Hard tan brick

From Lynch (2009): “From initial observation, the tan color seems to indicate that the clay came from Lake Pontchartrain. The sample also has iron spots on the surface. The brick does not have a brickmaker’s stamp, and the date is unknown. This sample is regular in shape, 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 lack of sand in the surface indicates that water was used as a molding lubricant. Given these characteristics, the brick appears to have been moulded using a soft-mud machine.”