Photograph by Ed Pollard, Hasselblad H4D50 - 2013.

Images(2)

Norfolk Merchants' House Flag Pitcher

Manufacturer Unknown

Dateca. 1800

MediumCreamware, transfer printed and hand painted

Dimensions9 1/2 x 9 x 7 in. (24.1 x 22.9 x 17.8 cm)

ClassificationsHistoric Houses

Credit LineGift of Barton Myers III

Object number2013.7

Terms

Flags
White
Black
Blue
Red
Turquoise
Yellow
Purple

On View

On view

DescriptionThis is a creamware (or cream-colored earthenware) pitcher, baluster-shaped, with a plain strap handle. The jug is 9 ½ inches tall and 9 inches wide from handle to spout, while the core has a diameter of 7 inches at its widest point. It has been transfer printed in black and polychrome hand painted to show a series of Norfolk Merchants' House Flags. The flags are presented in individual squares within a 3 x 6 array, but only 15 flags are shown, leaving the final three spaces blank, as placeholders for additional flags. Fourteen of the 15 flags have the ship owners’ names printed below, including Moses Myers. The Moses Myers flag is the second depicted, near the upper left of the group, a solid blue circle against a white field. The pitcher bears the initials “T.W” above the flags, representing Thomas Willock, one of the merchants listed. The identical printed design appears on the reverse, also hand-colored, but without the initials “T.W”. On the bottom of the jug near the edge in red is the inscription “L2.57.1”.