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Plate: C.7-2021

Object information

Current Location: In storage

Titles

Plate

Maker(s)

Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Earthenware, slightly scalloped edge, printed underglaze in puce with a scene of young African American figures celebrating before a small hut beneath a flag inscribed 'LIBERTY', titled above 'FREEDOM FIRST OF AUGUST' and dated '1838' below, within a dense border of repeated flowerheads.

White earthenware, printed underglaze in two shades of puce. Circular with a slightly scalloped edge, convex sloping rim, and deep well with curved sides. In the middle an African American family comprising a man, a woman, and two children, are joyfully celebrating their freedom in front of a small hut with behind it, trees, shrubs, and a pole flying a pennant inscribed 'LIBERTY'. Above are the words 'FREEDOM FIRST OF AUGUST', and below, the date '1838'.

Notes

History note: Robin Simpson; purchased at his sale, the Robin Simpson Collection of Commemorative Ceramics, Woolley & Wallis, Salisbury, 8 September 2021, lot 516

Legal notes

Given by the Friends of The Fitzwilliam Museum

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 27 cm
Height: 2.6 cm

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bought (2021) by Woolley & Wallis The Friends of the Fitzwilliam Museum

Dating

19th Century, second quarter#
William IV
Production date: dated AD 1838

Note

This plate depicts a number of formerly enslaved people joyfully celebrating the arrival of 1 August 1838, the date at which formerly enslaved people in the West Indies were granted full emancipation. Unlike many abolitionist ceramics, which depict enslaved people as powerless and grateful, this plate depicts enslaved people without bonds and as joyful to be free of their bondage. Although the Abolition of Slavery Act had come into force on 1 August 1834 (as commemorated on jug C.6-2021), in reality, the formerly enslaved in the British West Indies (over the age of six years old) were made to continue working for their former masters under an unpaid apprentice system lasting four to six years. This period ended prematurely on 1 August 1838, when full emancipation was granted for all enslaved people.

Components of the work

Surface composed of lead-glaze ( presumed lead-glaze)
Decoration composed of ceramic printing colour ( puce)

Materials used in production

Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Press-moulding

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: LIBERTY
  • Location: On pennant
  • Method of creation: Transfer-printed in puce
  • Type: Inscription
  • Text: FREEDOM FIRST OF AUGUST/1838
  • Location: Round well
  • Method of creation: Transfer-printed in pale puce
  • Type: Inscription

Inscription present: circular white paper stick-on label printed in black with the inscription round the edge within a narrow black line

  • Text: lot no. Robin Simpson Collection 8921/WOOLLEY & WALLIS/HISTORICAL & COLLECTABLE printed in black surrounding 516 in black ink
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Printed in black and hand-written in black ink
  • Type: Label

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.7-2021
Primary reference Number: 307501
Object entry form: 1556
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 30 November 2021 Updated: Thursday 7 December 2023 Last processed: Friday 8 December 2023

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024) "Plate" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/307501 Accessed: 2024-11-05 15:38:10

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/307501 |title=Plate |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-11-05 15:38:10|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

API call for this record

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https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/api/v1/objects/object-307501

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