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Pot for Bear's Grease: C.1348-1928

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An image of Dispensing pot
An image of Dispensing pot
An image of Dispensing pot
Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Pot for Bear's Grease

Maker(s)

Pottery: Unidentified Lambeth Pottery (Probably)

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue

Buff earthenware, tin-glazed and painted in blue. Circular with curved sides and everted rim, standing on a footring which has been wiped free of glaze. The outside is decorated with a bear walking towards the left and the inscription 'Prepar'd by T. Townshend & Son Sold only by C: King Chymist Hay Market'

Notes

History note: A lady living in Essex whose father was believed to have been a London clergyman, and to have collected it there; Collins and Clarke, Cambridge, from whom purchased with three other items in 1922 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 4.2 cm
Height: 2.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, third quarter
Circa 1750 CE - Circa 1775 CE

Note

Probably made at Lambeth. Thomas Townshend was ‘Chymist in Ordinary’ to George II with premises at the ‘Kings Arms and Golden head near Panton Street’, off the Haymarket in London. Bears' grease was then thought to be a cure for baldness.

People, subjects and objects depicted

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colour ( blue from cobalt)

Materials used in production

wiped off footring Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Throwing : Earthenware, thrown, tin-glazed slightly bluish, and painted in blue
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: Prepar'd by T. Townshend & Son Sold only by C: King Chymist Hay Market
  • Location: On exterior
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1348-1928
Primary reference Number: 71849
Old object number: 3926

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 30 April 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) "Pot for Bear's Grease" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71849 Accessed: 2025-12-05 06:11:42

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/71849 |title=Pot for Bear's Grease |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 06:11:42|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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