Howe & Nelson commemorative vase: C.28-2006

Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Howe & Nelson commemorative vase

Maker(s)

Entities

Description

Off-white stoneware with chocolate-brown slip background and applied moulded borders and reliefs, smear-glazed.

The vase has a trumpet-shaped bowl, supported on a hollow cylindrical stem rising in a gentle concave curve from a circular foot with a straight edge. A relief on one side has Btitannia holding a trident; facing her is the winged figure of Fame inscribing the names ‘NELSON’ and ‘HOWE’ on a tablet which rests against an obelisk, she holds a trumpet in her other hand. On the other side is a relief of a classical female figure with a cap on a pole (France ?) facing towards two female figures and a man on the right. To the left of the first group there is a butterfly above a low shrub, and on the right of the relief, a small bird over above a low shrub. A band of twelve flower heads with pointed petals runs under the rim and a classical floral border sits under the main reliefs. The top of the foot is decorated with nine palmettes and the edge has three horizontal engine-turned bands. The underside has a slight foot-rim; a central vent hole leads through to the stem.

Notes

History note: Purchased from Mr Derek Taylor, OBE

Legal notes

Given by the Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Measurements and weight

Height: 15.2 cm

Place(s) associated

Longton ⪼ Staffordshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Given (2006-07-17) by The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Dating

19th Century, Early#
George III
Circa 1805 CE - 1815 CE

Note

James Chetham and Richard Woolley of Lane End introduced a notable fine-grained feldspathic stoneware, c.1795, and became significant producers of teawares, jugs and vases in this new material. The business was continued by Chetham’s widow, Ann Chetham, from 1809-1814 and then under various family ownership until 1871. James Underwood Mist held premises at 82 Fleet Street, London from 1806 until 1815, initially in partnership with Andrew Abbott who had sold wares for John Turner of Lane End since c.1781. He is known to have sold Chetham & Woolley products, some of which bore his own impressed mark. This vase is unmarked, however, so may not have been sold by that route.

The sprig moulding commemorating Admirals Lord Howe and Lord Nelson appears on several different ‘MIST-type’ feldspathic stoneware items made by Chetham & Woolley. It was perhaps originally made to celebrate Nelson’s victory over the French navy at the Battle of the Nile in 1798 when Howe was Admiral of the Fleet, which would also explain the Egyptian-style obelisk. The style of vase suggests a date of 1800-1815 and the classical border is typical of that found on Chetham & Woolley wares at this time (Wyman, p.78). The vase is identified as 'MIST- type' because its decorative style is similar to that of pieces marked by the London retailer James Mist.