Dish
1615 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
General purpose dishes such as this may have been used for almost any type of food, as well as serving a decorative function when not in use. Little distinction was made between bowls and dishes, cups and porringers, jugs and mugs.
Trading
Werra slipware was just one of the many types of pottery which could not be replicated in England, and which was valued for its stylish decoration. At the same time as these dishes were made by clusters of potteries along the River Werra, a similar range of slipware dishes, much plainer and mainly decorated with geometric designs, was made along another German river, the Weser.
Design & Designing
A stock range of stylised figures such as soldiers and clowns was developed for use on these dishes. These figures were reproduced over a long period but have no significance other than as decoration. What is distinctive about Werra slipwares is the mixture of techniques. On a surface that would betray even the slightest mistake the slip-trailing is handled deftly, while the sgraffito decoration shows a masterly drawing technique.
General purpose dishes such as this may have been used for almost any type of food, as well as serving a decorative function when not in use. Little distinction was made between bowls and dishes, cups and porringers, jugs and mugs.
Trading
Werra slipware was just one of the many types of pottery which could not be replicated in England, and which was valued for its stylish decoration. At the same time as these dishes were made by clusters of potteries along the River Werra, a similar range of slipware dishes, much plainer and mainly decorated with geometric designs, was made along another German river, the Weser.
Design & Designing
A stock range of stylised figures such as soldiers and clowns was developed for use on these dishes. These figures were reproduced over a long period but have no significance other than as decoration. What is distinctive about Werra slipwares is the mixture of techniques. On a surface that would betray even the slightest mistake the slip-trailing is handled deftly, while the sgraffito decoration shows a masterly drawing technique.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Earthenware, with lead glaze |
| Brief description | Red earthenware dish decorated with trailed and incised white slip brushed in parts with copper-green, made at Werra, dated 1615 |
| Physical description | Red earthenware dish decorated with trailed white slip, the detailing of the central figure of an angel scratched through the slip in the sgraffito technique, with the date 1615. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
This is typical of the fine Werra slipware imported into England from about 1550 to 1650. The mixture of trailed and incised slip demonstrates the high degree of sophistication achieved by slipware potters using the very limited range of materials at their disposal.(27/03/2003) |
| Object history | Made in the area along the river Werra, Germany |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type General purpose dishes such as this may have been used for almost any type of food, as well as serving a decorative function when not in use. Little distinction was made between bowls and dishes, cups and porringers, jugs and mugs. Trading Werra slipware was just one of the many types of pottery which could not be replicated in England, and which was valued for its stylish decoration. At the same time as these dishes were made by clusters of potteries along the River Werra, a similar range of slipware dishes, much plainer and mainly decorated with geometric designs, was made along another German river, the Weser. Design & Designing A stock range of stylised figures such as soldiers and clowns was developed for use on these dishes. These figures were reproduced over a long period but have no significance other than as decoration. What is distinctive about Werra slipwares is the mixture of techniques. On a surface that would betray even the slightest mistake the slip-trailing is handled deftly, while the sgraffito decoration shows a masterly drawing technique. |
| Bibliographic reference | Hildyard, Robin. European Ceramics. London : V&A Publications, 1999. 144 p., ill. ISBN 185177260X |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.302-1919 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | November 19, 2002 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
