Object Details
- Description
- This transfer printed creamware pitcher is decorated with prints related to volunteer fire fighting. The pitcher is decorated on one side of with an image of a hand-pumped fire engine. The other side depicts the hand-pumped engine in action fighting a fire in a blazing building. Under the spout is a oval with floral decorations that reads “The Property of Engine No. 2.” This pitcher is a bit unusual as it lacks typical naval or patriotic themes. However, volunteer firefighters were prominent organizations in early American history, with many high profile members in colonial communities, and it would not be unusual for a ship’s captain to be a member and bring back a pitcher for his fire company to celebrate its efforts.
- 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
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
- Credit Line
- Robert H. McCauley
- Physical Description
- monochrome, black (overall surface decoration color name)
- ceramic, earthenware, refined (overall material)
- transfer printed (overall production method/technique)
- Measurements
- overall: 13 3/16 in x 12 3/8 in x 7 3/4 in; 33.49625 cm x 31.4325 cm x 19.685 cm
- Object Name
- pitcher
