coffee cup

Wedgwood, Thomas & Wedgwood, John

Summary

Public: Octagonal coffee cup on a circular foot with a loop handle, white salt-glazed stoneware, decorated in relief with panels containing figures and animals. Private: Deep octagonal coffee cup, flaring toward everted circular rim, with curved base on narrow circular foot and ribbed strap loop handle with pinched and flattened spur at lower terminal. Body slip-cast with eight vertical relief panels of fantastical creatures and naked figures. Panels comprise, from right of handle; scene from Aesop's Fables illustrating fox and stork, surmounting figure astride a lion, above a swan; reclining naked figure, surmounting unicorn; huntsman with bow and arrow and dog, standing beneath bird in a tree, above fruit bowl(?); coat of arms bearing three quatrefoils, surmounting stag and bird; three figures around a table drinking, kettle on a stove below; crowned double-headed eagle, surmounting leafy spray; coat of arms bearing three stags, surmounting naked figure above two smaller figures; bearded head in profile, surmounting gryphon with dead bird in its mouth, above two figures flanking large heart. Slight greenish tinge to salt-glaze around rim and along handle.