Figure thumbnail 1
Figure thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Ceramics, Room 139, The Curtain Foundation Gallery

Figure

ca. 1753-1755 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Figure of a Thames waterman wearing the fouled anchor badge of the Admiralty barge on his outstretched left arm. He is standing, wearing a yellow coat with pink lining, black breeches, pink-lined black cap and lavender neck-tie. Plain white mound base with tree stump.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Soft-paste porcelain, painted in enamels and gilt
Brief description
Figure of a Thames waterman, soft-paste porcelain, painted in enamels and gilt, Bow Porcelain Factory, Bow, ca. 1753-1755.
Physical description
Figure of a Thames waterman wearing the fouled anchor badge of the Admiralty barge on his outstretched left arm. He is standing, wearing a yellow coat with pink lining, black breeches, pink-lined black cap and lavender neck-tie. Plain white mound base with tree stump.
Dimensions
  • Height: 20.3cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Mr Wallace Elliot
Object history
London, Hyam, 1928. From the Dr. Bellamy Gardner Collection. Exhibited at the Chelsea China Exhibition June 1924. See "The Cheyne Book of Chelsea China & Pottery", no. 167, p. 50, pl. 6.

In 1715 Thomas Doggett, the comedian, founded the coat and badge as a prize to be rowed for by the Thames watermen, on August 1st annually, between London Bridge and the Old Swan at Chelsea, in commemoration of the accession of George I. The actual silver badge bears the White Hanoverian Horse.
Subject depicted
Bibliographic reference
Starkey, David. Royal River. Power Pageantry and the Thames. London, 2012. 63,75,177, 209 pp, ill. ISBN 978-1-85759-700-4
Collection
Accession number
C.80-1938

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 Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis.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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest