Ceramics
Staffordshire or Shropshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe
1750-1775
Earthenware (blackware); Lead glaze
Pulled, Molded, Thrown, Gilded
1958.1405 A, B
Object Number1958.1405 A, B |
Coffee pot
Ceramics
Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont
Staffordshire or Shropshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe
1750-1775
1. Label; Underside; Linen adhesive label, handwritten in pencil with old collection number, "2c86ab".
Earthenware (blackware); Lead glaze
Pulled, Molded, Thrown, Gilded
8.5 (H) , 7.75 (W) , 4.5 (Diam)
21.59 (H) , 19.685 (W) , 11.43 (Diam)
Width measurement is from spout to handle.
Sometimes called lead-glazed blackware, most ceramics of this general type were made in Staffordshire, England, during the mid 1700s. (Jackfield, in Shropshire, England, was another producer but made much lower quantities than did Staffordshire.) The glossy dark appearance of blackware was achieved in either of two ways: a nearly-black earthenware body was covered in a clear, yellowish lead glaze; or, a dark red earthenware body was coated in lead glaze that was tinted dark brown. Although such wares now typically display an overall shiny appearance, many originally bore “cold painted” (unfired or low-temperature-fired) ornament inspired by the appearance of popular Asian lacquerwork. However, cold-applied designs did not adhere well to the glaze surface, and over time many wore away, leaving an uneven appearance. Some 20th century collectors chose to rub away the remaining, deteriorated color decoration, in favor of an overall more mirror-like, reflective appearance. Happily, traces of the "cold decoration" on this example have survived to the present day.