The little ports of Bideford and
Barnstaple, and the village of Fremington between them, are just fifty miles
across the water from Tenby. There would have been days when Tenby people might see the smoke rising from Bideford's kilns. There would
have been trade between them in the old days.
This old Harvest Jug comes up for auction shortly and my curiosity about
the makers enabled me to assemble enough scrapbook stuff to post something
every day through January …
1
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-an-english-sgraffito-slipware-dated-and-inscribed-6303504/?from=salesummary&intObjectID=6303504&lid=1
'Despise me not/because I'm small/but fill me often/till
please you/all/Ann Perkin/1807'
2
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6303505
3
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/H_1996-1102-1
there is an inscription ...
When I was in my native Place,
I was a lump of Clay,
and Diged was out of the Earth
and Brought from thence a Way,
but now I am a Jugg became,
by Potters Art and Skiel,
and now your Servant am Become,
and carry alle I will.
Made by Jo(hn) PH(illips) Pott. 1780.
4
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/image/media-187340
https://feast-and-fast.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/creative/blackie-harvest-jug
This inscription written around this jug’s “shoulder” is …
'Now i am come for to supply
your workmen when in harvist dry
when they do labour hard and sweat
good drink is better far than meat.
In winter time when it is cold
i likewayes then good ale can hold
All seasons do the same require
and most men so strong drink desire'.
5
https://www.rare-ceramics.com/stock/english-pottery/a-small-devon-slipware-dated-harvest-jug/
“The sacred gift of
friendship take
and keep it for the
giver’s sake
1788/1788”
6
https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/devon-pottery-harvest-jug-named-and-dated-for-ann-edwards-1803/
The handle has a beautiful
coiled terminal under which is a heart-shaped cartouche with the name “ANN
EDWARDS May 19 1803 Langendairn”, and the verse,
“When this you see, remember me, tho many miles
distant be.”
7
https://www.bada.org/object/slipware-pottery-harvest-jug-made-george-fishley-fremington-devon-pottery
made by George Fishley at the Fremington Pottery, 1810 to 1820-ish
Beware as the
Potter
Said to the lump
of Clay
I’ll be burnt
first
Saucily responded
the Mud
8.
https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/devon-pottery-cider-or-harvest-jug-dated-1845-and-named-john-can/
Long may we be
happy
May we be blest
with
Content and from
Misfortune free
9
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15271/lot/69/
'Come fill
me full with Liquor sweet,
for that is
good when friend do meet,
but pray
take care dont let me fall
lest you
lost your liquor jug and all.
Catherine
Lewis Aberystwith Cardiganshire 1812'
10
https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-5323661
The Potter fashioned me complete
As plainly doth appear
For to supply the Harvest Men
With good strong English beer
Drink round my jolly reapers
And when the work is done
We’ll have the other jugg my boys
And sing a merry song.
11
https://www.antiquepottery.co.uk/north-devon-earthenware-slip-scraffito-decorated-pottery-harvest-jug-circa-1850-period/
12
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-north-devon-sgraffito-slipware-inscribed-and-5581161/
Come Fill me Full With Liqour Sweet
For that is Good When Friends do meet
But pray Take Care Don't Let me Fall
Least you Lost your Liquor Jugg and all
William Botwood was Born the 9th (?)
November/1835
13
https://rammcollections.org.uk/object/100-1930/
He that by the plough would thrive
Himself must either hold or drive
14
https://rammcollections.org.uk/object/233-1978/
M P M / 1703; the fearful hare doth run a pace
because the honds are on thare chace :
the countrey hee is forst to fly :
whilst
thy are out with hue and cry :
nature hath taught him in this strife
to seeke for to presarve his life
which hee by running doth obtaine
and then the hounds returne a gaine
the huntsmen seing that doth cry :
lett him goe his meat is dry :
ile to my landladay with speed
for I have greater need.
