Mug
1682 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Small globular mugs with cylindrical necks, ultimately derived from the design of much larger imported German stoneware ale mugs, were current in the 1680s and 1690s. Usually made of expensive materials - including silver versions of the 1680s engraved with Chinoiserie motifs - they were intended for drinking strong ale or beer in the home. The stoneware mugs of this shape were termed 'gorges', meaning narrow-necked vessels.
Material & Making
John Dwight's 'fine white' stonewares attempted to copy the pure whiteness of Chinese porcelain. Paradoxically, however, the surviving examples made at Dehua (Fujian province, China) were clearly copied from Dwight's Fulham products, not the other way around. As mugs for ale or beer, they did not need to be heat-proof. Besides the white, red or brown stonewares, and heavier delftwares, clear and opaque white glass versions are also known.
Small globular mugs with cylindrical necks, ultimately derived from the design of much larger imported German stoneware ale mugs, were current in the 1680s and 1690s. Usually made of expensive materials - including silver versions of the 1680s engraved with Chinoiserie motifs - they were intended for drinking strong ale or beer in the home. The stoneware mugs of this shape were termed 'gorges', meaning narrow-necked vessels.
Material & Making
John Dwight's 'fine white' stonewares attempted to copy the pure whiteness of Chinese porcelain. Paradoxically, however, the surviving examples made at Dehua (Fujian province, China) were clearly copied from Dwight's Fulham products, not the other way around. As mugs for ale or beer, they did not need to be heat-proof. Besides the white, red or brown stonewares, and heavier delftwares, clear and opaque white glass versions are also known.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Salt-glazed stoneware with engraved silver collar |
| Brief description | Mug of salt-glazed stoneware with a globular body, wide horizontally reeded neck and grooved lip handle, and the mouth is mounted with a silver collar, made by John Dwight's Fulham Pottery, Fulham, 1682. |
| Physical description | Mug of salt-glazed stoneware with a globular body, wide horizontally reeded neck and grooved lip handle, and the mouth is mounted with a silver collar engraved with the initials 'S S' and the date '1682'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'S S' and '1682' [Engraved] (Date; collar; 1682) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
CHINESE PORCELAIN AND EUROPEAN IMITATIONS The whiteness of Chinese porcelain, became the ultimate goal of European potters and they tried many methods to imitate it. A coating of white clay slip tended to flake off an earthenware body, as did a white tin-glaze. High-fired stoneware, as in the German jug, was self-coloured but could be refined only to a light grey/white. John Dwight used Dorset clay and Isle of Wight sand for his expensive lathe-turned 'gorge' mugs, intended for strong ale.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Given by Lady Charlotte Schreiber |
| Object history | One of two mugs with 414:853/A-1885 (Sch. II 58A). |
| Summary | Object Type Small globular mugs with cylindrical necks, ultimately derived from the design of much larger imported German stoneware ale mugs, were current in the 1680s and 1690s. Usually made of expensive materials - including silver versions of the 1680s engraved with Chinoiserie motifs - they were intended for drinking strong ale or beer in the home. The stoneware mugs of this shape were termed 'gorges', meaning narrow-necked vessels. Material & Making John Dwight's 'fine white' stonewares attempted to copy the pure whiteness of Chinese porcelain. Paradoxically, however, the surviving examples made at Dehua (Fujian province, China) were clearly copied from Dwight's Fulham products, not the other way around. As mugs for ale or beer, they did not need to be heat-proof. Besides the white, red or brown stonewares, and heavier delftwares, clear and opaque white glass versions are also known. |
| Other number | Sch. II 58 - Schreiber number |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 414:853-1885 |
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| Record created | July 14, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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