Art in the Archive

The use of our collections for archaeological and historical research is only to be expected. Archive volunteers Martin and Nineteen, however, have found inspiration beyond the archaeology to produce some unusual pieces of 'research'.

An example of Martinware

The image to the right shows one of Martin's interpretations of a particular kind of pottery in our collection.

The late nineteenth century saw a renaissance in stoneware production in London, through the arts and crafts movement. A highly distinctive stoneware, Martinware Pottery was produced by the four Martin Brothers throughout this period at their potteries in Fulham and Southall. 

Martinware is an example of Victorian art pottery - both illustrative and sculptural – most commonly featuring bird, flower and fish designs. It is the distinctive aesthetics of these vessels – rather than the commonality of name! - that inspired Martin to create these pieces.

Plaster horse

It was during the repacking of the site found at Alderman's House, 34-37 Liverpool Street, White Hart Court, EC2 (Site Code ADM81) that Nineteen found inspiration for her artwork and poetry.

This site comprised:

• A possible quarry pit succeeded by an E-W aligned burial of 3rd century date
• Two medieval and one post-medieval cess- or rubbish pits were recorded and,
• at the W end of the site, a 17th-c brick walled cellar had been set into the natural brickearth. Amongst the finds from the site was this plaster horse's head.

Nineteen's horse images

Reflections on a Horse’s Head
By Nineteen

Driving through the night.
Crouching inside the trench.
Buildings lit in a variety of neon,
Brighter than the stars,
Blocking out their potency.
Brushing the dirt away.
Driving at speeds down narrow
Streets.
Being re-discovered.
A sense of unease that comes
And goes in waves.
Lifted out of the dirt.
The rain.
Liverpool Street.
The faster you go the slower
Everything seems.
A horse’s head.
Shadows of blue
Blur and bleed outside the
Window.
Excavating the site.
Feeling like a foreign place.
An archaeologist’s note.
Aches and pains.
Revealing the house’s secrets.
Trying to produce
Something worthwhile.
Given a context.
A feeling of disappointment
Descends.
Packaged and labelled.
Wanting to dance.
Arriving at the archive.
Getting caught up in
Ghostly visions.
Unpacked and washed.
Unwelcome visitors.
Waiting to be accessioned.
A throbbing head.
Folded into tissue paper.
Music that accompanies you.
Labelled and packed.
Nothing to distract you
From the thoughts
And feelings.
A place on the
Shelf.
Trying to escape.
Waiting to be
Re-discovered.