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Plate: C.26-1928

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Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unidentified

Entities

Categories

Description

Pearlware plate with moulded relief border, transfer-printed underglaze in blue in the well with a man riding a an early bicycle, and inscription 'THE REAl DANDY HOBBY'

White earthenware, moulded, and transfer-printed in blue under blue-tinted lead-glaze (pearlware). The circular plate has a narrow sloping rim, moulded in relief with a border of alternate roses and daisies linked by a wavy stem with a smaller flower between each of the others. The well has curved sides and a flat central area. The well and sides are decorated with a smartly dressed man riding on a hobby or dandy horse in open country, with below the words 'THE REAL DANDY HOBBY'.

Notes

History note: Unknown before Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 13.3 cm
Height: 1.8 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

1820s
George IV
Circa 1820 - 1825

Note

The hobby or dandy horse was an early bicycle with no pedals, invented in 1817 by a German, Karl von Drais, who was living in France. An English version was introduced in 1819 by Denis Johnson, a coach builder. The term dandy, usually applied to a highly fashionable man, was used to describe it, because riding one was seen as bang up to the minute. Needless to say, they resulted in a lot of accidents and road rage, and there are numerous contemporary prints showing riders on and off their machines.

Components of the work

Decoration composed of ceramic printing colour ( blue from cobalt)

Materials used in production

tinted very pale blue Lead-glaze
white Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Moulding : White earthenware, moulded, and transfer-printed in blue under slightly blue-tinted lead-glaze
Lead-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: almost square white paper stick-on label with serrated edges on three sides and a red line on the lower edge

  • Text: Pearlware/rare plates/3 c/-/-/cfe/x/-
  • Location: On back
  • Method of creation: Hand-written in faded blue-black ink
  • Type: Label

Inscription present: circular white paper stick-on-label, with printed words in a circle enclosed by a black line

  • Text: J.W.L. GLAISHER.COLLECTION printed around 72/28 handwritten
  • Location: On back
  • Method of creation: Printed in black and hand-written in black ink
  • Type: Museum label

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.26-1928
Primary reference Number: 73798
Old object number: C.72-1928

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 April 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) "Plate" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/73798 Accessed: 2025-12-05 17:44:47

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/73798 |title=Plate |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 17:44:47|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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