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Punch bowl: C.1597-1928

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An image of Punch bowl
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Pottery: unidentified London pottery (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware decorated with powdered manganese-purple and painting in blue

Buff earthenware, thrown, tin-glazed bluish-white, and decorated inside with painting in blue, and outside with powdered manangese-purple. The circular bowl has deep curved sides, and stands on a footring. Inside it is decorated with a central medallion framed by a wide and a narrow blue band, enclosing a half-length figure of John Wilkes between tied back curtains. Outside the medallion is the inscription, 'Wilkes. And. Honest:Iuries. No; Mad 45' (d of Mad raised), surrounded by a narrow circle. The rim is encircled by a wide and a narrow band. The exterior is powdered overall in manganes-purple, except for the area within the footring.

Notes

History note: Acquired at Haddenham, Cambridgeshire by an unknown dealer who sold it to Mr Jolley of 11 Bridge Street, Cambridge, from whom purchased for £5 on 27 January 1910 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 26.5 cm
Height: 10.2 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 - Circa 1768 CE

Note

This bowl was probably made in either 1764 or 1768. In 1764 John Wilkes (1727-92) lost his seat in parliament and was convicted of libel on account of an article published in 1763 in the 45th issue of The North Briton. Wilkes fled to France and did not return until 1768. He then stood for parliament and was elected as one of the MPs for Middlesex, but was again deprived of his seat, and was fined and imprisoned for twelve months. In both years there was enormous support for Wilkes and numerous pieces of pottery bear his portrait and slogans.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Materials used in production

blue from cobalt oxide High temperature colour
Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Painting
Tin-glazing
Throwing (pottery technique)

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: d of Mad is raised and there is a space between that word and 45

  • Text: Wilkes. And. Honest:Iuries. No; Mad 45

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1597-1928
Primary reference Number: 72280
Old object number: 3183

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/72280 Accessed: 2025-12-05 09:48:59

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/72280 |title=Punch bowl |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 09:48:59|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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