Puzzle goblet: C.2375-1928

Maker(s)

Production: Unknown

Entities

• Puzzle goblet

Categories

• Tin-glazed earthenware
• French faïence

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware puzzle goblet, painted in blue with grey outlines with birds amidst foliage and Oriental style plant motifs

Buff earthenware, thrown in three sections, pierced, tin-glazed, and painted in blue with greyish- black outlines. The goblet stands on a domed foot with an anulet between it and the next section. The lower part is globular with three tubular sucking spouts. This is joined to a conical upper part with eight groups of four pierced holes below the everted rim, painted on the exterior to resemble flowers. The main field of the upper part is decorated with three motifs comprising a peacock amidst foliage, with three sets of three paired scroll motifs above and below in the spaces. The bulbous part is decorated with three arrangements of flowers and foliage with similar scroll motifs below in the spaces between them. The anulet is blue overall. The domed area of the foot has a grey-black circle and a border of blue scrolls, close to the anulet, and further out, a border of alternating small buds (?) and triangular motifs rising from a narrow grey-black band, a wide blue band and two narrow grey-black bands. On the underside of the foot are the initials '.C. S.' and AO in monogram with a short line on either side, painted in blue.

Notes

History note: Madame Renders, Bruges, from whom bought for 8 francs on 1 April1902, by Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J. W. L. Glaisher Bequest

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, first half
Production date: 750 AD 1700

Note

Attribution uncertain. The vessel appears to have been altered. The top section has a hole in the bottom which should give access to the bulbous part but no longer does so. It may have had a syphon in the middle of the upper part, as the form is reminiscent of German late 16th or early 17th century trick goblets with this feature, of which the Fitzwilliam has an example (CG.1-1943)