Pitcher, "Peace and Independence"

Object Details

Description

This transfer printed creamware mug is decorated with a military motif on one side and a Masonic motif on the other. The military motif consists of a circular panel that reads “Peace and Independence.” It’s surrounded by a canon, an American eagle with outstretched wings, and an American flag with sixteen stars. The other side depicts several symbols of the Masonic order similar to those shown on a Masonic tracing board. Prominent members of society were often Freemasons, counting founding fathers like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington among their ranks. The elevated social status of Masons means that many masonic themes are found on creamware pitchers of this era.

This pitcher is part of the McCauley collection of American themed transfer print pottery. There is no mark on the pitcher to tell us who made it, but it is characteristic of wares made in large volume for the American market in both Staffordshire and Liverpool between 1790 and 1820. Pitchers of this shape, with a cream colored glaze over a pale earthenware clay, known as Liverpool type, were the most common vessels to feature transfer prints with subjects commemorating events and significant figures in the early decades of United States’ history. Notwithstanding the tense relationship between Britain and America, Liverpool and Staffordshire printers and potters seized the commercial opportunity offered them in the production of transfer printed earthenwares celebrating the heroes, the military victories, and the virtues of the young republic, and frequently all of these things at once.

Location

Currently not on view

Credit Line

Robert H. McCauley

ID Number

CE.63.132

catalog number

63.132

accession number

248619

collector/donor number

45-366

Object Name

pitcher

Physical Description

monochrome, black (overall surface decoration color name)

ceramic, earthenware, refined (overall material)

transfer printed (joint piece production method/technique)

Measurements

overall: 7 11/16 in x 8 in x 5 1/2 in; 19.52625 cm x 20.32 cm x 13.97 cm

place made

United Kingdom: England, Liverpool

See more items in

Home and Community Life: Ceramics and Glass

Government, Politics, and Reform

Domestic Furnishings

McCauley Liverpool Pottery

National Museum of American History

Record ID

nmah_582568

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746a3-e4be-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa