Well potted with turned ‘scotia’ foot and double scroll handle, printed in black by John Sadler of Liverpool with an elaborate rococo design, featuring the arms of Prichard (Pritchard), impaling Vaughan, set askew amongst rococo scrollwork, a lady’s head gazing towards the crest of a wolf’s head erased, two silver-shaped fountains spouting water, the lower portion of the print with a hunting scene.
This is an unusually elaborate print applied by John Sadler in a style that is associated with engravers such as Henry Copland and reminiscent of the engravings published by Copland and Matthias Lock in A New Book of Ornaments in 1746. It is important to understand that in its earliest days printing on porcelain was not considered inferior to hand painted work, it was, on the contrary a great novelty and produced an image of a quality that far exceeded the skill of all but a few of the artists employed by porcelain factories.
This mug was most probably made by special commission to mark the marriage of Thomas Pri(t)chard (1725-1808) of Aston Ingham, Herefordshire and Frances Vaughan (1725-1808) previously of Newland, Gloucestershire. They were married at Lea, Hereford in 1758. A cylindrical mug printed with the Fitzstephen arms was in the Norman Stretton Collection, sold by Phillips on 21 February 2001, lot 136. There are similarities in the rococo spirit of each print, featuring foliage, scrollwork and vase-shaped fountains. The stag hunting scene on the lower portion of the present mug is reminiscent of the Society of Bucks prints featured on several Longton Hall mugs and enamel plaques, the engraving of which is attributed to H Copeland, see William Reid, ‘The Bucks: Some Relics of a Defunct Fraternal Society’, ECC Transactions, vol.15, pt.2 (1994), pp. 209-22.
Copland and Matthias Lock in A New Book of Ornaments in 1746
Thomas PRI(T)CHARD was born at Aston Ingham, Herefordshire and later with his wife moved to Machen, Glamorgan. Little is known about his ancestry. Notably in dexter is displayed the very distinctive arms that had been granted to Sir William PRI(T)CHARD (1632-1705) merchant of the City of London, Alderman, Mayor (1682) and MP, but with a different crest which suggests he is a descendant via a cadet line.
Frances VAUGHAN was born at Newland, Gloucestershire the daughter of Joseph VAUGHAN (1698-1788) of Whitecroft, Gloucestershire by his wife Elizabeth JONES (1698-1781) of Newlands. The family are descendants of the ancient VAUGHAN family of Hargest, Herefordshire and it is their arms that are displayed in sinister.
The blazon: ermine, a lion rampant sable, a bordure azure (Prichard) – impaling – sable, three boys’ heads couped at the shoulders argent, crined or, each entwined round the neck with a snake proper (Vaughan)
Crest: a wolf’s head erased sable
The genealogical and heraldic researches are by Anna Burnside.
Condition:
Very fine crack from the rim through the top right hand edge of the print which forks in three, visible under UV light, no restoration.
Provenance:
E & H Manners, 2015
Lyn and Maurice Hillis Collection
References:
Reid 1994
William Reid, ‘The Bucks: Some Relics of a Defunct Fraternal Society’, ECC Transactions, vol.15, pt.2 (1994), pp.209-22
Price: £3,600
