Pitcher

Title:

La Fayette

Object Name:

Pitcher

Object ID:

1975.010

Creator:

Smirke, William; Heath, James

Place of Origin:

England

Date:

circa 1825

Description:

Pitcher. Red earthenware with copper lustre glaze. Bulbous body with short pedestal base; slightly flaring neck, long spout and scroll handle. Molded bead design around rim; molded horizontal ribs around neck. Wide yellow band covers most of body portion and includes three black transfer-print vignettes. One vignette shows an oval portrait of a man, with two female angels holding a halo above him. It is titled above the portrait, "LA FAYETTE". Below the portrait is an eagle; clouds and sunburst in the background. Vignette on the opposite face shows nine men standing, and one horse behind them. Those whose costumes are visible are all wearing military costumes. The scene is titled, below the image, "CORNWALLIS / Resigning his Sword at York Town Octr.19th.1781". The third vignette is located below the spout; it depicts a group of fruit including a pear, plums, cherries, and other fruit. No maker's marks found.

Material:

Ceramic
Earthenware
Copper

Dimensions:

H-6.8 W-8.35 Dia-5.7 inches

Provenance:

Originally belonged to Nathaniel Caverly (1763-1845) of Barrington and Strafford, New Hampshire; Caverly was a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, from New Hampshire. From him it descended to his youngest daughter, Sophia (Caverly) Drew (1809-1901), grandmother of the donor, Mary E. Strout (1876-1975). In correspondence, donor mentioned that she was 10 years old when she first saw the pitcher.

Credit Line:

Gift of Mary E. Strout, in memory of Sophia Caverly Drew

People:

Lafayette, Marquis de (1757-1834), Cornwallis, Charles (1738-1805), Heath, James, Smirke, William, Caverly, Nathaniel (1763-1845), Drew, Sophia C. (1809-1901), Caswell, Abbie J. (1834-1925), Strout, Mary E. (1876-1975)

Subjects:

Battles, Commemoration