Correct Answer: By incising designs through a white slip coating

Correct Answer Explanation: Sgraffito ware was decorated by incising designs through a white slip coating, revealing the underlying red clay.

What was the significance of North Devon pottery in colonial America?

  • It was a symbol of wealth and status.
  • It provided colonists with essential kitchenware.
  • It reflected the influence of English culture on American life.
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: North Devon pottery played a significant role in colonial America. It was a symbol of wealth and status, provided colonists with essential kitchenware, and reflected the influence of English culture on American life.

What role did shipmasters and merchants play in the North Devon pottery trade with America?

  • They manufactured the pottery.
  • They transported the pottery across the Atlantic.
  • They purchased the pottery from the colonists.
  • They designed the pottery.

Correct Answer: They transported the pottery across the Atlantic.

Correct Answer Explanation: Shipmasters and merchants were crucial to the North Devon pottery trade. They transported the pottery across the Atlantic to the American colonies.

Where did the clay used to make North Devon pottery come from?

  • The Fremington clay beds
  • The Barnstaple clay beds
  • The Bideford clay beds
  • The Plymouth clay beds

Correct Answer: The Fremington clay beds

Correct Answer Explanation: North Devon potters used clay from the Fremington clay beds, known for its unique qualities and suitability for pottery making.

What evidence suggests that North Devon pottery was widely used in colonial settlements?

  • The presence of numerous pottery shards in colonial archaeological sites
  • The frequent mentions of North Devon pottery in colonial documents
  • The survival of a few intact pieces of North Devon pottery in colonial homes
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: Archaeological evidence, historical documents, and surviving examples of North Devon pottery all point to its widespread use in colonial settlements.

How did the style of sgraffito ware found in colonial sites differ from other English pottery of the period?

  • It was more delicate and refined.
  • It was more elaborate and ornate.
  • It featured unique designs and motifs.
  • It was more functional and less decorative.

Correct Answer: It featured unique designs and motifs.

Correct Answer Explanation: The sgraffito ware found in colonial sites had a distinctive style, featuring unique designs and motifs that suggest potential influences from Continental traditions.

What was a common use for North Devon gravel-tempered ovens in colonial homes?

  • For heating the home
  • For baking bread and other foods
  • For cooking over an open fire
  • For storing food

Correct Answer: For baking bread and other foods

Correct Answer Explanation: Gravel-tempered ovens, a unique feature of North Devon pottery, were used in colonial homes for baking bread and other foods.

What was the role of a factor in the North Devon pottery trade with America?

  • To supervise the production of pottery
  • To transport the pottery to America
  • To manage the sale of pottery in America
  • To design new styles of pottery

Correct Answer: To manage the sale of pottery in America

Correct Answer Explanation: A factor was an agent representing a merchant or company in a distant location, typically responsible for arranging trade and managing goods. In the North Devon pottery trade, factors managed the sale of pottery in America.

What were the primary materials used to create North Devon gravel-tempered ovens?

  • Clay and gravel
  • Brick and stone
  • Wood and metal
  • Clay and lead glaze

Correct Answer: Clay and gravel

Correct Answer Explanation: North Devon gravel-tempered ovens were made from a mixture of clay and gravel, which made them durable and heat-resistant.

What was the impact of the Stuart Restoration on the North Devon pottery trade with America?

  • It led to a decline in the trade.
  • It had no significant impact on the trade.
  • It led to a surge in the trade.
  • It caused a shift in the types of pottery being traded.

Correct Answer: It led to a surge in the trade.

Correct Answer Explanation: The Stuart Restoration in 1660 led to increased shipping activity and a greater demand for goods in the colonies, resulting in a surge in exports of North Devon pottery.

What was the relationship between North Devon pottery and the rise of Puritanism in England?

  • North Devon potters were primarily Puritan.
  • Puritanism led to a decline in the demand for North Devon pottery.
  • Puritanism had no significant impact on the North Devon pottery industry.
  • Puritanism led to an increase in the demand for North Devon pottery.

Correct Answer: Puritanism had no significant impact on the North Devon pottery industry.

Correct Answer Explanation: Puritanism, a religious movement emphasizing simplicity and plainness, had no significant impact on the North Devon pottery industry.

What was the role of Huguenot artisans in the North Devon pottery trade?

  • They were the primary manufacturers of North Devon pottery.
  • They were responsible for designing the sgraffito ware.
  • They were involved in the trade and distribution of North Devon pottery.
  • They had no significant role in the North Devon pottery trade.

Correct Answer: They were involved in the trade and distribution of North Devon pottery.

Correct Answer Explanation: Huguenot artisans, French Protestants who emigrated to England, were involved in the trade and distribution of North Devon pottery.

How did the use of gravel as a temper in pottery make it suitable for kitchenware?

