History behind the finds
The glass and pottery fragments on Virginia’s Potomac River shoreline come from everyday plates, bowls, vessels and bottles, many of them 150–200+ years old. Water and sand soften their edges, but their colors, patterns and maker’s marks still tell a story.
| Where the finds come from | The Potomac River shoreline in Virginia |
|---|---|
| Tidal Potomac | From Little Falls, near Washington, D.C., more than 100 miles to the Chesapeake Bay |
| Width at the mouth | About 11 miles |
| Typical age of fragments | Many are 150–200+ years old |
| Transfer printing began | England, from the 1750s |
| Royal arms design change | 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne |
The river
For centuries the Potomac was a working river. Communities, farms, wharves and industries grew along its banks, and everyday household goods made their way into the water.
Below Little Falls, just upstream of Washington, D.C., the Potomac becomes a tidal estuary. It runs more than 100 miles to the Chesapeake Bay and widens to about 11 miles at its mouth (ICPRB (opens in a new tab); USGS (opens in a new tab)).
Tides and currents slowly move sand and stones along the shoreline, uncovering fragments that may have been buried for generations.
The region
The Tidewater is defined as the part of Virginia where the rivers rise and fall with the tides. Geographers describe it as the low coastal plain east of the Fall Line, crossed by the tidal stretches of the Potomac, Rappahannock, York and James rivers (VirginiaPlaces (opens in a new tab)).
Where exactly the Tidewater ends is debated, but Virginia law is specific. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act’s definition of “Tidewater Virginia” includes Prince William County, home of Dumfries and of Tidewater Trove (Va. Code § 62.1-44.15:68 (opens in a new tab)).
That heritage is where the business gets its name. In Rachel’s words:
Tidewater Trove's name connects Virginia's Tidewater heritage with the tidal shores of the Potomac River near Dumfries and Occoquan, where I gather the historic glass and pottery that inspire each creation.
Blue & white
Transferware is pottery decorated by transfer printing: a design engraved on a copper plate is printed onto tissue paper, then pressed onto the ceramic before glazing.
The process was developed in England from the 1750s, much of it in Staffordshire potteries meeting demand for affordable patterned tableware. Blue-and-white transferware reached its peak popularity in the first half of the 1800s, and America was a major market for it (Transferware Collectors Club (opens in a new tab)).
That is why blue-and-white fragments are among the most common, and most loved, finds along the river.
Maker’s marks
A backstamp, or maker’s mark, is the printed or impressed mark on the underside of a plate or dish. It usually names the pottery and sometimes the pattern.
Many English potters of the 1800s and early 1900s used a version of the British royal coat of arms in their marks: a shield held by a lion and a unicorn beneath a crown. Some American potters did the same (thepotteries.org (opens in a new tab); American potters’ use of the arms (opens in a new tab)).
The design of the arms changed in 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne. Details like the shield can hint at whether a piece is older or newer than that date.
River glass
River glass is broken glass, often from old bottles and jars, that has been tumbled by water and sand until its edges are smooth and its surface is frosted.
Its colors are clues to its past. Clear glass and soft greens and browns came from everyday bottles and jars. Along the Potomac, river glass turns up right alongside pottery, and Rachel uses both in her designs.
Because every fragment has been shaped differently by the river, no two Tidewater Trove pieces can ever be the same. See river glass and pottery pieces in the shop.
From the cabinet
A few fragments from the Potomac shoreline and what their markings suggest.
Find No. 01 · Printed maker's mark · pottery
This rearing unicorn most likely comes from a backstamp, the maker's mark printed under a plate or dish. Many 1800s English potters, and some American ones, used a version of the British royal coat of arms: a lion and a unicorn holding a shield beneath a crown.
Find No. 02 · Printed maker's mark · pottery
A small crown from the top of a printed maker's mark. The royal arms changed in 1837, when Queen Victoria came to the throne, so the details in a full mark can hint at whether a piece is older or newer than that.
Find No. 03 · Four backstamp fragments
Crowns, shields and a rearing unicorn from several different dishes. Finding part of a crest is a clue to where, and roughly when, a piece was made.
Find No. 04 · Blue-and-white transferware
A printed landscape scene, still crisp after years in the water.
Find No. 05 · Blue-and-white pottery
Bold cobalt blue is one of the most loved colors on the shoreline. Blue-and-white transferware was at its most popular in the first half of the 1800s, and America was a major market for it.
Find No. 06 · Printed pottery
A white shard printed with red, white and blue flags and a few letters that are still readable. Every fragment keeps a handful of clues: a pattern, a color, a scrap of lettering.
Find No. 07 · Pottery from one search
Blue transferware, floral prints, a red-banded rim and plain white pieces, laid out after a single search of the shoreline. Each one is cleaned and chosen for its color, pattern and markings before it becomes a piece.
Find No. 08 · Frosted glass + pottery
River glass is broken glass, often from old bottles and jars, tumbled by water and sand until its edges are smooth and its surface is frosted. Rachel uses it right alongside pottery.
Good to know
Many of the fragments Rachel finds date back 150 to 200+ years. A small shard is hard to date exactly, so patterns, glazes and any surviving maker’s mark are the best clues.
Transferware is pottery decorated by transfer printing: a design engraved on a copper plate is printed onto tissue paper, then pressed onto the ceramic before glazing. The process developed in England from the 1750s and made patterned tableware affordable for everyday households.
Many English and some American potteries of the 1800s and early 1900s printed a version of the British royal coat of arms in their maker’s marks: a lion and a unicorn holding a shield beneath a crown. Part of one on a shard is a clue to where, and roughly when, the piece was made.
Years of tumbling in water and sand wear down the glass surface and round its edges, giving river glass its soft, frosted look.
Yes, by Virginia law. The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act defines “Tidewater Virginia” to include Prince William County, where Dumfries is (Va. Code § 62.1-44.15:68 (opens in a new tab)).
It depends on who owns or manages the shoreline. Many parks and historic sites prohibit removing objects. Always check the rules for the specific beach, park or property before you collect anything.
Written by Tidewater Trove · updated
Every Tidewater Trove piece is built around a real fragment from the Potomac.
