- Saintonge
Saintonge is a small region on the Atlantic coast of
France within the "département"Charente-Maritime , west and south ofCharente in the administrative region ofPoitou-Charentes .It derives its name from the ancient Gallic tribe of the "Santones" who lived in this area, around the current city ofSaintes .The Saintonge was the center of the French
Huguenot s. Today, the region is famous for its production of the grapes that are used to produce cognac andPineau des Charentes .It was the birthplace of the explorer
Jean Allefonsce andSamuel de Champlain who foundedQuebec .cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | date = 1963]Saintongeais (patouê saintonjhouê, jhabrail) Patois Charentais is spoken in the former provinces d'Aunis, and Saintonge AngoumoisPottery
This area is also famous for its widely exported medieval pottery, sherds of which are found in large quantities on medieval excavations throughout Ireland and other European countries. These sherds are from vessels made and exported as a by-product of the Bordeaux wine trade (Deroeux and Dufournier, 1991).They consist of an off-white
mica ceous fabric with moderate amounts ofquartz and sparse inclusions ofhaematite . They areglaze d on the external surface only, with a clear lead glaze, to which the addition of copper filings produces a mottled mid-green colouring. Many forms of saintonge pottery were produced, including Saintonge polychrome, all-over green, and in some cases unglazed wares.The most common forms of vessel produced in this ware were wine jugs. These were characteristically tall, with slightly ovoid bodies, flat bases, parrot-beak spouts and strap handles.
This ware has been found on Irish excavations from the later 12th century but it is most commonly uncovered in 13th century contexts.
ee also
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Saintonge Regiment References
Deroeux, D and Dufournier, D. 1991. ‘Réflexions sur la diffusion de la céramique treś decorée d’origine francaise en Europe du Nord-Ouest XIII-XIV siécles, Archéologie Médiévale 21, p163-77.
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