English Ceramics 1603-1850
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Glasgow Museums has a collection of approximately 1400 objects of English ceramics, dated from 1603-1850. Seventeenth-century ceramics from this period include dishes, bowls, and cups of English Staffordshire ware featuring several impressive slipwares, the most important of which is probably a fine dish attributed to Thomas Toft (d.1698), decorated with the Christian symbol of the ‘Pelican in her Piety’, and signed with the maker’s name. By the eighteenth century, there became an increased demand of porcelain wares. The elite initially used Chinese porcelain, but this was soon supplanted by more affordable alternatives made by the rapidly expanding local potteries, who created alternative soft-past porcelain formulas. Eighteenth-century English porcelain featured in the collection includes table wares from the Worcester, Crown Derby, and Wedgewood potteries, including plates, mugs, bowls, and tea and coffee services. The collection also features ornamental pieces from Chelsea and Bow including an exceptionally rare Chelsea figure of Italian actress Isabella Andreini (which is one of only three known examples surviving). English pearlware and creamware are also well represented, in addition to Staffordshire vessels and ornaments and Wedgwood jasperwares.
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