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Puzzle jug: C.495-1928

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An image of Puzzle jug
An image of Puzzle jug
An image of Puzzle jug
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Factory: Unidentified Staffordshire factory

Entities

Categories

Description

White stoneware, pierced, incised, and salt-glazed

White stoneware, pierced, incised, and salt-glazed. Pear-shaped body with high neck divided near the middle by a projecting tube communicating with the loop handle, and having four sucking spouts (one restored) projecting from it. Above this are two rows of triangular perforations. Below are perforations forming three rosettes with small circular holes in the spaces between them. The rim at the top has a scalloped edge with a narrow rope-like border below. There is a band of beading on the shoulder, and a ropelike border on the edge of the foot. The front has an incised inscription: 'From Mother Earth I took/My birth and now a Joke to/Man so I stand here fill'd with/Good Cheer Come taste me/If you can'. The base is inscribed 'J. Ford'.

Notes

History note: Sotheby's, 5 March 1926, lot 13, purchased by Hunt for £6 on behalf of Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 20.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, third quarter
Circa 1760 - 1775

School or Style

Rococo

Components of the work

Surface composed of salt-glaze
Body Diameter 12 cm
Handle-front Width 11.5 cm
Inscription
Neck

Materials used in production

Stoneware

Inscription or legends present

Inscription present: in script

  • Text: J Ford
  • Location: On base
  • Method of creation: Incised
  • Type: Signature
  • Text: From Mother Earth I took/My birth and now a Joke to/Man so I stand here fill'd with/Good Cheer Come taste me/If you can
  • Location: On front of jug
  • Method of creation: Incised
  • Type: Inscription

References and bibliographic entries

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.495-1928
Primary reference Number: 75295
Old object number: 4928

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 28 August 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) "Puzzle jug" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/75295 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:47:09

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/75295 |title=Puzzle jug |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:47:09|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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