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Lot 114

A very rare political commemorative creamware beaker, circa 1765

29 September 2020, 10:30 BST
London, Knightsbridge

Sold for £3,187.50 inc. premium

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A very rare political commemorative creamware beaker, circa 1765

Staffordshire or Yorkshire, of plain flared cylindrical form with rouletted borders around the rim and foot, painted on the front in red and black with a half-length profile portrait of John Wilkes, a banner inscribed 'Wilkes & Liberty' in black beneath issuing stylised foliate scrollwork, the reverse inscribed 'No. 45' within an open scroll cartouche, a simple black border inside the rim, 7.9cm high

Footnotes

John Wilkes (1727-1797) was a controversial MP and journalist who played a critical role in the development of radical politics. The number '45' refers to issue 45 of the 'North Briton', a satirical pamphlet published by Wilkes, in which he mocked the King's speech at the opening of Parliament in April 1763. He was subsequently tried and convicted for seditious libel but freed under Parliamentary Privilege. His supporters used the phrase 'Wilkes, Liberty and Number 45' to show their support for him. He gained something of a following in America, which was preparing for independence from Britain in the 1770s. Decoration in red and black in this style is traditionally attributed to the Robinson and Rhodes workshop in Leeds, but similar work was also done at Staffordshire.

Additional information

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