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The Pelican in her Piety: C.1315-1928

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An image of Dish
Current Location: In storage

Titles

The Pelican in her Piety

Maker(s)

Pottery: Brislington Pottery (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue

Buff earthenware, tin-glazed and painted in blue. Circular with a wide rim and deep well with curved sides, standing on a footrim. Decorated in the centre with a shield-shaped cartouche with a scrolled edge, in which is a pelican feeding two young from her breast.

Notes

History note: Puttick and Simpson, London, 6 June, 1919, lot 78; Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 31.7 cm
Diameter: 12½ in

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

17th Century, Late
Charles II
William III and Mary II
William III (1650-1702)
Circa 1675 CE - 1700 CE

Note

The Pelican feeding her young from her own blood was a symbol of the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross to save humanity from sin

Components of the work

Decoration composed of cobalt

Materials used in production

Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing : Buff earthenware, moulded, covered with thick and uneven white tin-glaze, and painted in blue

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1315-1928
Primary reference Number: 71778
Old object number: 4042

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Monday 25 March 2024

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 (2025) "The Pelican in her Piety" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71778 Accessed: 2025-12-06 09:00:33

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71778 |title=The Pelican in her Piety |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 09:00:33|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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