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Plate of Mussels: C.2293-1928

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An image of Dish
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Plate of Mussels

Maker(s)

Production: Unidentified Rouen pottery

Entities

Categories

Description

Tin-glazed earthenware painted in blue, brown, green, and black

Buff earthenware, moulded, hand-modelled, tin-glazed, and painted in blue, yellowish-green, brown, and black. The object comprises a deep dish with curved sides and a wavy edge, with a bowl upside down on top of it, over and around which the separately made trompe l'oeil mussels are arranged. The dish has a blue and black border of alternating panels of cloud scroll and scale pattern separated by panels containing half of a multi-petalled flower. The upside down bowl is white and appears to be undecorated The mussels are variously completely closed, half open, and fully open. A few are in separated halves without their contents, showing either the white inside or the dark brown, black and yellowish-green exteriors. The whole is very heavy for its size.

Notes

History note: Lovett Collection; sold Puttick & Simpson, London, 6 March 1903, Lovett Sale, lot 285; Mr Mossel by whom sold on 9 March 1903 to Dr J.W.L. Glaisher, FRS, Trinity College, Cambridge

Legal notes

Dr J.W.L. Glaisher Bequest

Measurements and weight

Diameter: 27.5 cm
Height: 11.5 cm

Acquisition and important dates

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

Dating

18th Century, second half
Circa 1750 CE - 1800 CE

School or Style

Rococo

Components of the work

Decoration composed of high temperature colours ( blue, yellowish-green, brown, and black)

Materials used in production

Tin-glaze
Earthenware

Techniques used in production

Moulding
Tin-glazing

Inscription or legends present

  • Text: 3
  • Location: In centre of base
  • Method of creation: Painted in blue
  • Type: Number

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: C.2293-1928
Primary reference Number: 76701
Old object number: 1434

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Friday 1 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) "Plate of Mussels" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/76701 Accessed: 2025-12-05 08:05:58

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/76701 |title=Plate of Mussels |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-05 08:05:58|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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