Object Number 2002.0030.092

Object Name

Figure group (The Bible Lesson or The Prudent Mother)

Title

The Bible Lesson or The Prudent Mother

Category

Ceramics

Credit Line/Donor

Gift of Thomas N. and A. Pat Bernard

Creator (Role)

Philippe Mercier (Design inspiration)
1689-1760

Carington Bowles (Possible design inspiration)
1724-1793
Carington Bowles (1724-1793) was trained by his father John Bowles (1701-1779) and they traded together from 1754 to 1764 as John Bowles and Son at the Black Horse in Cornhill. John's brother, Thomas Bowles (1695 or 1712-1767), had a similar business in St. Paul's Churchyard, which Carington took over in 1764 when his uncle retired. Carington and John then began trading separately under their own names. Carington was succeeded by his son Henry Carington Bowles (1763-1830), who printed under the name Bowles and Carver. John was succeeded by Robert Wilkinson.

Derby Porcelain Works (Possible design inspiration)
c.1750-1848

Place of Origin

Staffordshire, England, United Kingdom, Europe

Date

1815-1825

Mark or Signature or Inscription or Label

1. Mark; Back of figure; Impressed "13"
2. Mark; Underside; A stylized tulip (three petals) is painted in blue with a blue dot to one side
3. Label; Underside; Round orange sticker, handwritten in blue ink, "no. 322" (Bernard Collection number)

Subjects

Religious imagery; Religion associated

Materials

Earthenware (pearlware); Lead glaze

Techniques

Molded, Painted, Enameled

Dimensions (inches)

8.25 (H) , 5.625 (W) , 4.125 (D)

Dimensions (centimeters)

20.955 (H) , 14.288 (W) , 10.478 (D)

Object Description

Text available soon.

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Electronic] The British Museum. The Prudent Mother (Derby figure). The British Museum 08/23/2022 https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1936-0715-40-CR
• Derby porcelain figure after same design source: Derby Porcelain Factory white figure of The Prudent Mother, c. 1790, "based on a painting, known through two versions, by the German portrait painter Phillippe Mercier (c. 1689-1760), as 'The Bible Lesson' or 'L'instruction Maternelle'."
[Book] Schkolne, Myrna. 2014 Holding the Past: The William Herbert and Nancy Hunt Collection of Early English Pottery Figures.
• Closely similar (smaller) model of The Prudent Mother in polychrome enameled earthenware: p. 127, no. 99, after Philippe Mercier (1689-1760) so-called "The Bible Lesson" reproduced 1760 and later variations by Carington Bowles as "The Prudent Mother." Notes Enoch Wood-associated example impressed "13" and probably earlier Derby Porcelain versions.
[Book] Harding, Adrian & Harding, Nicholas. 1998 Victorian Staffordshire Figures 1835-1875. 1.
• Same models and smaller one, identified tentatively as Agnas: p. 40, fig. 1767, notes though called Agnas, no supporting evidence.