Object of the Day, Museum Edition: A Horse from the Fair, 1840-50

The Sunderland Egg
"A Horse from the Fair"
1840-1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This lead-glazed earthenware egg, the size of a hen’s egg, is decorated with transfer-printed illustrations in purple.  On one side, it is adorned with a party of men and women in a rowing boat; and, on the other side with a galloping horse, with the inscription: “A Horse from the Fair.”

This egg was made in Sunderland, England between ca. 1840-1850.  It exists purely to be decorative.  

Object of the Day, Museum Edition: An Ironstone Staffordshire "Punch & Judy" Mug, 1975

The Victoria & Albert Museum 

A transfer print of Mr. Punch's vocal puppet bride, the ever-lovely Judy graces this ironstone pottery mug which was manufactured in Staffordshire as one of a set of six mugs featuring the Punch and Judy characters of Mr. Punch, Judy, Dog Toby, the Crocodile ("who is going to eat you"), Joey the Clown and the Constable. 

Staffordshire Potteries specialized in producing utilitarian home-goods in the 1970s--among them: plates, bowls and mugs of ironstone pottery.   This sort of pottery was a durable, porcelain-like ceramic developed in the Staffordshire potteries area during the early 19th century, making it particularly suitable for mass production. 

According to our chums at the Victoria & Albert Museum, "The term 'ironstone' was patented by Charles James Mason, who issued wares with the backstamp 'Mason's Ironstone China'."

Made in 1975, this ironstone pottery mug is printed with a pink and orange image of Judy holding her baby and a bright bunch of flowers.  The baby is punctuated with a speech bubble inscribed: "Boo-Hoo."  

The base of the mug is imprinted with a mark in black ink: 

Staffordshire Potteries Ltd. Ironstone. Made in England

And the impressed mark:

MADE IN ENGLAND

The Victoria & Albert Museum

The Home Beautiful: A Vintage Biscuit Tin, c. 1920

Biscuit Tin Bank
England, 1920s
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This biscuit tin from the early 19th Century was made for the Christmas season. After the First World War, the typical English biscuit tin—a convention which arose in 1861—had become more reserved than the Nineteenth Century, opulent, printed tin models. The exception to this was the Christmas Season when fanciful and clever designs were produced for biscuit companies wishing to appeal to children and their parents. 

These tins were made to be saved, and, often, they’d offer a feature which gave them extended use. This one, for example, was made to serve as a money box or bank after the cookies had all been eaten. It is decorated with printed scenes from “Alice in Wonderland” as well as depictions of Nursery Rhyme characters. The coin slot at the top could be punched out when the biscuits were all gone.

The Home Beautiful: A Vintage Biscuit Tin, c. 1920

Biscuit Tin Bank
England, 1920s
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This biscuit tin from the early 19th Century was made for the Christmas season. After the First World War, the typical English biscuit tin—a convention which arose in 1861—had become more reserved than the Nineteenth Century, opulent, printed tin models. The exception to this was the Christmas Season when fanciful and clever designs were produced for biscuit companies wishing to appeal to children and their parents. 

These tins were made to be saved, and, often, they’d offer a feature which gave them extended use. This one, for example, was made to serve as a money box or bank after the cookies had all been eaten. It is decorated with printed scenes from “Alice in Wonderland” as well as depictions of Nursery Rhyme characters. The coin slot at the top could be punched out when the biscuits were all gone.

Unusual Artifacts: A Horse from the Fair, 1840-50

The Sunderland Egg
"A Horse from the Fair"
1840-1850
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This lead-glazed earthenware egg, the size of a hen’s egg, is decorated with transfer-printed illustrations in purple.  On one side, it is adorned with a party of men and women in a rowing boat; and, on the other side with a galloping horse, with the inscription: “A Horse from the Fair.”

This egg was made in Sunderland, England between ca. 1840-1850.  It exists purely to be decorative.