Child's Mug
MakerPossibly made by
Staffordshire potteries
(English, 17th century-present)
Date1825-1845
MediumMechanically-molded buff-colored earthenware with a blue-tinted glaze and underglaze red decoration
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width including handle x depth): 2 x 3 1/8 x 2 3/4in. (5.1 x 7.9 x 7cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineBequest of George Dudley Seymour
Object number1945.1.1499
DescriptionSmall, round, child's mug made of buff-colored earthenware with a blue-tinted glaze, a type of ceramic known as pearlware. The mug has a small, mold-formed handle and is decorated with transfer-printed scenes and words. Two scenes and one group of sayings are written beneath the title "DR. FRANKLIN'S MAXIM'S" at the rim. The scenes and sayings are described from left to right, beginning to the immediate right of the panel. The first is a scene showing a team of horses plowing a field behind a wooden fence. In the foreground, poultry graze on some grass, and a broom and gardening implement lean against the fence. To the right of this scene is Franklin's saying, "Plough deep while Slug-/ gards sleep & you shall/ have corn to sell & to keep". There is a horizontal line, then an additional maxim, "Work to day for you know/ not how much you may be/ hindered tomorrow". (The final line of words is printed at a slant off the bottom of the mug.) Finally, the second scene, to the left of the handle, shows a person, perhaps a child, holding a basket and picking something off of a bush. There is a sheep in the foreground, and rolling hills and a farm building in the background. Both scenes and words are poorly printed beneath a very thin glaze, resulting in a textured surface. There are two small chips on the rim and one small chip on the foot of the mug.
Status
Not on view
Object/Object