Cup and Saucer
ca. 1836–ca. 1841
Medium
Earthenware, transfer-printed
Dimensions
Cup: H. 1 5/8 in. (4.1 cm) Saucer: Diam. 4 1/2 in. (11.4 cm)
Classification
Cup and saucer
Culture
British (American market)
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Helen Hay Whitney, 1944
Accession Number
45.35.30, .31
Tags
Art Historical Context
This delicate cup and saucer, by British potters Ralph Hall & Son 1836–1841, exemplifies the vibrant trade in transfer-printed earthenware aimed at the American market. in Staffordshire, England—a hub of ceramic innovation—these pieces feature a finely detailed portrait of George Washington, the revered first president of the United States. The transfer-printing technique, intricate designs were etched onto tissue paper, inked, and pressed onto the unglazed clay before firing, allowed for affordable mass production of such patriotic imagery on everyday tableware. In the early 19th century, am...