Creamer
1758-1759 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
A cream jug in the form of a cow.
Use
The British developed a taste for adding milk to their tea by the mid-18th century, rather than drink a weak tea, as was traditional in China. By this date, milk or cream jugs had become an essential part of the tea service.
Design
Jugs in the form of standing cows were made in London in some quantity during the second half of the 18th century. Most bear the mark of John Schuppe, and were made between 1753 and 1773. His name indicates that he may have come from The Netherlands, where cow creamers made in ceramic were already fashionable. All these creamers follow the same basic form, with a looped tail and a saddle-shaped lid with a finial in the form of a fly. Both silver and silver-gilt versions are known, and variations occur on the type and amount of hair on the body and head.
Popularity
The large numbers of cow creamers that survive attest to their enduring popularity. Such was their renown that they merited inclusion in 20th-century literature: Bertie Wooster, the hero of tales by the author P.G. Wodehouse, found these cow creamers quite disgusting.
A cream jug in the form of a cow.
Use
The British developed a taste for adding milk to their tea by the mid-18th century, rather than drink a weak tea, as was traditional in China. By this date, milk or cream jugs had become an essential part of the tea service.
Design
Jugs in the form of standing cows were made in London in some quantity during the second half of the 18th century. Most bear the mark of John Schuppe, and were made between 1753 and 1773. His name indicates that he may have come from The Netherlands, where cow creamers made in ceramic were already fashionable. All these creamers follow the same basic form, with a looped tail and a saddle-shaped lid with a finial in the form of a fly. Both silver and silver-gilt versions are known, and variations occur on the type and amount of hair on the body and head.
Popularity
The large numbers of cow creamers that survive attest to their enduring popularity. Such was their renown that they merited inclusion in 20th-century literature: Bertie Wooster, the hero of tales by the author P.G. Wodehouse, found these cow creamers quite disgusting.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Engraved silver |
| Brief description | Cow creamer, silver, engraved, England (London), mark of John Schuppe, 1758-1759 |
| Physical description | Cream jug in the shape of a cow |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Collar around the neck inscribed 'H.P. from LAETITIA MAYDWELL A MEMENTO OF TYTTENHANGER' |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by W. J. Johnson |
| Object history | Made in London by John Schuppe (active 1753 - 1773) |
| Summary | Object Type A cream jug in the form of a cow. Use The British developed a taste for adding milk to their tea by the mid-18th century, rather than drink a weak tea, as was traditional in China. By this date, milk or cream jugs had become an essential part of the tea service. Design Jugs in the form of standing cows were made in London in some quantity during the second half of the 18th century. Most bear the mark of John Schuppe, and were made between 1753 and 1773. His name indicates that he may have come from The Netherlands, where cow creamers made in ceramic were already fashionable. All these creamers follow the same basic form, with a looped tail and a saddle-shaped lid with a finial in the form of a fly. Both silver and silver-gilt versions are known, and variations occur on the type and amount of hair on the body and head. Popularity The large numbers of cow creamers that survive attest to their enduring popularity. Such was their renown that they merited inclusion in 20th-century literature: Bertie Wooster, the hero of tales by the author P.G. Wodehouse, found these cow creamers quite disgusting. |
| Bibliographic reference | Lloyd-Jones, Llio Teleri. ‘The Cow Creamer and the ‘Cudster’. Food & Material Culture: Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery, (Devon: Prospect Books, 2014) |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.1691-1944 |
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| Record created | April 26, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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