Description:
Scottish delft circular plate with blue decoration, which was found by the Frenchs in Sunderland, Mass. The plate is decorated with an edge-to-edge floral design with two large tulips on long stems, a caterpillar on the center stem, two groups of scratched-blue leaves, buds, and two flying insects. The shape of the tulips is similar to two plates (#5 and #174) illustrated in "The Ladies Amusement." First published by the London print dealer and map seller, Robert Sayer (1725-1794) in 1759-1760, "The Ladies Amusement; or, Whole Art of Japanning Made Easy. / Illustrated in upwards of Fifteen-Hundred different Designs on Two Hundred Copper Plates; ... Drawn By Pillement and other Masters, and excellently Engraved. To which is added, in Letter-Press, The most approved Methods of Japanning, from the Preparation of the Subject to be decorated, to its being finished: with Directions for the due Choice of Composition, Colours, &c. &c...." was an important design source used by contemporary artist-designers and skilled craftsmen for the decoration of not only of Japanned wares, but for enamels, ceramics, furniture, textiles, tapestries, carpets, silver, etc. A second edition was published in 1762 and a third around 1775. The 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."
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+91.104 |
