Plate

ca. 1823–ca. 1834
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 774
This brown and white transfer-printed earthenware plate made by the Staffordshire firm of James & Ralph Clews features a view of Baker's Falls located on the Hudson River about one mile from Sandy Hill, New York. The falls were nearly seventy feet high and powered two gristmills, two sawmills and a bolting mill situated above them. Clews' view of the falls was based on an 1820 watercolor by Irish painter William Guy Wall (1792–after 1863) reproduced by London-born New York engraver John Hill (1770–1850) as an engraving titled "Baker's Falls" in Henry J. Megarey's "Hudson River Portfolio" (New York , 1821–1825). Clews included the view in its series of approximately twenty-three "Picturesque Views" produced for the United States export market. The American Wing's collection contains additional pieces by Clews, as well as original works by Wall. Refer to the Dictionary for a definition of the term "transfer printing" and for information about Clews.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Plate
  • Maker: James and Ralph Clews (British, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, active ca. 1818–36)
  • Date: ca. 1823–ca. 1834
  • Geography: Made in Staffordshire, England
  • Culture: British (American market)
  • Medium: Earthenware, transfer-printed
  • Dimensions: Diam. 9 in. (22.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Mandeville Johnston, from the collection of Mr. and Mrs. Edward W. S. Johnston, 1914
  • Object Number: 14.102.144
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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