Description:
Cylindrical body of a slightly hourglass shape with applied strap handle, long, curved spout on one side, and upside-down, nose-shaped water slot at the rear. This example is missing its lid. Impressed "4", a potter's mark, and "WEDGWOOD" on base. The function of an argyle (or argyll) was twofold: to hold and serve gravy at table and to keep gravy warm. To do so, the argyle's interior was divided into an upper and lower compartment. The gravy was placed in the upper compartment, and hot water was poured into the lower compartment through a small aperture in order to heat the gravy. It is said that this unique English form was invented by the third Duke of Argyll (1682-1761). Wedgwood's first catalogue of 1774 had an argyle listed on plate 3, design 8 as "Gravy Cup, with Water Pan; the part a contains the hot water, which is put in at the opening b." Condition: The long spout with a chip, the short spout with abrasions on the edge, and the cover missing.
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+2019.52.3 |
