Accession Number

1986.008.0843

Creation Date

circa 1620

Description

A creamy-white, unglazed, earthenware vessel from Atocha. This rounded, two-handled jug is of a type known in Spanish as a cántara or cantimplora, and it was almost certainly used to hold liquid refreshment, whether water or wine. This type of ceramic is called bizcocho (biscuit) ware, consisting of a fine, unglazed, earthenware paste that has little evidence of temper.

Exhibition Label

Case Caption (2023):

Dining At Sea

Aboard Spanish ships, sailors ate with the six or eight men who were their messmates. Instead of having a single cook for the whole ship, as was common aboard other European vessels, one man would cook for each mess.

Common sailors and soldiers could expect six ounces of salt pork on the nineteen “meat days” each month, six ounces of dried cod on the nine “fish days,” and the same amount of cheese on the other days. They also got small measures of rice, chickpeas, and olive oil, as well as two pints of wine a day. If the ship were becalmed, they could sometimes vary their diet by catching fish. Usually, they were too busy and the ship was moving too quickly. The sturdy, tin-glazed dishes and bowls in this case are the type of inexpensive tableware that they would have used.

Passengers would often supplement the ship’s meager fare with supplies of their own. Animals, ranging from pigs to turtles, were carried on board to provide fresh meat, but any fruit or vegetables would go bad quickly, particularly in tropical waters.
Object Caption (2023):

Jug
Bizcochoware (c.1620)
Gift of Jamestown Inc.
1986.008.0843
Previous Object Caption: Removed 2022 TWO-HANDED PITCHER Recovered from the Nuestra Senora de Atocha Earthenware, c. 1620 Gift of Jamestown Treasure Salvors, Inc. 86.08.0843 This unique pitcher is made of unglazed, fine earthenware referred to as bizcocho or "biscuit" ware.