Dish
ca. 1662-1685 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
This earthenware dish is of the type known as delftware, with decoration painted in blue on a white tin glaze. (The best tin-glazed earthenware in the 17th century was made at the Dutch town of Delft, and the name became synonymous with tin-glazed wares.) Commemorative delftware dishes painted with royal portraits became popular during the reign of Charles I (1625-1649), and were produced under successive monarchs until the early 18th century.
People
This dish was one of two items of delftware in Horace Walpole's famous art collection at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, as recorded in his catalogue of 1784, A Description of the Villa of Mr. Horace Walpole .... As such, it represents one of the first instances of collectors and antiquarians considering delftware worthy of interest. Although tin-glazed earthenware was still in production in Britain at this time, it did not attract wider interest among collectors until the second half of the 19th century. Walpole had an extensive collection of portrait prints in addition to his historic and modern ceramics, and it was perhaps the portraits on the dish that interested him.
Historical Associations
Charles II (reigned 1660-1685) married Catherine of Braganza in 1662. It is likely that this dish, which carries the portraits of the couple, would have been made to commemorate the event. However, tin-glazed earthenware dishes painted with individual portraits of Charles and Catherine are known from the early 1680s. This shows that the popularity of this type of commemorative item continued throughout their reign.
This earthenware dish is of the type known as delftware, with decoration painted in blue on a white tin glaze. (The best tin-glazed earthenware in the 17th century was made at the Dutch town of Delft, and the name became synonymous with tin-glazed wares.) Commemorative delftware dishes painted with royal portraits became popular during the reign of Charles I (1625-1649), and were produced under successive monarchs until the early 18th century.
People
This dish was one of two items of delftware in Horace Walpole's famous art collection at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, as recorded in his catalogue of 1784, A Description of the Villa of Mr. Horace Walpole .... As such, it represents one of the first instances of collectors and antiquarians considering delftware worthy of interest. Although tin-glazed earthenware was still in production in Britain at this time, it did not attract wider interest among collectors until the second half of the 19th century. Walpole had an extensive collection of portrait prints in addition to his historic and modern ceramics, and it was perhaps the portraits on the dish that interested him.
Historical Associations
Charles II (reigned 1660-1685) married Catherine of Braganza in 1662. It is likely that this dish, which carries the portraits of the couple, would have been made to commemorate the event. However, tin-glazed earthenware dishes painted with individual portraits of Charles and Catherine are known from the early 1680s. This shows that the popularity of this type of commemorative item continued throughout their reign.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Tin-glazed earthenware, with painted decoration |
| Brief description | Dish of tin-glazed earthenware, depicting Charles II, Katherine of Braganza and an inscription, English (London or Brislington or Bristol) or may be Dutch, ca. 1662-1685 |
| Physical description | Dish of tin-glazed earthenware. Decorated with bust portraits of Charles II dressed in armour with a crown, orb and sceptre and Catherine of Braganza with a crown and a tulip inscribed Q.K and CR within a circular panel surrounded by martial trophies. The border has grotesque animals and heads interspersed with flowers and insects. All the decoration is in blue. Body colour: Buff. Glaze: White on front and back with a few small blue smudges on the back. Shape: Shape E with wider flange. Foot pierced with two holes, side by side before firing. (Alphabetic shape codes as used in appendix to Archer. Delftware. 1997) |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'Q.K. CR' (Inscribed) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
Walpole had a huge collection of ceramics dating from the 10th to the 18th centuries, most of which he kept in a room called the China Closet. This dish was a present from his friend, Mr Ibbott, who must have been aware of Walpole's interest in British history and in portraiture.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street |
| Object history | Sir Horace Walpole. Strawberry Hill Sale, 12th day, 7 May, 1842, Lot 33. Bought by W.M. Smith. Acquired by the Museum of Practical Geology before 1871. Transferred, 1901. Transferred, 1901. Exhibited: Rijksmuseum, No: 44. |
| Production | English (London or Brislington or Bristol) or may be Dutch |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Object Type This earthenware dish is of the type known as delftware, with decoration painted in blue on a white tin glaze. (The best tin-glazed earthenware in the 17th century was made at the Dutch town of Delft, and the name became synonymous with tin-glazed wares.) Commemorative delftware dishes painted with royal portraits became popular during the reign of Charles I (1625-1649), and were produced under successive monarchs until the early 18th century. People This dish was one of two items of delftware in Horace Walpole's famous art collection at Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, as recorded in his catalogue of 1784, A Description of the Villa of Mr. Horace Walpole .... As such, it represents one of the first instances of collectors and antiquarians considering delftware worthy of interest. Although tin-glazed earthenware was still in production in Britain at this time, it did not attract wider interest among collectors until the second half of the 19th century. Walpole had an extensive collection of portrait prints in addition to his historic and modern ceramics, and it was perhaps the portraits on the dish that interested him. Historical Associations Charles II (reigned 1660-1685) married Catherine of Braganza in 1662. It is likely that this dish, which carries the portraits of the couple, would have been made to commemorate the event. However, tin-glazed earthenware dishes painted with individual portraits of Charles and Catherine are known from the early 1680s. This shows that the popularity of this type of commemorative item continued throughout their reign. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Other number | B1. - <u>Delftware</u> (1997) cat. no. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 3869-1901 |
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| Record created | January 29, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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