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Cephalus and Procris: C.940-1928

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Object information

Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Cephalus and Procris

Maker(s)

Production: Lakin & Poole

Entities

Categories

Description

Lead-glazed earthenware group of Cephalus and Procris painted in polychrome enamels

White earthenware, moulded, covered with slightly blue tinted lead-glaze, and painted in blue, yellowish-green, turquoise, yellow, pale orange, flesh pink, pink, puce, pale purple, brown, and black enamels. The figures are supported on a shallow rectangular base with three ventilation holes on the underside. Its top and sides are painted in shades of brown to resemble marble and in the middle of the front edge it has a rectangular label painted with the title 'CEPHALUS & PROCRIS'. Cephalus stands on the viewer's right leaning towards Procris and placing his right arm around her shoulders. He has short, curly brown hair, and wears a short pink tunic with blue edging round the hem and neckline, a long pale orange cloak with a turquoise lining held on by a dark brown strap, and sandals with orange straps. His bow, painted black, lies on the base beside him. Procris is seated on a rock with her legs extended. She looks upwards towards Cephalus and raises her left hand on his right upper arm. She has long brown hair arranged with a top knot at the front, and a chignon at the back, with tresses hanging down onto her shoulders.. She wears a low-necked, long white dress patterned with floral sprigs and spots, a pale purple cloak with a yellow lining, and sandals with orange straps.

Notes

History note: A.G. Smith, Wardour Street, London, from whom purchased for £21.10s. on 6 December 1906 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 28 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Burslem ⪼ Staffordshire ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, Late
George III
Circa 1791 - 1795

Note

In Greek mythology, the story of Cephalus ends tragically when he accidentally killed his beloved wife, Procris while hunting, and went into exile. The modelling of this group is typical of figures made by Lakin & Poole in Burslem. Thomas Lakin and John Ellison Poole entered into partnership in 1791, and in 1795 were joined by Poole's brother-in-law, Thomas Shrigley. Thomas Lakin withdrew from the partnership in January 1796 and a year later the other partners were declared bankrupt. During the short period of operation their factory made some exceptionally well-modelled and decorated figures, many of which stood on marbled bases.

School or Style

Neoclassical

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of enamels ( blue, yellowish-green, turquoise, yellow, pale orange, flesh pink, pink, puce, pale purple, brown, and black)
Surface composed of lead-glaze ( slightly blue tinted)

Materials used in production

Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Moulding : White earthenware, moulded, covered with slightly blue tinted lead-glaze, and painted in blue, yellowish-green, turquoise, yellow, pale orange, flesh pink, pink, puce, pale purple, brown, and black enamels.

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: CEPHALUS & PROCRIS
  • Method of creation: Painted
  • Type: Inscription
  • Text: LAKIN & POOLE
  • Method of creation: Impressed
  • Type: Factory mark

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.940-1928
Primary reference Number: 76415
Old object number: 2603
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 23 January 2024 Last processed: Tuesday 23 January 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 (2024) "Cephalus and Procris" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/76415 Accessed: 2024-04-23 17:39:18

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/76415 |title=Cephalus and Procris |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-04-23 17:39:18|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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