Mug
This black and white transfer-printed earthenware "creamware" mug made by the Staffordshire firm of Ralph Hall & Son features medallion portraits on either side of George Washington (1732–1799) and General Lafayette (1757–1834). The same portraits also decorate a cup and saucer, 45.35.30 and 45.35.31, in the American Wing's collection. As an American Revolutionary War hero and the nation's first president, Washington was a popular patriotic subject for transfer-printed wares made specifically for the American export market. Equally popular as a Revolutionary War hero who fought for the Americans, Lafayette was also famous for the year-long visit he paid the United States as the "Nation's Guest" in 1824. The inscription accompanying an American spread eagle placed between the two portraits, "REPUBLICANS / ARE NOT ALWAYS UNGRATEFUL," refers to the gift made to Lafayette by the United States Congress of 240,000 acres of land and $20,000 in recognition of Lafayette’s service to the nation during the War. Lafayette's portrait was based on a portrait by French history painter Ary Scheffer (1795–1858) engraved by French engraver Cyprien Jacquemin (active 1836–1852). Hall & Son's portrait of Washington was probably based on a painting by American painter Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828), one of the leading portrait painters of his day in England and America. Pairs of portraits of the two heroes also appear on a plate, 42.149.9, by an unknown maker. Washington is depicted alone on two plates, 98.1.65 and 14.102.26, by a competitor of Hall & Son, Enoch Wood & Sons (1818–1846), and on a pitcher, 1980.499.2, by another unknown maker. The collection also contains original works by Stuart. Refer to the Dictionary for definitions of the terms "creamware" and "transfer printing" and for information about Hall & Son and Wood & Sons.
Artwork Details
- Title: Mug
- Maker: Ralph Hall & Son (active 1836–1841)
- Date: ca. 1836–ca. 1841
- Geography: Made in Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, England
- Culture: British (American market)
- Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
- Dimensions: H. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); Diam. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
- Credit Line: Gift of Mrs. Lydia Bond Powel, 1964
- Object Number: 64.84
- Curatorial Department: The American Wing
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Ralph Hall & Son (active 1836–1841)
ca. 1836–ca. 1841
Enoch Wood & Sons (British, active Burslem, 1818–46)
ca. 1841–ca. 1846
Ralph Stevenson & Williams (active ca. 1825–27)
ca. 1825–ca. 1827
William Adams & Sons (British, active ca. 1819–present)
ca. 1830–ca. 1864
E. Challinor & Co. (active 1845–1862)
ca. 1850
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