Pitcher

Object/Artifact

-

Saco Museum

Name/Title

Pitcher

Entry/Object ID

2022.52.1

Description

This pitcher presents a synopsis of the recent history of the United States in graphic form. A depiction of the Atlantic coastline was taken from a map entitled THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, published on April 3, 1783, by John Wallis in London. The cartouche surrounding the title of the published map was adapted to serve as the frame for the image on the pitcher. An allegorical representation of Fame presides over all, holding a wreath proclaiming "WASHINGTON" with the great man depicted as "Securing Liberty to America." Liberty appears in the form of a woman grasping a pole with a Liberty cap while figures representing Wisdom and Justice are "dictating" to a seated Benjamin Franklin writing in a book inscribed "4 July 1776." Additional symbols of the American cause, including another wreath and Liberty cap, laurel branches, and a symbolic eagle over a field of stars on a striped flag complete the scene. At the bottom of the laurel wreath, in tiny letters, is found "F. Morris Shelton," for Francis Morris, a potter printer in Shelton who was responsible for a series of American patriotic prints. On the reverse side of the pitcher, another Morris print features the chain-of-states design listing the names of the states admitted to the Union including Kentucky, which entered on June 1, 1792. Under the spout is a small print of a ship under sail flying an American flag, an image that is not typically found in that location on these pitchers.

Context

These pitchers were made in quantity in England for the American market using a variety of iconographic symbols which were recognizable to most consumers. The American market in the colonial period and later in the early 19th century was vital to the British potters and they had no difficulty in producing wares that appealed to those on the other side of the Atlantic even though the sentiments and symbols used might seem counterintuitive to British sensibilities.

Made/Created

Artist Information

Role

Printer

Date made

circa 1800 - circa 1810

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Printed

Location

At the bottom of the laurel wreath

Transcription

"F. Morris Shelton"

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Overall

Height

9 in

Width

9 in

Materials

Material

creamware

Material Notes

Printed in black.

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Cultural/Historical Context

Label

Pitcher, circa 1800-1810 Francis Morris, Vale Pleasant, Shelton, Staffordshire, England Creamware printed in black Gift of Louise P. Richardson This pitcher presents a synopsis of the recent history of the United States in graphic form. A depiction of the Atlantic coastline was taken from a map entitled THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, published on April 3, 1783, by John Wallis in London. The cartouche surrounding the title of the published map was adapted to serve as the frame for the image on the pitcher. An allegorical representation of Fame presides over all, holding a wreath proclaiming "WASHINGTON" with the great man depicted as "Securing Liberty to America." Liberty appears in the form of a woman grasping a pole with a Liberty cap while figures representing Wisdom and Justice are "dictating" to a seated Benjamin Franklin writing in a book inscribed "4 July 1776." Additional symbols of the American cause include another wreath and Liberty cap, laurel branches, and a symbolic eagle over a field of stars on a striped flag. At the bottom of the laurel wreath, in tiny letters, is found "F. Morris Shelton," for Francis Morris, a potter printer in Shelton who was responsible for a series of American patriotic prints. On the reverse side of the pitcher, another Morris print features the chain-of-states design listing the names of the states admitted to the Union including Kentucky, which entered on June 1, 1792. Under the lip is a small print of a ship under sail flying an American flag.