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Spirit barrel: C.1116-1928

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Bristol Pottery
Decorator: Fifield, William (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Lead-glazed earthenware barrel painted in polychrome enamels with flowers and foliage and the initials E G in script

White earthenware, with slightly blue-tinted lead-glaze, painted in blue, green, yellow, pink, red, purple, and dark brown enamels. The barrel is recessed at the top and base and has horizontal bands of reeding above and below the central zone. On one side it has a projecting rim surrounding a bung hole. The top and base have concentric circles of blue, brown and pink. The reeding is decorated with narrow brown horizontal bands separating wider areas of pink, blue and pink. The central zone is painted with two floral arrangements, comprising pink roses, a tulip, and other flowers and leaves. The initials E and G in elaborate script lettering are placed on either side of the bung hole.

Notes

History note: Sotheby's, 30 November, 1928, lot 13.

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 11.7 cm
Height: 13.5 cm

Place(s) associated

  • Bristol ⪼ Somerset ⪼ England

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928-12-07) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

Dating

18th Century, second quarter#
1835 CE - 1840 CE

Note

Barrels like this are sometimes inscribed Gin or Rum, but they could have held other liquors. On accession this was described as a scent barrel, but that seems an unlikely use on account of its size. The enamel round the bung hole is still in pristine condition, which suggests that it may not have been used for long before becoming an ornament.

Components of the work

Decoration

Materials used in production

blue, green, yellow, pink, red, purple, and dark brown Enamel
very slightly blue tinted Lead-glaze
white Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Lead-glazing

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: script letters

  • Text: E G
  • Location: On either side of bung hole
  • Method of creation: Painted in brown
  • Type: Initials

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1116-1928
Primary reference Number: 71339
Old object number: R.2083
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 25 February 2020 Last processed: Thursday 7 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) "Spirit barrel" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71339 Accessed: 2024-10-05 13:11:37

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71339 |title=Spirit barrel |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2024-10-05 13:11:37|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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