Tea Bowl and Saucer
MakerPossibly made by
Enoch Wood & Sons
(English, July 1818-1846)
After a work byProbably after a wood engraving by
John Warner Barber
(American, 1798 - 1885)
Dateabout 1840
MediumMechanically-molded buff-colored earthenware with a blue-tinted glaze and underglaze cobalt blue decoration
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x diameter of tea bowl): 2 1/2 x 4in. (6.4 x 10.2cm)
ClassificationsCeramics
Credit LineGift of Philip H. Hammerslough
Object number1955.2.5.1-.2
DescriptionRound tea bowl and saucer of buff-colored earthenware with a blue-tinted glaze, a type of ceramic known as pearlware. The tea bowl and saucer have the same transfer-printed pattern and border in a dark, underglaze cobalt blue. The pattern shows three people in a sailboat with a single mast and sail on a body of water. Two more individuals are standing and one is sitting on the shore in the near foreground. Beyond the river, a building sits on a shore at the base of a mountain. A crenellated tower is at the top of the mountain. Each piece is also printed with a border of white shells and light blue plants on a field of dark blue. The inside edge of the border is irregular, and the outside edge has a line of evenly spaced small white flowers.
Tea Bowl (.1): The pattern is printed twice on opposite sides of the round tea bowl. The patterns are surrounded by the shell border as described above. The same shell border is printed again along the inside rim of the tea bowl. A small scene showing the mountain and tower is printed on the inside bottom of the tea bowl. There is light crazing on the bottom of the tea bowl.
Saucer (.2): The pattern is printed once in the center of the round saucer. Below the pattern is the title, "WADSWORTH/ TOWER". This is surrounded by the shell border. There is light crazing on the bottom of the saucer.
NotesSubject Note: The pattern on these ceramics, titled "WADSWORTH TOWER", shows a tower built in 1810 by Daniel Wadsworth. The tower was built on top of Talcott Mountain, on Wadsworth's country estate, "Monte Video," in the town of Avon, Connecticut. Wadsworth's home on the estate, pictured in other Staffordshire ceramics, was near Wadsworth Tower, but is not pictured in this pattern. The tower commanded a fine view of the Connecticut river valley and was a popular resort for sight seers. It was blown down in 1840.Tea Bowl (.1): The pattern is printed twice on opposite sides of the round tea bowl. The patterns are surrounded by the shell border as described above. The same shell border is printed again along the inside rim of the tea bowl. A small scene showing the mountain and tower is printed on the inside bottom of the tea bowl. There is light crazing on the bottom of the tea bowl.
Saucer (.2): The pattern is printed once in the center of the round saucer. Below the pattern is the title, "WADSWORTH/ TOWER". This is surrounded by the shell border. There is light crazing on the bottom of the saucer.
Status
Not on view
