Artifact of the Week: Semi-Porcelain Bowl

Archaeologists recovered this fancy semi-porcelain bowl from an excavation of Block 112, which housed a working class population during the late Victorian period (c.1880-1915). Block 112 was located between J and I (now Island) streets and 6th and 7th streets in modern San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter. In 1888, the block included two Chinese laundries and a drying yard, a wagon storage garage, horse corral, cigar factory, general merchandise store, two restaurants, a shed for agricultural supplies and hardware, and new store fronts under construction.

Archaeology gives a voice to those whom the historical narrative seldom represents – in this case, the inner-city working class. These artifacts provide information that helps inform and correct the historical narrative of the lives of San Diego’s working class.

Date: Post-Contact Period (300 ya – present)
Material Class: Ceramic

Want to learn more? Visit the exhibit Block 112: The Untold Story of San Diego’s Working Class in the 1800s currently on view at the Center.