Current Location: In storage
Titles
Minerva
Maker(s)
Production:
Unidentified Staffordshire factory
Entities
Categories
Description
Lead-glazed earthenware figure of Minerva standing with her owl beside her painted in polychrome enamels
Cream earthenware, moulded, covered with lead-glaze slightly tinted blue, and painted in blue, green, yellow, flesh pink, dull puce, orange, red, brown, greyish-brown, and black enamels. The figure stands on a low multi-coloured mound supported on a straight-sided square base decorated with a reddish-brown horizontal line and the name 'Minerva' across the front. It is closed and concave underneath and has a ventilation hole in the centre. Minerva stands facing towards the viewer with her right arm raised to hold a spear (missing), and her left hand resting on the top of a blue-edged oval shield decorated with a grotesque mask in relief. Her owl perches beside it. She has ruddy cheeks and wears a brown helmet with plumes on top, a green cuirass-like bodice with a red border round the square neckline, a long skirt scattered with floral sprays and spots, and sandals with brown straps. A billowing blue and dull puce drape is attached to her left shoulder by a brooch attached to a strap which passes across the front of her body to meet the drape at her waist on the opposite side.
Notes
History note: W.F.A. Wilson; Christie's, 15-16 November 1906, Catalogue of the collection of old English pottery and porcelain formed by W.F.A. Wilson, second day, part of lot 235; purchased with three other figures by Thomas Sutton for 17 guineas (£19.12.6 with commission) on behalf of Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge
Legal notes
Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest
Measurements and weight
Height: 31.5 cm
12
At the moment, this record does not display units or type of
measurements. We will rectify this as soon as possible.
Acquisition and important dates
Method of acquisition: Bequeathed
(1928-12-07)
by
Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr
Dating
18th Century, Late-19th Century, Early
George III
Circa
1790
-
1810
Note
Minerva was the Roman equivalent of the Greek goddess Athene, who was goddess of handicrafts, and war, and was regarded as a personification of wisdom. In art she was often portrayed as a warrior, and accompanied by an owl.
School or Style
Neoclassical
People, subjects and objects depicted
Components of the work
Decoration
composed of
enamel
( blue, green, yellow, flesh pink, dull puce, orange, red, brown, greyish-brown, and black)
Surface
composed of
lead-glaze
( tinted slightly blue)
Base
Depth 19 cm
Width 19 cm
Materials used in production
cream
Earthenware
Techniques used in production
Moulding
: Cream earthenware, moulded in parts, assembled, coated with lead-glaze tinted slightly blue, and painted in blue, green, yellow, flesh pink, dull puce, orange, red, brown, greyish-brown, and black enamels.
Inscription or legends present
- Text: Minerva
- Location: On exterior of base
- Method of creation: Painted in brownish-red
- Type: Inscription
Inscription present: rectangular white paper stick-on label with a blue line on the left and top edge and blue plant motifs in the upper two corners.
- Text: No 2600/Staffordshire/figure of/Minerva /b. at Christies/Nov 16.1906
- Location: On underside of base
- Method of creation: Hand-written in black ink
- Type: Label
Inscription present: shaped cutting from a sale catalogue
- Text: STAFFORDSHIRE./ Statuette of Minerva on scroll base, with owl and shield, he /13 inches
- Location: On underside of base
- Method of creation: Printed in black
- Type: Label
References and bibliographic entries
Identification numbers
Accession number: C.888-1928
Primary reference Number: 76291
Old object number: 2600
Stable URI
Audit data
Created: Saturday 6 August 2011
Updated: Tuesday 30 April 2024
Last processed: Tuesday 15 July 2025
Associated departments & institutions
Owner or interested party:
The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department:
Applied Arts
