Description:
White felspathic stoneware jug with molded and applied relief decoration, and a blue wash on the neck and body and "940" in blue on the base, which was made by Chetham & Woolley exclusively for the American market to commemorate George Washington (1732-1799) and General Lafayette's (1757-1834) triumphal return trip to the United States in 1824. From July 1824 to September 1825, the Marquis de Lafayette made a famous tour of the 24 states in the United States, and numerous items of clothing, ceramics, and decorative arts were decorated to mark the visit. The jug has a straight neck with a band of beads around the rim edge over a band of white sprigged grapes, leaves, and vines; acanthus molding around the pouring lip, an acanthus-molded C-scroll handle, and reeded circular foot. The bulbous body is decorated on one side with white sprig-decorated portrait bust of the Marquis de Lafayette, with banners above and below which read in black "FAYETTE" and "THE. NATIONS. GUEST"; and on the other with a sprig-decorated portrait bust of George Washington with banners above and below which read in black "WASHINGTON" and "HIS COUNTRY"S FATHER". Under the spout, there is a sprigged band of clouds with 13 stars and an eagle with three stars around its head. The eagle design is based on the Great Seal of the United States adopted by the Continental Congress in 1782, which depicts a circular cloud band with 13 stars over an eagle with outstretched wings; red and white striped shield across the chest; banner with the motto, "E. Pluribus Unum" in the beak; and an olive branch in the right talon and 13 arrows in the left. Elements from the Seal were immediately used on coinage and business documents, which then provided design sources. English ceramic expert Colin Wyman identified the makers during a visit by members of the English Ceramic Circle on May 13, 2010. James Chetham (1754-1807) and his brother-in-law Richard Woolley were in partnership from at least 1793 to 1807 with Chetham's death, when his widow, Ann, succeeded him and contined business with Woolley until his departure in 1809. Ann contined the business, joined by her son, Jonathan Lowe Chetham, in 1814, trading as Chetham & Son from 1818 until her death in 1821. Jonathan Chetham continued with John Robinson as Chetham & Robinson from 1822 to 1834; with Robinson's son, Samuel, as Chetham & Robinson & Son from 1834 until John's death in 1840; and alone until his death in 1861.
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+90.201 |
