H70.142.68

• california gold rush

Pitcher, ceramic with reddish brown glaze inside and out; spout and handle; concentric ridges on the bottom. From the History Information Station: Object: Pitcher, red earthenware, or redware. Sometimes called a "batter pitcher." Lots of inexpensive redware dishes were made in quantitites all over the U.S., so a settler might have brought this crock or bought it from California potters. History: Among other things, this pitcher was used to mix pancake batter and pour it into pans and tins. It was also handy for pouring milk, water, syrup or other liquids. Nowadays such liquids come in small containers which are easy to pour from, but pioneers produced most foods at home, or bought them in bulky containers, then decanted them into sturdy pitchers for everyday use.