An English Delft Blue and White Bowl

c. 1760

An English delft blue and white bowl (Liverpool, c. 1760), the round bowl sits on a raised foot rim. The exterior is decorated with a landscape scene depicting a mix of European and East Asian style buildings in the foreground with sailing ships and a town on hills in the background. The interior is finely decorated with the coat-of-arms of The Most Ancient and Honourable Society of the Bucks. The central Rococo cartouche-shaped shield features a stag below a plough crest inscribed "INDUSTRY, PROUDSTRY, WEALTH." Flanking the crest are two hunters holding staffs with stag head tops. Below the central cartouche is a scrollwork plateau inscribed "FREEDOM WITH INNOCENCE." Below this is a smaller oval cartouche depicting four male figures. The cartouche is bordered by the inscription "UNANIMITY IS THE STRENGTH OF SOCIETY." This cartouche is flanked by two stags emerging from the brush and ribbon inscribed "WE OBEY." The interior opening rim is decorated with a trellis diaper and floral border.

The secret fraternal organization The Society of the Bucks existed in Great Britain from the 1720s through the 1820s. Originating in Liverpool, the club claimed to have ancient origins going back to King Nimrod of Mesopotamia. The society gained a reputation for its rowdy parties, and a former member left to form their own society, the Ancient Order of Druids, which forbade its members from using profanity or discussing politics.

English, Liverpool

tin glazed earthenware

4 1/8" x 10 1/8" x 10 1/8"

Gift of Miss Edith M.K. Wetmore, 1963.

PSNC.2298