Sunday, May 6, 2012

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: The Harry Page, 1925



The Harry Page
Poole Pottery, 1925
The Victoria & Albert Museum



Let’s look at some ships, today.  Shall we?  Admittedly, I’m not well-versed in naval things.  So, this will be a learning experience.  Besides that, I’m using it as an excuse to post a Popeye cartoon as the “Sunday Morning Special.”  I won’t fool you.  We all know I like Popeye.  I think, actually, Popeye would have liked this model himself.

This is a model of a ship called The “Harry Page” in tin-glazed earthenware, molded as a galleon with spread sails, and comprised of red clay with white slip and blue, celadon and yellow glazes.

It was made in Poole, England around 1925 by modeler Harold Stabler (1872-1945).  Stabler—that sounds like a name from a Popeye cartoon, actually.  “Gonna fights the Stabler, Olive.  He took Alice the Goon to Stabler Island.”  And, then the Stabler would turn out to be Bluto and wacky, big-forearm-ed, spinach-induced violence would ensue.  “A-yuk-ka-ka-ka.”

I’m quite off-topic.

The model was used as the heading for the 'della Robbia' sign which was displayed outside of the Poole Pottery.  The piece was formerly in the collection of Sir Edward and Lady Maude at Shepherds Hill, Buxted.

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