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Charles II's Head in an Oak Tree: C.205-1928

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An image of Dish
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Charles II's Head in an Oak Tree

Maker(s)

Production: Malkin, Samuel (Perhaps)

Entities

Categories

Description

Slipware dish decorated with the crowned head of Charles II amidst the branches of a stylized Boscobel Oak flanked by the initials J B

Buff earthenware, press-moulded over a hump mould to produce a design in relief with rouletted edges on the interior, coated with cream slip, and slip-trailed in ochre and dark brown under yellowish lead-glaze. The exterior is undecorated. Circular with deep curved sides and a pie crust edge produced by impressing a circular tool or stick. The front is decorated with a crowned head of Charles II amidst the branches of a stylized Boscobel Oak with two plants at its base, and the initials J B (script J) on either side of the trunk.

Notes

History note: Lady Harvey (née Magdalene Breadalbane Pringle), 19 Marsefield Gardens, South Hampstead, London; George Stoner, from whom purchased for £40 on 17 June 1912 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 35.5 cm
Height: 7 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, first half
Circa 1700 - 1740

Note

The possible attribution to Samuel Malkin is based on the existence of a dish of similar design bearing the initials S M and C R 2 in the Nelson-Atkins Museum at Kansas, Missouri, but here the initials are IB probably indicating JB. The design commemorates the dramatic escape of Charles II after his defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, when he evaded the Parlamentarians by hiding in an oak tree near Boscobel House in Shropshire.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration
Inner Surface
Inside

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding : Buff earthenware, press-moulded over a hump mould to produce a design in relief with rouletted edges on the interior, coated with cream slip, and slip-trailed in ochre and dark brown under yellowish lead-glaze. The exterior is undecorated. Circular with deep curved sides and a pie crust edge produced by impressing a circular tool or stick.

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: rectangular white paper stick on label with cut upper corners, and a double red line round three sides

  • Text: No 3533/Slipware dish/with King Charles/in the oak &/initials J B/b. in London/June 17 1912
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in black ink
  • Type: Label

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.205-1928
Primary reference Number: 73053
Old object number: 3533

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) "Charles II's Head in an Oak Tree" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/73053 Accessed: 2025-12-05 20:11:43

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/73053 |title=Charles II's Head in an Oak Tree |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 20:11:43|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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