Description:
This ceramic plaque or pottery badge could have been hung on the wall or perhaps been designed to wear on a chain around the neck by members of the drinking club. Subsequently few of these plaques have survived with only another known example in the British Museum collection. One of a pair of English lead-glazed cream-colored earthenware molded, oval plaques decorated in underglaze blue, green, and brown colors. Oval convex shape. The center has raised, molded ornament including an pseudo-armorial coat of arms surrounded in blue with punch bowl between a moon and star in chief and a lantern in base, crest, an owl perched on a barrel with supporters, Bacchus and Ceres, motto and formal border. Bacchus and Ceres stand on the sides, Bacchus holding a wine cup and rod encircled by grape vines, and Ceres holding wheat sheaves. The inscription under the shield reads "IN NOCTE LAETAMUR" meaning "In the night let us rejoice." The edges are surrounded by a Greek key motif, and there are two holes for hanging. A similar example with different coloration is in the collection of the British Museum. These are the arms of the Lumber Troop or Lumber Troopers drinking club (see Bentley's Miscellany, 1841, vol. 8, p. 40 -- the Club was originally held at the Gentleman and Porter, New-Street Square, and the Eagle and Child on Shoe Lane, The troop are supported by Bacchus and Ceres; their crest is an owl, their shield is charged with a punch bowl between a moon, a star, and a lantern. The punch is to drink and the moon and start are to light them home, or for lack of either, a lantern, Their motto is In Nocte Laetamur) -- the ultimate source for thisdesign is an engraved tobacco paper for Harrison's Tobacco Paper, Bell-Yard, Temple Bar, London, by William Hogarth. For more information see Hugh Tait, "Pressed Horn Copied in Staffordshire Pottery circa 1770," Ars Ceramica, no. 7, 1990, pp. 36-38.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+57.113A |
