Details

Object type

dish

Title

Pelican in her Piety

Artist/Maker

Thomas Toft

Place Associated

England, Staffordshire (place of manufacture)

Date

1671 - 1689

Materials

earthenware

Dimensions

overall: 72 mm x 491 mm x 495 mm 5518 g

Description

This lead-glazed earthenware dish is decorated in orange and brown slip on cream-coloured slip coat with jewelled slip decoration. Its elaborate decoration depicts the pelican and her piety, with the pelican representing Christ, cutting open his own breast to represent his death on the cross, his blood reviving humanity. The pelican is framed by a rosette and two fleurs-de-lis and a trellis border. The inscription “Thomas Toft” points to one of the best-known maker of Staffordshire-made slipware pottery.

Toft is celebrated for his elaborately-decorated dishes. Not typical of slipwares, they show the skills and imagination of those involved in creating them. Thrown slipware dishes were a major part of the output of Staffordshire potters, until superseded by press-moulded dishes in the early to mid-18th century.

Credit Line/Donor

Gifted by Sir William and Lady Burrell to the City of Glasgow, 1944

Collection

Burrell Collection: English Pottery [Stoneware, Porcelain]

ID Number

39.88

Location

Burrell Collection

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