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Book-shaped Handwarmer: C.1446-1928

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An image of Hand warmer
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An image of Hand warmer
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Current Location: Gallery 27 (Glaisher)

Titles

Book-shaped Handwarmer

Maker(s)

Production: Brislington Pottery

Entities

Categories

Description

Buff-earthenware, tin-glazed and painted in blue and yellow. In the form of a book with the remains of two pseudo-clasps over the fore-edge. The handwarmer has two internal chambers probably linked by a hole, and has another small hole in the top left corner of the back cover, and a larger opening in the top next to the spine. Both covers have a central inscription, 'The Gift is Small/Good will Is All’ within a rectangular frame with a fleur-de-lys at each corner, and between those at top and bottom, the date and initials arranged ‘16/SS/88’, the back of the spine is striped with alternatvely broad and narrow horizontal strokes. The fore-edge and the remains of the pseudo-clasps are yellow.

Notes

History note: Dr John Evans (later Sir), Nash House, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire in 1891; Christie's, 14 February, 1911, Interesting Collection of Lambeth pottery, Rhodian, Hispano-Mauro and other Faience, Silver Plate and Objects of Art, lot 53; bought for 20 guineas by Stoner and sold for £23.2s.0d. to Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 12.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

17th Century, Late
James II
Production date: dated AD 1688

Note

Formerly attributed to Lambeth

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high-temperature colour ( blue and yellow)

Materials used in production

Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing : Buff earthenware, moulded and hand-built, tin-glazed, and painted in blue and yellow

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 16/SS/88
  • Location: On both sides of the cover
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription
  • Text: The Gift is Small/Good will Is All
  • Location: On both sides
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1446-1928
Primary reference Number: 72015
Old object number: 3331

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Wednesday 26 February 2025

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) "Book-shaped Handwarmer" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/72015 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:25:11

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/72015 |title=Book-shaped Handwarmer |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:25:11|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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