Mug
1642 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This type of mug was made by London delftware potters in the second quarter of the 17th century. Containing about half a pint of liquid, it may have been intended for strong beer which, in the general absence of wine, was a drink equally favoured by women. But its primary role was probably as a commemorative piece for display.
Design & Designing
This style of mug is apparently an original invention, not based on German stoneware prototypes. Its barrel-shaped form with a rather small foot may have been devised to give the maximum uninterrupted surface for decoration. Certainly it is the inscribed examples that survive, though plain white mugs of this shape may well have been made as well. The handle, with its lumpy solid terminal at the base, is reminiscent of Continental tin-glazed earthenware of the period, which is not surprising in view of the Southwark potters' strong links with The Netherlands.
Collectors & Owners
This object was first 'collected' by James Bandinel (1783-1849), a humanitarian official at the Foreign Office noted for his writings on slavery. As one of the very earliest English collectors to take an interest in native English pottery, his example was later followed by Henry Willett (Willett Collection, Brighton Museum), Thomas Greg (Greg Collection, Manchester City Museum) and Dr Glaisher (Glaisher Collection, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge).
This type of mug was made by London delftware potters in the second quarter of the 17th century. Containing about half a pint of liquid, it may have been intended for strong beer which, in the general absence of wine, was a drink equally favoured by women. But its primary role was probably as a commemorative piece for display.
Design & Designing
This style of mug is apparently an original invention, not based on German stoneware prototypes. Its barrel-shaped form with a rather small foot may have been devised to give the maximum uninterrupted surface for decoration. Certainly it is the inscribed examples that survive, though plain white mugs of this shape may well have been made as well. The handle, with its lumpy solid terminal at the base, is reminiscent of Continental tin-glazed earthenware of the period, which is not surprising in view of the Southwark potters' strong links with The Netherlands.
Collectors & Owners
This object was first 'collected' by James Bandinel (1783-1849), a humanitarian official at the Foreign Office noted for his writings on slavery. As one of the very earliest English collectors to take an interest in native English pottery, his example was later followed by Henry Willett (Willett Collection, Brighton Museum), Thomas Greg (Greg Collection, Manchester City Museum) and Dr Glaisher (Glaisher Collection, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge).
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware, painted |
| Brief description | Grotesques and an inscription |
| Physical description | Grotesques in blue, pale and turquoise green, ochre and brown with the inscription ANN CHAPMAN ANNO 1642 in blue. White interior with accidental ochre and pale turquoise patches. Body colour: Mid buff. Glaze: White. Shape: Underside unglazed, slightly concave, without foot-rim. Handle is a flattened oval, flatter on outside. Prominent turning grooves on the interior. Two raised rings on the neck. (Alphabetic shape codes as used in appendix to Archer. Delftware. 1997) |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'ANN CHAPMAN ANNO 1642' |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
The inscribed name, Ann Chapman, suggests that this mug was made as a presentation piece. Its special meaning is almost certainly responsible for its survival, because most plain earthenware of this time has been lost through everyday use. The fantastical decoration derives from 'maiolica' made in Italy and The Netherlands, on which the London delftware industry was based.(25/03/2003) |
| Object history | Purchased from the Bandinel collection, 1853. Exhibited: Rijksmuseum, No: 22. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This type of mug was made by London delftware potters in the second quarter of the 17th century. Containing about half a pint of liquid, it may have been intended for strong beer which, in the general absence of wine, was a drink equally favoured by women. But its primary role was probably as a commemorative piece for display. Design & Designing This style of mug is apparently an original invention, not based on German stoneware prototypes. Its barrel-shaped form with a rather small foot may have been devised to give the maximum uninterrupted surface for decoration. Certainly it is the inscribed examples that survive, though plain white mugs of this shape may well have been made as well. The handle, with its lumpy solid terminal at the base, is reminiscent of Continental tin-glazed earthenware of the period, which is not surprising in view of the Southwark potters' strong links with The Netherlands. Collectors & Owners This object was first 'collected' by James Bandinel (1783-1849), a humanitarian official at the Foreign Office noted for his writings on slavery. As one of the very earliest English collectors to take an interest in native English pottery, his example was later followed by Henry Willett (Willett Collection, Brighton Museum), Thomas Greg (Greg Collection, Manchester City Museum) and Dr Glaisher (Glaisher Collection, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge). |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | C4. - <u>Delftware</u> (1997) cat. no. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1107-1853 |
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| Record created | January 29, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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