Tankard: C.2033-1928

Maker(s)

Production: Emens, Jan (Probably)

Entities

• Tankard
• Schnelle

Categories

• Stoneware
• Salt-glazed stoneware
• German stoneware

Description

Brown salt-glazed stoneware tankard with a pewter cover, the sides decorated with scenes of Samson carrying off the gates of Gaza, the Sacrifice of Manoah, and Delilah shaving Samson's hair

Grey stoneware with a thin brown wash, salt-glaze, and a pewter cover. The tankard has a tapering cylindrical body with cordons round the top and base, and a strap handle with a wavy tail at its lower end. A convex pewter cover with an ovoid thumb piece is hinged to a mount attached to the top of the handle. The sides are decorated with three applied panels moulded in relief. On the right of the handle, at the top is a small figure, a mask, and foliage issuing from horns, over a trefoil arch under which Samson is carrying off the gates of Gaza; below. two nude boys support a rectangular panel bearing the words 'MANOH/SAMSON/13'. In the middle under a different version of the ornamental motif at the top, is a trefoil arch under which is an angel on a flaming altar flanked by a kneeling figures of Manoah and his wife, under which are the initials 'PR', and below, two lions (?) support a rectangular panel bearing the words 'MANOH/I VDIKA/.3.4.'. On the left of the handle, at the top is a seated devil flanked by horns , scrolls, and foliage, below which is a trefoil arch, enclosing Delilah and a man holding a knife to shave Samson's hair in front of a tent ,and a table on which is a ewer and a cup. Below a kneeling man and woman support a rectangular panel inscribed 'DIELILA/BEDREG/SAMS'

Notes

History note: William Mullins, 52 High Street, Salisbury; from whom purchased for £4 by letter of 16 August by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge. The jug arrived in Cambridge 24 August 2022.

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

16th Century, Late
Renaissance
Circa 1567 - 1570

Note

Raeren, near Aachen did not become part of Belgium after the First World War, and its stoneware is usually classed as German. Jan Emens (1540-93), one of the most prolific of the Raeren stoneware potters, was a member of the Mennicken family of potters and signed his work with the initials 'IE', 'JE', 'YE' 'IEM' or 'YEM' . A tankard of similar form including the wavy profile of the lower terminal of the handle, dated 1567, decorated with panels of Judith, Esther and Lucretia, is in the Louvre (inv. N 158).

The story of the Sacrifice of Manoah occurs in the Bible in Judges, 13, verses 19-20; Samson carrying off the gates of Gaza is in Judges, 16, verse 3, and Delilah ordering a man to cut Samson's hair is in Judges 16, verse 19.

School or Style

Renaissance