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Princess Anna Sophia of Hanover: C.1356-1928

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Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Princess Anna Sophia of Hanover

Maker(s)

Pottery: unidentified London pottery

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue with a portrait of the Electress Anna Sophia of Hanover

Buff earthenware, tin-glazed white appearing pinkish in places. The surround is moulded like a picture frame and painted black, probably with unfired colour. The plaque is painted with an oval medallion containing a portrait of the Electress Sophia of Hanover, inscribed below, 'The most Illustrious Princess/Anna Sophia of Hanover'. On the back is the date '1704'.

Notes

History note: Francis Bennett-Goldney (1865-1918), Abbotts Barton, Canterbury; sold Puttick & Simpson, 4 March, 1920, English delft and ancient Roman pottery, Major F. Bennett-Goldney Sale, lot 82; bought by Frank Stonor, who sold it for £35.14s. 0d. to Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 21.8 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, Early
Anne
Production date: dated AD 1704

Note

Probably made in London. Princess Anne had ascended the throne in 1702 on the death of William III, her brother-in-law. By the Act of Settlement in 1701, the next in line, in the event of Anne having no heirs, was to be the Electress of Hanover, a granddaughter of James I, thus preventing the Roman Catholic heirs of James II from succeeding. The Electress died in 1714, shortly before Anne, and her son, George I became King.

The black painted frame was probably intended to represent ebony or black lacquer

School or Style

Baroque

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colour ( blue from cobalt) black pigment

Materials used in production

buff Earthenware
Tin-glaze

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing : Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue, with a frame painted black and probably not fired

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: The most Illustrious Princess/Anna Sophia of Hanover'
  • Location: On front below portrait
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription
  • Text: 1704
  • Location: On back
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Date

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1356-1928
Primary reference Number: 71861
Old object number: 4775

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 26 March 2024

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Princess Anna Sophia of Hanover" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/71861 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:51:48

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/71861 |title=Princess Anna Sophia of Hanover |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:51:48|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Princess Anna Sophia of Hanover</figcaption>
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