Description:
Scottish delft circular plate decorated with a floral sprig in the center well and three groups of scrolling floral sprays around the rim in blue, lavender, green, and yellow, which was purchased by the Frenchs in Stoughton, Mass. The Glasgow? and Delftfield? attributions are based on John Austin's research in the shards discovered around the Delftfield pottery in Glasgow; Michael Archer and Peter Francis, intrigued by the color palette and decoration, also inspected this plate, HD 91.212, and HD 91.218 during the Delftware Symposium from April 19-20, 2002, and determined to do additional research. Delftfield Pottery (active 1748-1823) was founded in Glasgow in 1748 with the express purpose of selling tin-glazed earthenware to the Caribbean Islands and American colonies. The pottery was located on eight acres in the Broomielaw, near the River Clyde. After initial technical problems, the factory became extremely productive. In 1771, the pottery exported 2,600 pieces of delftware to Philadelphia; 12,828 to Virginia; and 19,000 pieces of delft and stoneware to Maryland. The pottery's principal shareholders, brothers Lawrence (1696-1764) and Robert Dinwiddie (1693-1770), were already involved in the tobacco trade and other shipping ventures. Lawrence, the more active member of the firm, lived in Glasgow; Robert resided in London until 1751 when he moved to Williamsburg, to serve as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia for the next six years. In addition to delftware, Delftfield Pottery produced salt-glazed stoneware, creamware, and pearlware. Scottish Port Records compiled by ceramics scholar George Haggarty, list "1,000 dozen Earthenware" left in the Ship Amity, Master Robt. Shaw, for Boston, on March 4, 1751" and "50 Cwt. of Earthenware, all British." departed on February 26, 1756, in the Ship Mary, with Master Donald Hyndman for Boston." These ceramics were likely delftware from the Delftfield Factory in Glasgow.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+91.217 |
