Description:
English Staffordshire dark-blue transfer-printed ovoid platter titled "CHRISTIANBURG DANISH SETTLEMENT/ ON THE GOLD COAST AFRICA." The platter has a tiered brim ornamented with a floral border, highlighted with shells all surrounding a harbor view with a fortress at the left flying the Danish flag that overlooks an American frigate in the right foreground and three other ships under sail, all viewed by three sailors on the beach in the lower right. The platter was owned in the line of Deacon David Fiske (1791-1875), a clothier in Shelburne Falls, who went west in 1832 with his wife Laura Severance (1795-1870) and family. They returned about 1836 and bought a portion of his father's (Samuel Jr., 1759-1828) farm on Patton Hill in Shelburne. Their son, David Orlando Fiske (1821-1878), married Laura Fiske (1819-1851), daughter of Rufus, and lived on his farm on Patton Hill. In 1853, David married his second wife, Isabel Hawks (1828-1916), daugher of Zerah. They moved in 1861 to the Hawks farm on Fiske Rd., built by Moses Hawks (1737-1806). The farm descended to their son Zerah Hawks Fiske (1869-1938), then to Murray Hawks Fiske (1911-1965), and then to his widow Marion Settright Fiske (1910-1989). Their son-in-law, John W. Garafolo, husband of Mary, consigned the furnishings ot Pioneer Actions, where the platter was purchased on 4/24/1994. The platter is significant for its exotic African theme and for its early provenance in Shelburne, Mass. Enoch Wood was also an enthusiastic antiquarian, who built up a large collection of early Staffordshire wares, parts of which are now in the Victoria & Albert Museum and other British museums. Enoch’s father was Aaron Wood, a gifted modeller who provided many Staffordshire manufacturers with models and moulds for their wares. Enoch similarly trained as a modeller and was apprenticed to the Hanley manufacturer Humphrey Palmer. In 1783, he commenced in business on his own account as an earthenware manufacturer at the Overhouse Works in Burslem, which he operated successfully for some seven years. In the early 1790s, being ambitious and wishing to expand, he entered into partnership with James Caldwell, a local lawyer, who had relatives and clients willing to advance money for the building of a new factory. The factory, at Fountain Place Burslem, was extensive and is said to have incorporated the sites of five earlier factories. It produced a wide range of earthenwares. The partnership also had mining interests, acquiring the Bycars Colliery in Burslem to provide fuel for firing the ovens. Wood’s partnership with Caldwell was dissolved in 1818, enabling Enoch to bring his sons into partnership. The ending of the War of 1812 (also known as the Anglo- American War) in 1815 saw a substantial increase in earthenware exports to the United States, particularly by the larger manufacturers, who tended to employ their own agents in America to market their wares. Blue printed earthenware formed a substantial part of this increased trade and many examples of Wood’s wares can be found today. Enoch died in 1840. His confidential clerk, named Kemp, who is thought to have played an important part in running the business, died soon after, in 1841. 1842 was a time of depression in America: this combination of circumstances, probably coupled with a desire by some of the sons to take money out of the business, led to its decline and eventual closure in 1845. The factory premises were sub-divided and subsequently operated by several other firms.
Label Text:
This platter, 20 inches, depicts the Danish-Norwegian settlement and Castle now part of Ghana. Christiansborg Castle was the headquarters for Denmark-Norway's commercial activities on the Gold Coast and it still bears the monogram of King Christian VII, ruler of the twin monarchy. The earliest constructions are from 1661. The trade with Europe was for muskets, bullets, gunpowder, brandy, textiles, iron rods, cowrie shells, etc., which were exchanged for slaves, ivory and gold, and other products. In 1850 the Castle was sold to Britain, along with all the other Danish forts and lodges. Today Christiansborg serves as the seat of government for the Republic of Ghana and is not at present open for the general public.
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+94.006.2 |
