Plate
ca. 1905-10 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was established in 1903 by Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst. Disillusioned with the stance of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) the Pankhursts instead founded a more militant party, believeing in 'Deeds not words'. Members of the WSPU, known as 'Suffragettes', were encouraged to dress in purple, green and white, the colours of the Union. Mrs. Pethick-Lawrence, co-editor of the weekly newspaper 'Votes for Women', explained the symbolism of the colours. Purple as everyone knows is the royal colour. It stands for the royal blood that flows in the viens of every suffragette, the instinct of freedom and dignity...white stands for purity in private and public life...green is the colour of hope and the emblem of spring.' Sylvia Pankhurst was a gifted artist and used the colours to design banners and also memorablilia. She is credited as the designer of the insignia used on this teaset.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Bone china with printed transfers |
| Brief description | Plate from a tea set, with the emblem of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU), H.M. Williamson & Sons, Bridge Pottery, Longton, ca.1905-10, bone china with transfers printed in green |
| Physical description | Bone china with transfers printed in green, with the badge of the Women's Social and Political Union, hand-painted in purple, comprising a trumpeting angel under the banner 'Freedon' and the initials 'WSPU', emblems of the Suffragette movement |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'LONGTON, WILLIAMSONS, ENGLAND' (Printed in green) |
| Gallery label | Part of a tea set Plate, milk jug, slop basin cup,and saucer. depicting emblems of the Suffragette movement
made by H.M. Williamson & Sons, Bridge Pottery, Longton, Staffordshire c.1910
Bone china with transfers printed in green.
C37&A,B,C,D-1972 Miss F.B. Rintel Bequest(16/07/2008) |
| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss F. B. Rintel |
| Historical context | The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was a militant women's suffrage society active from 1903-1914. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) was established in 1903 by Emmeline, Christabel and Sylvia Pankhurst. Disillusioned with the stance of the National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies (NUWSS) the Pankhursts instead founded a more militant party, believeing in 'Deeds not words'. Members of the WSPU, known as 'Suffragettes', were encouraged to dress in purple, green and white, the colours of the Union. Mrs. Pethick-Lawrence, co-editor of the weekly newspaper 'Votes for Women', explained the symbolism of the colours. Purple as everyone knows is the royal colour. It stands for the royal blood that flows in the viens of every suffragette, the instinct of freedom and dignity...white stands for purity in private and public life...green is the colour of hope and the emblem of spring.' Sylvia Pankhurst was a gifted artist and used the colours to design banners and also memorablilia. She is credited as the designer of the insignia used on this teaset. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cooks and Campaigners Compendium. London: The Women's Library, 2002, pp7, 14. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.37-1972 |
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| Record created | July 16, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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