Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
2020.FIC.064 |
Object Name |
Tankard |
Title |
Morris & Willmore Company Green Bavarian Tankard |
Description |
The object is a green cylindrical tankard with a metal lid and a traditional Bavarian family depicted on the front. The tankard has a thick dark green rim at the bottom, and just above it, a smaller, slightly elevated green rim. On the far left side of the image, a light brown wooden door is visible. To its right, a man sits on a brown tree stump. He has Caucasian skin, short blonde hair, and a mustache, and wears a green hat with a feather, a green and red vest, a white shirt, brown shorts, white leg warmers, and brown shoes. Resting on his shoulders is a green jacket. In his right hand, the man holds two black leashes tied to two small dachshunds, which are standing on their hind legs. The dachshunds have black and brown fur. Above the dogs, a rectangular wooden table with a brown jug and a glass of red wine is positioned. The table is set against a green wall with a brown window that has a cabinet-like shutter. The window is open, revealing a light blue sky. Above the wall, a bit of the dark brown wooden roof is visible. To the right of the dogs, a boy stands. He has blonde hair and Caucasian skin. The boy wears a green hat, a white shirt, a green jacket with gold buttons, brown shorts with red suspenders, white leg warmers, and no shoes. His right hand is in his pocket, while his left hand holds a piece of bread. Above him is the other side of the wall, a brown and white picture of a person with no features, and a blue rag with holes hanging from the ceiling. To the right of the boy is a woman standing. She has brown hair and Caucasian skin and wears a green hat, a blue, light green, and red vest, a white bodice and red skirt dress, a white apron, white socks, and black shoes. She has her left hand on her hip. Next to her, another woman sits on a brown wooden cabinet. This woman has blonde hair and is dressed in a brown hat, red vest, white bodice and green skirt dress, yellow apron, white socks, and black shoes. She rests her head on her left hand. The cabinet has three drawers, and a circular wooden bowl sits on top. Above her, a brown wooden dishrack hangs from the wall, holding five white plates, two green pots, and a silver ladle. To the right of the woman, a brown woven basket filled with brown potatoes rests on the floor. The tankard's handle, located on the right side, curves at an acute angle and matches the dark green of the bottom rim. A metal latch secures the lid, which is mostly grey, except for a small circular green ceramic portion at the top. This ceramic portion features the image of a woman with Caucasian skin and grey hair, wearing a red bow in her hair, a red necklace, and a green, white, and red dress. The latch allows the lid to be opened from the right side without fully removing it. When open, the tankard reveals its white interior and bottom. The bottom features an elevated rim around the edges and an engraved circle at the center, within which is a logo for the Morris and Wilmore company. The logo consists of a tulip with overlapping "M" and "W" letters, and below it is the inscription: "MORRIS & WILMORE CO. TRENTON. N.J." According to The Trenton City Museum, the Potteries of Trenton Society, and David J. Goldberg's Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years - 1852 - 1882, Morris and Wilmore Company (sometimes known as Columbian Art Pottery) was founded in 1892 by William T. Morris and Francis Willmore. Before starting their own business, both men worked for Royal Worcester and Ott and Brewer. The company was known for producing Belleek-style products and decorated white ware. Due to limited production, surviving examples of their work are extremely rare. The partnership dissolved in 1905, resulting in a forced sale. Morris continued to operate his own business, Morris China Co., for another decade. Citations Columbian Art Pottery. Potteries of Trenton Society. (n.d.). https://potteriesoftrentonsociety.org/research/records/columbian-art-pottery/ Goldberg, David J. 1998. Preliminary Notes on the Pioneer Potters and Potteries of Trenton, N.J.: The First Thirty Years – 1852 – 1882 (And Beyond). Privately published, Trenton, New Jersey. The Pottery Industry in Trenton - Trenton City Museum. Trenton City Museum -. (2022, January 5). https://ellarslie.org/collection/pottery/ |
Year Range from |
1892 |
Year Range to |
1906 |
Material |
Ceramic, Metal |
Artist |
Morris & Willmore Company |
Height (in) |
5.750 |
Length (in) |
4.500 |
Width (in) |
3.500 |
Condition |
Okay |
Condition Notes |
Overall: Accretions and cracks throughout Front: There are white accretions that start on the top and go until the center near the right side. Also, there are white accretions on the bottom going from the left edge to the right edge. Right Side: There are white accretions all over the handle. Back: There are white accretions on the center near the middle. There is a crack on top near the right side. And finally, there are white accretions on the bottom. Left Side: There is a crack that starts on top and goes until the center that starts near the middle and goes until the right side. Top: There is wear all over the metal. Also, there are dirt accretions inside of the cup. Bottom: There is wear around the rim. There are a couple of abrasions all over the main portion of the bottom. And finally, the logo is faded. |
Inscription Type |
Manufacturer's Mark |
Inscription Location |
Bottom, Center, Middle |
Inscription Technique |
Stamped |
Inscription Text |
"MORRIS & WILMORE CO." Line 1 "TRENTON. N.J." Line 2 |
People |
William T. Morris Francis Willmore |
Classification |
Domestic Life/Household Goods Business & Commerce |
Subjects |
Ceramic industry Metals Women Men Wine industry Wine Food Potatoes Water Drinking Vessels Family Family members Plant parts Trees |
Search Terms |
Ceramic Tankard 19th Century 20th Century 1892 1906 William T. Morris Francis Willmore Metal Green White Brown Red Brown White Blue Window Sky Table Wine Jug Hat Dress Shorts Lederhosen Potatoes Basket Bread Food Lid Latch Plates Pots Ladle William T. Morris Francis Willmore Morris and Wilmore Company Columbia Art Company Cabinet Bowl Germany Bavria Traditional Rag Family Stump Morris & Willmore Company Green Bavarian Tankard |
Provenance |
Found in collection |