Mug
ca. 1836–ca. 1841
Medium
Earthenware, transfer-printed
Dimensions
H. 2 1/2 in. (6.4 cm); Diam. 3 1/2 in. (8.9 cm)
Classification
Mug
Culture
British (American market)
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Lydia Bond Powel, 1964
Accession Number
64.84
Tags
Art Historical Context
This charming earthenware mug, crafted by the British firm Ralph Hall & Son around 1836–1841, exemplifies transatlantic trade in decorative ceramics tailored for the American market. Measuring just 2½ inches high and 3½ inches diameter, its petite scale made it ideal for everyday use—perhaps as a child's cup or a novelty item—while its transfer-printed decoration elevated it to a keepsake of national pride. Produced in Staffordshire, England, these mugs flooded U.S. households during a time of growing American patriotism, blending British manufacturing prowess with Yankee iconography. The sta...