Delftware dish painted with an image of General Monck on horseback, surrounded by decorative panels including Chinese figures in landscapes and floral motifs; an inscription. British (London), 1680.

Tin-glazed earthenware dish with a deep rounded well. Painted with a mounted figure in armour holding a marshal's baton, probably identifiable as General George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, in blue, green, yellow and manganese-purple, inscribed 'D/GM' and 'T/16 B A 80'. The well has foliate and floral decoration in manganese-purple on a brilliant blue ground. The flange has panels in dull blue and manganese purple showing Chinese figures seated in landscapes, flowers and artemesia leaves. Panels at top and bottom painted in blue, manganese-purple and yellow, showcrossed clay pipes, 'black-jack' jugs, pewter mugs and a hand rising from a puffed sleeve below a broad hat and flanked by twisted hatbands - a simplified version of the coat of arms of the Feltmakers Company.

Delft database:
A mounted figure in armour holding a marshal's baton, probably identifiable as General George Monck, Duke of Albemarle, in blue, green, ochre, yellow and manganese-purple and inscribed D/G M and T/16 B A 80. The well has foliate and floral decoration in manganese-purple on a brilliant blue ground. The flange has panels in dull blue and manganese-purple showing Chinese figures seated in landscapes, flowers and artemisia leaves. Panels at top and bottom painted in blue, manganese-purple and yellow show crossed clay pipes, 'black-jack' jugs, pewter mugs and a hand rising from a puffed sleeve below a broad hat flanked by twisted hat-bands, a simplified version of the coat of arms of the Feltmakers' Company; Argent a dexter hand appaum couped at the wrist gules between two hat-bands nowed azure, in chief a hat sable banded azure. No obvious stilt marks.
Body colour: Dark buff.
Glaze: White. A lead-glaze with a few patches of tin-glaze mixed with it over a pale slip covers the entire back.
Shape: Shape A with a much deeper and more rounded central well. The foot-rim pierced with two holes after manufacture. (Alphabetic shape codes as used in appendix to Archer. Delftware. 1997)

Probably made for the marriage of Benjamin Taylor to Anne Aldridge at St Leonard's, Shoreditch, on 1 January 1680. Made in London

Purchased from Mr. W. Pope, Twickenham, Middlesex, 1966.

Object Type
A considerable number of large display dishes have survived the centuries. They show no signs of wear and were clearly intended for decoration. This example was possibly a comparatively inexpensive wedding present.

People
General George Monck (1608-1670) at first supported Charles I, but then fought for Oliver Cromwell during the Civil War. At the end of the Protectorate, he played an important role in the restoration of Charles II and was created Duke of Albemarle. Ten years after his death, he was still a popular hero. A book was published in 1680 by his chaplain, John Price, entitled The Mystery and Method of His Majesty's Happy Restoration and it included an engraved portrait of Monck.

Time
The end of Charles II's reign was a period of political unrest. The Whigs supported the succession of Charles's illegitimate son, James, Duke of Monmouth. However, the legitimate heir was Charles's Roman Catholic brother, James. When the House of Lords rejected a bill that would have disbarred James from the throne there was much rioting in London. At this point, there may well have been nostalgia for the political skills of General Monck.

C.21-1966