Skip to main content

Figure of Nobody: C.1433-1928

An image of Anthropomorphic vessel
View image details IIIF icon - view image Universal Viewer Deep zoom Mirador icon - view image Mirador deep zoom IIIF Manifest IIIF Manifest Slow looking

Terms of use

These images are provided for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND). To license a high resolution version, please contact our image library who will discuss fees, terms and waivers.

Download this image

Creative commons explained - what it means, how you can use our's and other people's content.

Alternative views

An image of Anthropomorphic vessel
An image of Anthropomorphic vessel
An image of Anthropomorphic vessel
An image of Anthropomorphic vessel
An image of Anthropomorphic vessel
View all 15 images attached
Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Figure of Nobody

Maker(s)

Pottery: Brislington Pottery (Possibly)
Pottery: uncertain

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed and painted earthenware vessel in the form of a man smoking a pipe, initialled and dated 'M/RM/1675'

Buff earthenware, moulded, pierced, tin-glazed, and painted in blue, pale turquoise-green, yellow, and orange. Nobody stands with his feet together, his left hand resting on his hip, and his right hand outstretched and holding a pipe which he is puffing. The pipe was made separately and attached. The roughly circular mound base has a pierced border of single holes alternating with pairs of smaller holes, some of which are filled with glaze. The underside is initialled and dated 'M/RM/1675'

Notes

History note: Cyril Andrade, London from whom purchased on 13 October 1926 for £21 by Dr Glaisher.

Legal notes

Dr. J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 23.3 cm

Place(s) associated

  • London ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

Late 17th Century
Charles II
Production date: dated AD 1675 : dated

Note

Nobody is a non-existent person who is blamed for mishaps and minor misdemeanours. This figure resembles an illustration of Nobody on the title page of Nobody and Somebody, a play published in London in 1606.

This figure was earlier attributed to London, probably Southwark, but Brislington Pottery has been suggested as an alternative.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colours ( blue, pale turquoise-green, yellow, and orange)
Base Diameter 10.6 cm

Materials used in production

buff Earthenware
Tin-glaze

Techniques used in production

Moulding : Buff earthenware, moulded in parts, tin-glazed, and painted in blue, pale turquoise-green, yellow, and orange.
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: M/RM/1675
  • Location: On underside of base
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1433-1928
Primary reference Number: 71996
Old object number: 4440

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 16 March 2021

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 (2022) "Figure of Nobody" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/71996 Accessed: 2022-12-03 05:29:07

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/71996 |title=Figure of Nobody |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2022-12-03 05:29:07|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

To call these data via our API (remember this needs to be authenticated) you can use this code snippet:

https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/api/v1/objects/object-71996

Bootstrap HTML code for reuse

To use this as a simple code embed, copy this string:

<div class="text-center">
    <figure class="figure">
        <img src="https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/imagestore/aa/aa30/C_1433_1928_1_201407_kly25_mas.jpg"
        alt="Figure of Nobody"
        class="img-fluid" />
        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Figure of Nobody</figcaption>
    </figure>
</div>

Please enter your name as you would like to be addressed
Please enter your email address
The object accession number - this is prefilled
Please enter your query with as much detail as possible

More objects and works of art you might like

An image of Print

The Times, -or a view of the Old House in Little Brittain with nobody going to Hannover

Accession Number: P.742-1948

An image of Figure

Seated figure of Hariti

Accession Number: O.1-1898

An image of Figure of a cock

Figure of a cock

Accession Number: OC.12-1946

An image of Figure

Figure

Accession Number: O.2-1929

Suggested products from Curating Cambridge

Featured image for the project: Alan Turing Zeta Function Machine blueprint - Tea towel

Alan Turing Zeta Function Machine blueprint - Tea towel

£9.00

Featured image for the project: Niwaki mini shears

Niwaki mini shears

£55.00

Featured image for the project: The Tombs of the Sultans near Cairo - Art print

The Tombs of the Sultans near Cairo - Art print

£30.00

Featured image for the project: Near the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem - Art print

Near the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem - Art print

£30.00

You might be interested in this...

Featured image for the project: Senusret III

Senusret III

Featured image for the project: Seated kirin

Seated kirin

Featured image for the project: Fitz3D Challenge: Making Meaning

Fitz3D Challenge: Making Meaning

Featured image for the project: Draped figure standing

Draped figure standing

Sign up for updates

Updates about future exhibitions and displays, family activities, virtual events & news. You'll be the first to know...

University of Cambridge Museums logo
Cambridge City Council logo
Arts Council England Logo
Research England logo
Brewin Dolphin Logo