Pitcher

This black and white transfer-printed and copper luster-decorated earthenware pitcher made by an unidentified English potter features a portrait of George Washington (1732–1799) on one side and a portrait of Captain Jacob Jones (1768–1850) on the other. Although Sunderland, England is the region most often associated with nineteenth-century luster-decorated earthenware, luster decoration was also used by Bristol and Staffordshire potters, making an attribution of the pitcher to a particular region difficult. Washington, an American Revolutionary General and the nation's first President, is portrayed on the pitcher as a military hero amidst trophies and flags. Captain Jones, a naval hero of the War of 1812, is depicted similarly. As commander of the American sloop "Wasp," the Captain first distinguished himself in the War by capturing the British brig “Frolic" on October, 14, 1812. After fellow naval officer Commodore Stephen Decatur (1779–1820) captured the British frigate “Macedonian" on October 25, 1812, Jones was accorded the honor of commanding the "Macedonian." The inscription printed above Jones’ portrait therefore refers to the Macedonian. The portrait of Jones was based on a painting by Philadelphia artist Rembrandt Peale (1778–1860) reproduced as an engraving by English-born Philadelphia engraver David Edwin (1776–1841) and published in a July, 1813 issue of “Analectic Magazine." Washington's portrait was probably based on one of a number of portraits of the nation's founding father executed by American portraitist Gilbert Stuart (1755–1828). Portraits and memorials of American military heroes were popular patriotic subjects for transfer-printed export wares destined for the United States. Additional portraits of Washington appear, for example, on several pieces, 45.35.30, 45.35.31 and 64.84, attributed to Ralph Hall & Son (ca. 1836–1841) and on two pieces, 14.102.26 and 42.149.9, by Enoch Wood & Sons (1818–1846). In addition, a monument dedicated to military heroes of the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812 is the subject of a view on a basin, 14.102.132, by another unidentified potter. The American Wing's collection also contains original works by Peale and Stuart. Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about the above-mentioned firms.