Pope and Devil cup at the Cardiff museum, Wales
Pope and Devil cup at the Cardiff museum, Wales
Published 2015-05-18T11:50:18+00:00
This cup was created circa 1780-1790 in Staffordshire and is of a pearlware glaze material. This was perhaps a time when anti Pope feelings were running high and the cup discreetly makes a stand for that, if you turn the cup upside down you will see the devil instead of the Pope when it is upright. There are what looks like hand written inscriptions on the inside of the cup.
This object is part of "Scan The World". Scan the World is a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory, through which we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for the public to access for free. Scan the World is an open source, community effort, if you have interesting items around you and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can help.
Identification numbers : Object number : NMW A 36152 Other number : Old Accession number: 1902.35 Old Registration number: 718 Number of parts : 1 Identification : cup Notes : Pope and Devil cup (stirrup cup) Factory Unknown : 1780-1790 ca. : Staffordshire Material : pearlware glaze Technique : slip-cast under-glaze colours glazed Inscription type : Label, handwritten Inscription location : inside cup Transcription : 15 5/6 Measurements : h(cm) 15.8 diam(cm) 8 h(in) 6 1/4 diam(in) 3 1/8 Description : Cup, pearlware with a blue tinge to the glaze, conical form, relief-moulded with to either side of the cup two mirror-image faces, when the cup is inverted the upper face is presented, representing the Pope with the papal crown above forming the top of the cup, when the cup is reversed the lower face representing a devil with horns and a leering expression is presented, the faces and papal crown picked out in orange, blue and black, the sides of the faces moulded with acanthus leaves painted green. Category : Earthenware Comments : See John & Griselda Lewis, (1984), 'Prattware', p. 222, for similar. "These were probably made about the time of the Gordon Riots when anti-popish feelings were running high". (Lewis, p. 222).
Date published | 18/05/2015 |
Title | Pope and Devil cup |
Place | Cardiff Museum |