  • It made the pottery more decorative.
  • It made the pottery more durable and less likely to break.
  • It made the pottery easier to clean.
  • It made the pottery lighter in weight.

Correct Answer: It made the pottery more durable and less likely to break.

Correct Answer Explanation: Gravel-tempered pottery was more durable and less likely to break, making it ideal for everyday kitchen use.

What is the significance of the “Delaware harvest jug” in the history of North Devon pottery?

  • It is a rare example of a North Devon sgraffito piece that has survived above ground in America.
  • It is the oldest known example of North Devon pottery found in America.
  • It is the only known example of North Devon pottery decorated with American motifs.
  • It is the largest known piece of North Devon pottery ever discovered.

Correct Answer: It is a rare example of a North Devon sgraffito piece that has survived above ground in America.

Correct Answer Explanation: The Delaware harvest jug, a dated 1698 sgraffito piece, is a rare surviving example of North Devon pottery found in America. It highlights the use of this pottery in colonial communities and its potential role as a cherished heirloom.

What is the significance of the John Washington House site in Westmoreland County, Virginia, in the study of North Devon pottery?

  • It is the site where the oldest known example of North Devon pottery was discovered.
  • It yielded the largest deposits of North Devon pottery found outside of Jamestown.
  • It is the site of a former North Devon pottery factory.
  • It is the site of a 17th-century ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.

Correct Answer: It yielded the largest deposits of North Devon pottery found outside of Jamestown.

Correct Answer Explanation: The John Washington House site, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, produced the largest deposits of North Devon pottery found outside of Jamestown, emphasizing the wide geographical distribution of this pottery in the American colonies.

What was the most common method used to shape North Devon pottery?

  • The use of molds
  • The use of a potter’s wheel
  • The use of hand-building techniques
  • The use of a combination of these methods

Correct Answer: The use of a combination of these methods

Correct Answer Explanation: North Devon potters used a combination of traditional techniques, including the potter’s wheel, molds, and hand-building methods, to shape their pottery.

What were the typical motifs found on North Devon sgraffito ware?

  • Floral designs
  • Geometric patterns
  • Animals and birds
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: North Devon sgraffito ware featured a variety of motifs, including floral designs, geometric patterns, and animals and birds.

What is the significance of the May-Hartwell site at Jamestown in the study of North Devon pottery?

  • It yielded a substantial amount of North Devon sgraffito and gravel-tempered wares, providing valuable insights into the pottery types used in colonial households and their dating.
  • It is the site of the oldest known example of North Devon pottery found in America.
  • It is the site of a former North Devon pottery factory.
  • It is the site of a 17th-century ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.

Correct Answer: It yielded a substantial amount of North Devon sgraffito and gravel-tempered wares, providing valuable insights into the pottery types used in colonial households and their dating.

Correct Answer Explanation: The May-Hartwell site at Jamestown yielded a substantial amount of North Devon sgraffito and gravel-tempered wares, providing valuable insights into the pottery types used in colonial households and their dating.

What was the typical size of a ship that transported North Devon pottery to America in the 17th century?

  • 10-20 tons
  • 50-100 tons
  • 100-200 tons
  • 500-1000 tons

Correct Answer: 50-100 tons

Correct Answer Explanation: Ships that transported North Devon pottery to America in the 17th century were typically in the 50-100 ton range.

What was the name of the mineral used as a glaze in North Devon pottery?

  • Galena
  • Iron oxide
  • Lead oxide
  • Tin oxide

Correct Answer: Galena

Correct Answer Explanation: Galena, a lead sulfide mineral, was commonly used as a glaze in North Devon pottery.

What was the typical function of sgraffito ware in colonial homes?

  • For cooking and food storage
  • For decorative purposes
  • For serving food and drinks
  • For storing household items

Correct Answer: For decorative purposes

Correct Answer Explanation: Sgraffito ware was primarily used for decorative purposes in colonial homes. Its intricate designs and variety of motifs suggest its use on court cupboards and dressers.

What was the primary reason for the decline in the demand for North Devon pottery in America by the mid-18th century?

  • The increasing availability of cheaper pottery from other centers
  • The decline in the quality of North Devon pottery
  • The rise of new tastes and preferences for more elaborate pottery styles
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: The decline in the demand for North Devon pottery in America by the mid-18th century was due to a combination of factors, including the increasing availability of cheaper pottery from other centers, the decline in the quality of North Devon pottery, and the rise of new tastes and preferences for more elaborate pottery styles.

What is the significance of the John Howland House site in Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the study of North Devon pottery?

  • It yielded a fragment of a North Devon gravel-tempered oven, suggesting the use of these ovens in New England settlements.
  • It yielded the oldest known example of North Devon pottery found in America.
  • It is the site of a former North Devon pottery factory.
  • It is the site of a 17th-century ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.

