Description:
English delft food warmer or veilleuse or night lamp or beverage warmer decorated in blue with stylized foliate motifs around the body and concentric blue bands encircling the top and base of the pedestal stand. The name "veilleuse" is probably derived from the French "veiller" (to keep vigil at night) and originally referred to any night lamp, but soon came to be applied to keeping food or beverages warm during the night for one person, and used in a sick-room, nursery, or on a bedside table. Food warmers were produced in silver and all ceramic forms (including delftware, creamware, pearlware, and porcelain) from the mid 1700's through the mid 1800's in England by a number of manufacturers and Europe. In his '1790' Catalogue, Wedgwood illustrated a "Night lamp to provide illumination and conserve hot liquids"; and several shapes are illustrated in Plate 211 the circa 1802 Shape Drawing Book, but the food warmer was probaby in production at Wedgwood's some 20 years earlier. Wedgwood's 1817 Catalogue continued to show food warmers with kettle or porringer tops. Late in the 19th century, japanned tin food warmers were produced, usually with a covered food pan, water pan, and small double-wick lamp; one was named the "Berlin Nursery Lamp." Normally varying in height from 9 to 12 inches, the food warmer form was usually a hollow pedestal, into the top of which fit a flanged container such as a covered bowl or small teapot; the container's contents were heated by by a small cup called a godet (or oil-boat, heater or spirit burner) that held a flaming wick in oil, which was passed through the small opening at the pedestal's base. The cylindrical base on this example has two attached scroll handles over two molded bosses on the sides; a high-relief male mask on the front and back covering air vents for heat and smoke escape, air circulation, and some illumination; and a rectangular hole in front with a serpentine top for the insertion of the godet. The cover, food-bowl dish, and godet are missing. The placement of food warmers with apothecary wares is based on the traditional association of such vessels with the feeding of healthful foods or beverages to invalids. Tin-glazed earthenware food warmers came into popularity in England and on the Continent during the mid-eighteenth century. When the separate pieces exist they generally bear numbers on the bottoms of the pots, it may identify the decorator and must indicate that the set is not a married one. Food warmers, or veilleuses, were produced in all ceramic forms from the mid-eighteenth century through the nineteenth century on the Continent as well as in England. In the pattern book he published in 1774 Josiah Wedgwood illustrated a similar form, calling it a "Night Light" and stating that it was intended "to keep any liquid warm all night." Late creamware and whiteware examples usually have a second lower dish that functions as a double boiler. In England, delft examples were made at several factories, including Bristol. Examples of this form and decoration are the most common although - like this example - many are missing the oil boat [godet] that rests in the cylindrical base.
Subjects:
Pottery; glaze (coating by location) Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+54.014 |
