Plate
Earthenware, slightly scalloped edge, printed underglaze in puce with a scene of young African American figures celebrating before a small hut beneath a flag inscribed 'LIBERTY', titled above 'FREEDOM FIRST OF AUGUST' and dated '1838' below, within a dense border of repeated flowerheads.
White earthenware, printed underglaze in two shades of puce. Circular with a slightly scalloped edge, convex sloping rim, and deep well with curved sides. In the middle an African American family comprising a man, a woman, and two children, are joyfully celebrating their freedom in front of a small hut with behind it, trees, shrubs, and a pole flying a pennant inscribed 'LIBERTY'. Above are the words 'FREEDOM FIRST OF AUGUST', and below, the date '1838'.
History note: Robin Simpson; purchased at his sale, the Robin Simpson Collection of Commemorative Ceramics, Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury, 8 September 2021, lot 516
Given by the Friends of The Fitzwilliam Museum
Diameter: 27 cm
Height: 2.6 cm
Method of acquisition: Bought (2021) by Woolley & Wallis The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum
19th Century, second quarter#
William IV
Production date:
dated
AD 1838
This plate depicts a number of formerly enslaved people joyfully celebrating the arrival of 1 August 1838, the date at which formerly enslaved people in the West Indies were granted full emancipation. Unlike many abolitionist ceramics, which depict enslaved people as powerless and grateful, this plate depicts enslaved people without bonds and as joyful to be free of their bondage. Although the Abolition of Slavery Act had come into force on 1 August 1834 (as commemorated on jug C.6-2021), in reality, the formerly enslaved in the British West Indies (over the age of six years old) were made to continue working for their former masters under an unpaid apprentice system lasting four to six years. This period ended prematurely on 1 August 1838, when full emancipation was granted for all enslaved people.
Surface
composed of
lead-glaze
( presumed lead-glaze)
Decoration
composed of
ceramic printing colour
( puce)
Inscription present: circular white paper stick-on label printed in black with the inscription round the edge within a narrow black line
Accession number: C.7-2021
Primary reference Number: 307501
Object entry form: 1556
Stable URI
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:
The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Plate" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/307501 Accessed: 2024-12-18 20:04:58
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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/307501
|title=Plate
|author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-12-18 20:04:58|publisher=The
University of Cambridge}}
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