Correct Answer: It yielded a fragment of a North Devon gravel-tempered oven, suggesting the use of these ovens in New England settlements.

Correct Answer Explanation: The John Howland House site in Plymouth, Massachusetts, yielded a fragment of a North Devon gravel-tempered oven, suggesting the use of these ovens in New England settlements.

What is the significance of the Bowne House in Flushing, Long Island, in the study of North Devon pottery?

  • It still contains a North Devon oven built into the fireplace, showcasing its integration into colonial homes.
  • It yielded the oldest known example of North Devon pottery found in America.
  • It is the site of a former North Devon pottery factory.
  • It is the site of a 17th-century ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.

Correct Answer: It still contains a North Devon oven built into the fireplace, showcasing its integration into colonial homes.

Correct Answer Explanation: The Bowne House, a historic house museum in Flushing, Long Island, still contains a North Devon oven built into the fireplace, showcasing its integration into colonial homes.

What is the significance of the “1703/4 and 1703 harvest jugs” in the Glaisher Collection?

  • These jugs, similar in style and design to the Delaware jug, highlight the evolution of North Devon sgraffito ware into more elaborate presentation pieces.
  • These jugs are the oldest known examples of North Devon pottery found in America.
  • These jugs are the only known examples of North Devon pottery decorated with American motifs.
  • These jugs are the largest known pieces of North Devon pottery ever discovered.

Correct Answer: These jugs, similar in style and design to the Delaware jug, highlight the evolution of North Devon sgraffito ware into more elaborate presentation pieces.

Correct Answer Explanation: The 1703/4 and 1703 harvest jugs in the Glaisher Collection, similar in style and design to the Delaware jug, highlight the evolution of North Devon sgraffito ware into more elaborate presentation pieces.

What is the significance of the Truelove, a ship that transported 40 dozen earthenware to New England in 1635?

  • This specific ship and its cargo exemplify the early beginnings of the North Devon pottery trade with America.
  • This ship is the oldest known example of a ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.
  • This ship is the largest known ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.
  • This ship is the only known ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.

Correct Answer: This specific ship and its cargo exemplify the early beginnings of the North Devon pottery trade with America.

Correct Answer Explanation: The example of the Truelove, a ship that transported 40 dozen earthenware to New England in 1635, exemplifies the early beginnings of the North Devon pottery trade with America.

What is the significance of the Eagle, a 50-ton ship carrying 9,000 parcels of earthenware to Boston in 1688?

  • This shipment illustrates the significant volume of pottery transported from North Devon to America, highlighting the scale of the trade.
  • This ship is the oldest known example of a ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.
  • This ship is the largest known ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.
  • This ship is the only known ship that transported North Devon pottery to America.

Correct Answer: This shipment illustrates the significant volume of pottery transported from North Devon to America, highlighting the scale of the trade.

Correct Answer Explanation: The example of the Eagle, a 50-ton ship carrying 9,000 parcels of earthenware to Boston in 1688, illustrates the significant volume of pottery transported from North Devon to America, highlighting the scale of the trade.

Why was the 17th century a significant period for the North Devon pottery industry?

  • The industry experienced a period of rapid growth and expansion.
  • The industry was at its peak of production.
  • The industry was transitioning to new technologies and techniques.
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: The 17th century was a significant period for the North Devon pottery industry. The industry experienced a period of rapid growth and expansion, was at its peak of production, and was transitioning to new technologies and techniques.

What was the role of archaeological evidence in understanding the North Devon pottery trade with America?

  • It provided insights into the types of pottery used in colonial homes.
  • It helped reconstruct historical trade patterns.
  • It provided dates for artifacts.
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: Archaeological evidence played a vital role in understanding the North Devon pottery trade with America. It provided insights into the types of pottery used in colonial homes, helped reconstruct historical trade patterns, and provided dates for artifacts.

What is the significance of the North Devon pottery trade in understanding the cultural exchange between England and its colonies?

  • It highlights the influence of English culture on American life.
  • It demonstrates the importance of trade in shaping colonial lifestyles.
  • It provides a glimpse into the diverse tastes and needs of colonial society.
  • All of the above

Correct Answer: All of the above

Correct Answer Explanation: The North Devon pottery trade provides valuable insights into the cultural exchange between England and its colonies. It highlights the influence of English culture on American life, demonstrates the importance of trade in shaping colonial lifestyles, and provides a glimpse into the diverse tastes and needs of colonial society.

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Jessmyn Solana

Jessmyn Solana is the Digital Marketing Manager of Interact, a place for creating beautiful and engaging quizzes that generate email leads. She is a marketing enthusiast and storyteller. Outside of Interact Jessmyn loves exploring new places, eating all the local foods, and spending time with her favorite people (especially her dog).

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