Description:
English delft posset pot with blue decoration, inscribed inside the domed cover "M+T / 1744". 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. Since the use of posset pots was in decline by the early 18th century as thickened possets took the place of 'simple' possets, this piece is unusual with the late 1744 date. According to English dealer, Jonathan Horne, 1/23/1995, this is a late date for a posset pot.; however, the curator, Amanda Lange, has determined that the pot was overfired, causing the bubbling, and not refired, and looks authentic. Dates and initials are found on many surviving posset pots, suggesting that they were favored wedding gifts. The cover has a cone-shaped finial decorated with blue lines over chinoiserie garden scenes with Chinese men and sponged foliage in a starburst pattern and a trellis edge. The incurving neck over the bulbous body has the same trellis border alternating with small reserves of garden scenes, over three scenes - two with figures and one with tall block-like building shapes. The two loop handles with scroll base terminals are decorated with a stylized foliate design and blue dashes; and the S-shaped tubular spout is decorated with blue interconnected loops and dashes. The Bristol attribution is based on fragments with similar designs found in the Limekiln pottery site by delftware scholar, Louis Lipski, and now in the Bristol City Art Gallery collection. The inside of the lid has some unusual black specks and bubbles to the glaze - possible indication that the date was added later and re-firing.
Tags:
ceremonies Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+61.094 |
