Longfellow Commemorative Pitcher

late 19th century

A Longfellow commemorative pitcher (English, late 19th century) produced by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons. The squat globular pitcher is decorated on one side with an oval portrait of the bearded poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American, 1807-1882) surrounded by a band of gilt slashes and blue stars. On the opposite side is an excerpt from the poem “KERAMOS” (labeled above). To the left of the excerpt is a rectangular panel depicting a potter sitting at his wheel with tall flower stalks in the background, to the right of the excerpt are floral panels, below the excerpt are beribboned potter’s tools. The shoulder of the pitcher is decorated with a band of orange stars and three dot clusters. The neck is decorated with banners bearing the names of famous works by Longfellow against a yellow, green, and red floral band. Left to right on the front the banners read “Excelsior”; “Hiwatha”; “Evangeline”; “Miles Standish”, left to right on the back they read “Golden Legend”; “Tales of a”; “Wayside Inn”; “Psalm of Life.” The neck and spout are decorated with flower heads against a brown glazed ground. Inscribed on the underside is “Manufactured by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons Etruria / For / Richard Briggs / Boston / RegisteRd. In Great Britain / and France / Also in the / United States”, it is partially impressed “WEDGWOOD” along with a three-letter date code, and it is hand marked in iron red [?] 920 / 4.

The manufacture of these commemorative pitchers was commissioned by Richard Briggs, a china and glass dealer based in Boston, who gifted one to the poet in 1880 as a Christmas present.

English

glazed earthenware

6.5" x 9.25" x 6.5"

Bequest of Mr. Francis J. Connell, 1988.

PSNC.4978