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Hand Warmer in the Shape of a Book: C.1428-1928

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An image of Hand warmer
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Current Location: In storage

Titles

Hand Warmer in the Shape of a Book

Maker(s)

Pottery: unidentified London pottery (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

White earthenware, tin-glazed, and painted in blue, turquoise-green, yellow and ochre. Formed as a book with two false clasps, the hand warmer has two compartments linked by a hole, and having a large approximately rectangular aperture in the top near the spine, and a small hole in the back top left corner. Both sides are painted with the initials and date 'EM/1663' within an oval loopy frame, and have a fleur-de-lys in each corner. The spine is painted with four horizontal stripes alternating with dotted flowerheads, and the fore-edge is painted in turquoise with slightly darker stripes to indicate the pages. The clasps are yellow.

Notes

History note: Purchased from Louis Gautier, Chelsea on 12 July 1927 for £15 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, Trinity College, Cambridge.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 4 cm
Height: 11.3 cm
Width: 7.9 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

17th Century, third quarter
Charles II
Production date: dated AD 1663

Note

Probably made by a pottery in London, although the Brislington Pottery was also operating at this date

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colour ( blue, turquoise-green, yellow, and ochre)

Materials used in production

white Earthenware
Tin-glaze

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: EM/1663
  • Location: Front and back
  • Method of creation: Painted
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1428-1928
Primary reference Number: 71986
Old object number: 4963

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 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) "Hand Warmer in the Shape of a Book" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/71986 Accessed: 2025-12-05 07:16:26

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/71986 |title=Hand Warmer in the Shape of a Book |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 07:16:26|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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