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Punch bowl: C.1555-1928

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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: unidentified London pottery (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue with a bust of John Wilkes

Buff earthenware, thrown, tin-glazed bluish-white, and painted in blue. Circular with deep curved sides standing on a footring. The interior is decorated with a panel enclosing a bust portrait of John Wilkes with below a ribbon inscribed 'WILKES AND LIBERTS [sic] and under it 'No 45'. On the sides there are four scrolling sprays alternating with four dotted ovals. The exterior is decorated with an upper border of scrolling ornament forming arches over floral sprays and sprigs.

Notes

History note: Mr Jolley, Cambridge, from who purchased on 28 February 1905 for £2.5.0 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 10.7 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, third quarter
George III
Circa 1764 CE - 1768 CE Circa 1768 CE -

Note

No. 45 refers to issue 45 of the periodical, The North Briton, published in 1763, in which John Wilkes (1725-97) had printed a satirical article critical of the government

School or Style

Rococo

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colour ( blue from cobalt)
Rim Diameter 29 cm

Materials used in production

bluish-white Tin-glaze
buff Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Throwing : Earthenware, thrown, tin-glazed, and painted in blue
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: first line written on a ribbon, the last two words below not on a ribbon

  • Text: WILKES AND LIBERTS [sic]/ No 45
  • Location: Inside bowl below portrait
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1555-1928
Primary reference Number: 72215
Old object number: 2281

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 10 April 2025

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) "Punch bowl" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/72215 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:48:17

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/72215 |title=Punch bowl |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:48:17|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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