Plate
1806 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This typical porcelain dinner plate is of the standard shape made at the Coalport factory, but here used purely as a medium on which to display the all-over enamel decoration.
People
Thomas Baxter Junior received his artistic training in London, to where his family had moved in 1797, setting up a decorating studio near Fleet Street where blanks of Chinese, French and Coalport porcelain were painted and re-sold. Influenced by Henry Fuseli at the Royal Academy school, Baxter specialised in figures but could turn his talents to any subject.
Unlike most ceramic decorators who attempted portraits of famous people, Baxter had first-hand knowledge of his subject through Admiral Lord Nelson's personal patronage and through visits to the home of Nelson and Lady Hamilton at Merton in Surrey. Recent research has identified one of Baxter's drawings of Lady Hamilton as the model for 'Britannia' unveiling the bust of Nelson on this Coalport plate.
The Baxter enamelling studio was undoubtedly the leading establishment of its day, the quality of painting coming close to that achieved by Continental factories during the early 19th century. It also played an important part in training the next generation of decorators.
This typical porcelain dinner plate is of the standard shape made at the Coalport factory, but here used purely as a medium on which to display the all-over enamel decoration.
People
Thomas Baxter Junior received his artistic training in London, to where his family had moved in 1797, setting up a decorating studio near Fleet Street where blanks of Chinese, French and Coalport porcelain were painted and re-sold. Influenced by Henry Fuseli at the Royal Academy school, Baxter specialised in figures but could turn his talents to any subject.
Unlike most ceramic decorators who attempted portraits of famous people, Baxter had first-hand knowledge of his subject through Admiral Lord Nelson's personal patronage and through visits to the home of Nelson and Lady Hamilton at Merton in Surrey. Recent research has identified one of Baxter's drawings of Lady Hamilton as the model for 'Britannia' unveiling the bust of Nelson on this Coalport plate.
The Baxter enamelling studio was undoubtedly the leading establishment of its day, the quality of painting coming close to that achieved by Continental factories during the early 19th century. It also played an important part in training the next generation of decorators.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Hard-paste porcelain, painted in enamel colours |
| Brief description | plate - Britannia / Emma Hamilton unveiling bust of Nelson |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The scene shows Britannia mourning Nelson and celebrating his victories. This plate was shown in Thomas Baxter Junior's watercolour of his father's workshop, dated 1810. The watercolour was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1811.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Acquired with funds from the bequest of Capt. Murray |
| Object history | Painted and signed by Thomas Baxter Junior (born in Worcester, 1782, died in London, 1821) Made at the Coalport factory, Shropshire; painted in the London workshop of Thomas Baxter Senior |
| Production | Dated 1806 |
| Summary | Object Type This typical porcelain dinner plate is of the standard shape made at the Coalport factory, but here used purely as a medium on which to display the all-over enamel decoration. People Thomas Baxter Junior received his artistic training in London, to where his family had moved in 1797, setting up a decorating studio near Fleet Street where blanks of Chinese, French and Coalport porcelain were painted and re-sold. Influenced by Henry Fuseli at the Royal Academy school, Baxter specialised in figures but could turn his talents to any subject. Unlike most ceramic decorators who attempted portraits of famous people, Baxter had first-hand knowledge of his subject through Admiral Lord Nelson's personal patronage and through visits to the home of Nelson and Lady Hamilton at Merton in Surrey. Recent research has identified one of Baxter's drawings of Lady Hamilton as the model for 'Britannia' unveiling the bust of Nelson on this Coalport plate. The Baxter enamelling studio was undoubtedly the leading establishment of its day, the quality of painting coming close to that achieved by Continental factories during the early 19th century. It also played an important part in training the next generation of decorators. |
| Associated object | 782-1894 (Object) |
| Bibliographic reference | John Sandon, The Regency Decorators of Worcester, International Ceramic Fair and Seminar Handbook, London, 1991, pp. 34-35 discusses the plate and illustrates Baxter's original drawings. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | C.67-1984 |
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| Record created | October 20, 1998 |
| Record URL |
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