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Book-shaped Handwarmer: C.1451-1928

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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)

Pottery: unidentified London pottery (Possibly)
Pottery: Unidentified Bristol pottery (Possibly)
Pottery: Brislington Pottery (Possibly)

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted on blue and yellow to resemble a stamped leather binding and inscribed 'M x P/1693'

Buff earthenware, tin-glazed, and painted in blue and yellow. Rectangular with two internal chambers linked by a hole, a larger aperture at the top next to the spine, and a small hole in the top front corner. Two pseudo-clasps are attached to the covers. The spine has five horizontal ridges. The two covers are each decorated in blue with a lozenge-shaped motif enclosing the inscription 'MP/1693 with formal motifs round the edges and in the corners. The spine has five horizontal blue stripes with a stylized plant motif between each of them. The fore-edge is painted yellow

Notes

History note: Mr Sidney Hand, Grafton Street, London from whom purchased for £20 on 31 May 1922 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 3.7 cm
Height: 10 cm
Width: 7.8 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

17th Century, Late
William III and Mary II
Production date: dated AD 1693

Note

No archaeological evidence has been found to indicate the origin of this book.

This handwarmer may have been made at a pottery in London, Bristol or Brislington.

Components of the work

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

Materials used in production

buff Earthenware
Tin-glaze

Techniques used in production

Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: MP/1693
  • Location: On front and back covers
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1451-1928
Primary reference Number: 72020
Old object number: 3753

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) "Book-shaped Handwarmer" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/72020 Accessed: 2025-12-05 22:43:15

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/72020 |title=Book-shaped Handwarmer |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 22:43:15|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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