Soft red brick

From Lynch (2009): “From initial observation, the red color seems to indicate that the clay came from the Mississippi River. The brick was recovered from a brick stable on the property that was built in 1854. The brick does not have a brickmaker’s stamp, although it is likely that the brick is the same age as the stable. This sample is a regular in shape brick, has sharp-pressed edges, and is struck from header to header across the bedding face. The strike marks on the brick indicate that it was struck with a metal striker, which is consistent with the period. The presence of sand in the surface indicates that sand was used as a molding lubricant. Given these characteristics, the brick appears to have been made through extrusion using a stiff-mud machine.”