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Remember Lot's Wife: C.201-1928

An image of Dish
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An image of Dish
Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Remember Lot's Wife

Maker(s)

Potter: Malkin, Samuel

Entities

Categories

Description

Press-moulded slipware dish decorated with a woman and two angels above three arches, the central one enclosing a rectangular frame bearing the words 'Remember/Lots Wife/Luke 17:32/1726'

Buff earthenware, press-moulded over a hump mould to produce a design in relief on the interior, coated in cream slip, and slip-trailed in brown and dark brown under yellowish lead-glaze; the exterior is undecorated. The dish is circular with deep curved sides, and a pie crust border made by adjacent impressions of an oval implement. In the middle there are three arches, supported on columns with sturdy bases, resembling a reredos or screen in a church. The central archway encloses a rectangular panel with lettering in relief: 'Remember/Lots Wife/Luke:17:32/1726'. Above is a standing woman wearing a bell-shaped skirt, flanked by angels with trumpets. On either side of the woman's head are the intials S and M in relief. The sides of the dish are decorated with three rows of trailed dark brown spots with smaller brown spots in the spaces.

Notes

History note: Marc-Louis Solon Collection; sold Hanley, Charles Butters & Sons, 26-28 November 1912, Solon Sale, lot 77; bought for £39 by Mr George (?) Stoner for Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, Trinity College, Cambridge.

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 35.5 cm
Height: 6.4 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, second quarter
George I
George II
Circa 1726 CE - 1740 CE

Note

The strange decoration of this dish is a reminder to the viewer to observe God's laws obediently. 'Remember Lot's Wife', word's spoken by Christ recorded in St Luke's Gospel, 17, verse 32 alluded to the story of Lot in the Old Testament book of Genesis, chapter 19. Lot was instructed by angels to take his family and leave Sodom before it was destroyed, and on no account to look back. On their journey Lot's wife disobeyed, and was transformed into a pillar of salt (verse 26). The initials at the top of the dish probably stand for Samuel Malkin (1688-1741) of Burslem in Staffordshire.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Front composed of lead-glaze
Decoration composed of slip

Materials used in production

Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Buff earthenware, press-moulded over a hump mould to produce a design in relief on the interior, coated in cream slip, and slip-trailed in brown and dark brown under yellowish lead-glaze; the exterior is undecorated. The crimped edge was produced by adjacent impressions of an implement or stick.

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: separated by central figure

  • Text: S M
  • Location: On front at top near rim
  • Method of creation: Moulded in relief
  • Type: Initials

Inscription present: Rectangular white paper stick on label with cut top corners, and a red line running round the left, top and right sides

  • Text: 3599./Moulded bowl/shaped slipware/dish inscribed/"SM" and "remem-/ber Lot's wife/Luke 17:32/1726"/b. at the Solon/sale Nov 26/1912
  • Location: In middle of base
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in black ink
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.201-1928
Primary reference Number: 72995
Old object number: 3599

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Friday 27 December 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) "Remember Lot's Wife" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/72995 Accessed: 2025-12-05 11:27:05

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/72995 |title=Remember Lot's Wife |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 11:27:05|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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