This is another challenge from the blog Single for a Reason, where the What’s in your Refrigerator query began. Check this link to see what other readers had no idea about.
We use this expression to defend going through a stop sign – ” I had no idea there was a stop sign there “. Or,” I had no idea you hated halvah “. ” I had no idea the latitude of Buffalo and Rome were the same.” And so on.
What had I no idea about? Don’t get me started, I can’t type that much without aggravating carpal tunnel.
THE GOOD KIND OF CHANEY
I had no idea that these old pottery shards, found in unexpected places here on St. Croix, would come with the history they do and be turned into treasured pendants and jewelry by local gold workers. You can see a section of a windmill in one of the pieces.
Some of these pieces could likely date back to the 1700’s when St. Croix came under Danish rule and later, in the early 1800’s under British rule. The name Chaney is a loose take on the derivation of the word change- used by young boys to trade with one another. They clattered loosely in pockets and made noise like ” change “. The pottery and china was brought here by early settlers and used in the homes of plantation overseers. Hurricanes would likely be what broke and scattered pieces everywhere.
One piece in particular on the right side of the photo shows an intact two out of three mast ship. It turned up in my backyard one day after a big rainfall. It looked like a white piece of plastic, I picked it up, turned it over and was totally surprised. I had no idea this could rise from the wet soil after hundreds of years, like that crazy scene in Poltergeist when the coffins belch upwards from the saturated earth.
The origins of much of the pottery here represents at least three out of the seven flags of ownership that makes St. Croixs’ history. Danish, English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Knights of Malta, and since 1917, the US.
Now I had no idea how busy you can keep with a glue gun.
Tags: I had no idea, pottery shards, US Virgin Islands history
Asheville: The North West of The South East 
July 30, 2008 at 12:42 pm |
Interesting post…..I had no idea!
July 30, 2008 at 1:09 pm |
“Like the Windmills of Your Mind” Those chunks of ceramic are too nice to be used on the bottom of a potted plant….
July 30, 2008 at 1:11 pm |
Seriously, rose up out of your backyard?? And Buffalo is the same latitude as Rome?!
This is a perfect example of why blogging so much damn fun.
I am still staring at a blank canvas. Maybe I’ll use the ship shard?
It’s either that or a dead finch.
July 30, 2008 at 1:42 pm |
Pat- YOU’RE the reason that blogging is so damn much fun.
Surely MY blank canvas isn’t giving me a whoopie cushion either!
July 30, 2008 at 8:04 pm |
When I made pottery in Deruta Italy long, long ago there was an area behind the factory where you could go and smash your pottery when they did not work as expected. There were thousands upon thousands of shards of pottery with much history attached. It was better and cheaper than a therapists’ couch too. Great blog.
July 30, 2008 at 10:15 pm |
I have a couple of friends who bought a house that came with a half finished concrete structure off to one side. They made their own “Chaney” from cracked plates that were discarded by a local importer. They smashed them even further into domino size chips and then applied them as a mosaic on the wall of the half finished structure to make an intimate and very appealing play area for their daughter. “I had no idea” a pile of smashed pottery could be put to such creative use!
July 30, 2008 at 11:51 pm |
And you had no idea I would drop by with a shovel did you?
July 31, 2008 at 12:18 am |
wrjones and a shovel- oh where you could take this story!
you’d have to bring the boots too, to keep the muck off.
July 31, 2008 at 12:47 pm |
I had no idea I could become so fond of strangers over the internet. Love the blog!
July 31, 2008 at 1:10 pm |
JoAnn- the fondness is totally reciprocal. I get so much from your blog and your gorgeous paintings of Florida.
Thanks so much for dropping a note.
That expression – strangers on the internet could frighten some, but it’s true. We’ve found ways to connect as artists and spirits that would be otherwise, unlikely if not impossible.
PS- It’s how I met my husband… so I can attest to it’s veracity and effectiveness!
July 31, 2008 at 7:48 pm |
I can tell from this post that this is a great blog. What fascinating facts about these beautiful pottery shards. One can imagine the history.
Until my friend, who coincidentally, spent a winter living in Saint Croix, started blogging her poetry and writing, I had no idea, how satisfying it would be or how damn much fun. Now I’d better get out and do some gardening before I grow a root 😉
I’m going to be saying to myself, as I go about my evening, “I had no idea that (fill in the blank) and smiling 😀
Great blog.
July 31, 2008 at 11:28 pm |
Mary- thanks for the visit and the kind words. I used to do other things ( like paint ) and now I have a blog.
It’s great fun to connect with the likes of some of the above un-commontaters.
Your paintings are lovely, by the way.
August 1, 2008 at 1:01 am |
Very cool. Very interesting.
Paz
August 1, 2008 at 1:31 pm |
Amazing and beautiful little treasures. Will you incorporate or create from scratch? 😉
Reminds me of digging up apothecary bottles as a child in New England. Now those bottles sell for good money in antique shops. Of course, then, I had no idea…
August 1, 2008 at 1:51 pm |
Paz- I walk with my head down, going side to side like a radar scope whenever I’m near a site where a new house is going up and the ground is being unearthed for the foundation.
Goodies pop up.
Sharon-I’ve made picture frames and a mosaic floor for out outdoor shower from the shards and sea glass.
Oh, if only we kept what we threw out- if we only had the room to keep it!
August 2, 2008 at 10:44 am |
Thanks for introducing me to w1kkp. I emailed her something I found a while back.
August 2, 2008 at 12:07 pm |
David- glad you found her as interesting and ever evolving as I do. She’s a pip- I love her blog, all the time.
August 20, 2008 at 1:02 am |
Thanks Bonnie, great post here and the photos are perfect!
Happy Birthday to you. “You look Mahvelous and you know who you are…!”
You rockin’ chick of 60 =:O
Oh, btw 60’s the new 40, didja hear?