Herculaneum Pottery Washington in Glory Creamware Jug

Circa 1800-1810: When George Wasington died on December 14, 1799, the American people were devastated and went into a period of mourning that lasted for decades. Almost immediately, English ceramics firms, especially in Liverpool and Staffordshire, began to produce pottery that memorialized America's late first president and exporting these items to our shores. Liverpool's Herculaneum Pottery, established in 1793 or 1794 and sold in 1796 to Worthington, Humble, and Holland is now considered the most important maker of creamware with scenes of American interest, and scenes that depict early American military and political figures are extremely desirable amongst today's collectors. This scarce 9" tall early 19th century Liverpool jug features the important mourning transfer of "Washington in Glory, America in Tears" on one side and "The Mower," a rather salty title for a courting scene, on the reverse with Herculaneum Pottery's classic take on America's Great Seal under the jug's spout. On page 84 of their 2010 tome Success to America: Creamware for the American Market (Antique Collectors Club), authors Teitelman, Halfpenny, and Fuchs explain that Herculaneum's "mark is an American eagle based on the design of of the Great Seal of the United States" and that their "eagle is distinctive with a radiance containing the stars representing the thirteen original states and an additional star on either side of the eagle's head for the states of Vermont and Kentucky, which entered the Union in 1791 and 1792 respectively." The trio goes on to note that "the characteristics of the Herculaneum eagle include the motto ribbon, which the eagle grips in the center and carries in front of its body." This distictive eagle can be signed or unsigned, and our example is signed Herculaneum Pottery, leaving no doubt of its origin of manufacture. Because creamware was a fragile and inexpensive form of earthenware meant for daily use, most surviving examples have severe damage and have been professionally restored, but this scarce and remarkable signed jug has survived over two centuries with no chips, cracks, or repairs and only very minor rim wear. Liverpool jugs in this condition and of this rarity are not often available on the open market, and this superb example dedicated to the memory of America's first president would be be very diffucult to upgrade.