Description:
English delft posset pot with a domed cover, decorated in blue. Posset was a drink popular in the 17th century, although known back to the 15th century, made with milk or cream, eggs, spices, and either wine/sack or ale. As the warmed milk curdled and the curd rose, the whey containing the alcohol could be sipped or poured from the spout or pipe that projects from the base of the pot. Posset could act as a soothing nightcap or be served at a party, depending on the strength of the particular mixture produced. Although possets were not included in pharmacopiae, medicated possets mixed with a variety of herbs, such as sage, were widely used at home as evidenced in family receipt books and medical texts for a range of illnesses from malaria to small pox. The "birds-on-rocks" decoration on this pot was used by a number of London potteries (examples have also been found on on jars and teapots) and in Holland. The cover has a mushroom knop surrounded with three blue bands over two large flower sprays between a duck with an insect flying overhead and large bird standing on a rock. The bulbous body has an incurving neck decorated with a border of Chinese cloud scrolls banded by two sets of blue lines; the scroll design is repeated on the S-shaped tubular spout; and the two broad strap handles with scrolled terminals are covered with horizontal blue slashes. The two panels on either side of the spout have a duck with its neck curved backwards towards the spout and a large floral spray; and the panel opposite the spout has two birds standing on a rock, one bird flying overhead, and floral sprays.
Tags:
ceremonies Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+2132 |
