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Cistern: C.1965-1928

An image of Cistern

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Object information

Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Red earthenware, partly slip-coated, incised with the date 1556 (or 1776), and covered with green lead-glaze

Red earthenware with applied proejctions, partially coated with white slip, incised with the date, and covered on three exterior sides and inside with unevenly flecked green lead-glaze; the base and back are undecorated. The cistern is rectangular with projecting mouldings at the top and bottom, and two hook-like projections on the narrow sides take suspension cords. At centre front of the lower edge there is a hole to take a spigot at the base of a pyramidal ornament with horizontal indentations. Above is the date, probably 1556, incised through the slip to show the dark body beneath. Before the first figure, between the figures, and after the last, there are decorative motifs comprising a diamond-shaped outline with a shallow S shaped line attached to it at the top and bottom. Inside the top edge there are triangular supports in the corners on which to rest a cover, no longer present.

Notes

History note: Bought from Monsieur Bossard, Lucerne, in September 1903 by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Depth: 8 cm
Height: 18.4 cm
Width: 18.3 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

16th Century, Mid
Production date: dated AD 1556 : It is possible that the date should be read as 1776

Components of the work

Three Sides composed of slip-coating ( cream) lead-glaze ( green; presumed lead-glaze)
Interior composed of lead-glaze ( green, unevenly applied; presumed lead-glaze)
Base Width 15.5 cm
Decoration
Hole

Materials used in production

red Earthenware

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: The 5s resemble back to front 7s with a backward curving downstroke

  • Text: 1556
  • Method of creation: Incising
  • Type: Date

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.1965-1928
Primary reference Number: 72915
Old object number: 1854
Stable URI

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Tuesday 7 October 2025 Last processed: Tuesday 7 October 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) "Cistern" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/72915 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:05:18

Citation for Wikipedia

To cite this record on Wikipedia you can use this code snippet:

{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/72915 |title=Cistern |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:05:18|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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