15
https://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/pmag/collections/getrecord/CFPOT_1950_P_332
The tulip and the butterfly
Appears in gayer coats than I
Let me be drest fine has I will
Flies worms and flowers exceed me still
Robert Fishley
Maker Fremington 1834
Long may you live
Happy may you be
Blest with content
And from misfortune
Free
16
https://www.christies.com/lot/lot-a-north-devon-slipware-inscribed-and-dated-6250621/
"The larger monsters of the deep
on the command attendance keep
by thy commison sport and play
and cleave along the foming way
if god his choice of tempest rears
Leviathan lyes still and fears
W M Langdon 1757"
17
https://www.rare-ceramics.com/past-sales/a-west-country-harvest-jug-barnstaple-or-fremington-devon/
“Now is the time the
Reepers Sweat,
the Corn is Ripe and
must Be Cut,
then fill me full
with Good Strong Bear
for that is Good your
harts to Chare…
John Briant 1771”
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/205100
When I was in my
Native Place I was a Lump of clay,
and Diged was out of the Earth, and Brought from thence a Way,
but now I am a Jugg Became, by Potters art and Skeel,
and now your Servant
am became, and carry alle I will
Robt. Burnal Cutcombe
Ashel 1781
18
https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/23614/lot/257/
'Over the raging seas I am Bound
wear waves and Billows too me Round
Fill me Full with Liquour sweet
For that is good when Friends Do meet',
'Elizabeth Evens, august the
22, 1804'
19
https://www.bada.org/object/antique-slipware-pitcher-fishleys-fremington-named-and-dated
the potter ... edwin beer fishley
Good luck to the hoof & the horn
Good luck to the flock & the fleece
Good luck to the growers of corn
May we always have plenty of peace
Success to the farmer
The plough and the flail
May the landlord ever florish
And the tenant never fail
20
the compass
pattern would have been significant to local people because barnstaple and
bideford were seafaring ports with many distant trade connections
21
a particularly old and battered harvest jug from the british museum ...
Lo i unto your house am
sent as a token from a frind
When your harvest folks
are dry then I will them attend
1708 It is cupids dart
wounded my heart
22
Cider making in Devon dates back to at least the 13th century
and until about 100 years ago, almost every farm in Devon would have its own
orchard and make its own cider. The rural labouring population drank a lot of
cider and labourer's wages were even part paid in this drink, sometimes as much
as one-fifth of their total income! As well as everyday vessels for
pouring and drinking cider, North Devon potters developed harvest jugs and
puzzle jugs to aid the celebrations at harvest time.
23
https://www.1stdibs.co.uk/furniture/dining-entertaining/ceramics/edwin-beer-fishley-fremington-slipware-nautical-jug-19th-century/id-f_8799853/
A rare Fremington pottery Nautical slipware jug of ovoid form
with an applied scroll handle, incised and slip decorated in yellow with a
galleon in full sail, compass, sun motif, floral designs, birds in flight and
other designs on a natural glazed ground.
Incised to the base E B Fishley Fremington, North Devon.
Home thou loved spot, the blest retreat is
From which I seldom wish to roam
If e’er true love and friendship meet
‘Tis only round thy fireside, Home !
25
Harvest jug by Edwin Fishley of Fremington ... the design and inscriptions country pots are inextricably joined with country culture … of which huntin’n’shootin was a central activity back in the middle of the nineteenth century ...
26
Harvest is come all Busy now
in making of the Barley mow
if you the Barley mow neglect
of Good ale you can not then expect.
August 1838 John Prouse Hartland.
27
The Virginia
Connection … slipware pottery from North
Devon was traded to Virginia back in the late 1600s. A number of broken pieces of a later period
were dug up at Jamestown and restored … this jug from 1764 …
http://www.chipstone.org/images.php/35/Ceramics-in-America-2002/Scratched-in-Clay:-Seventeenth-Century-North-Devon-Slipware-at-Jamestown,-Virginia-
https://emuseum.history.org/objects/18916/harvest-jug
Made for Mrs. Hugs by Jos Hollamore Barnstaple June ye
27, 1764
Now I am Com for to Supply the Harvis men when they
are Dray
When they do labour heard and sweat Good league is
better far than Meat
I by my Master heare am Sent to make You merrey is My
Intent
I like bright Phebeous Do apeare When my bleys full
with good Strong Beer.
My Joley hearts Com Drink About And Never Start till
all is Out
28
Harry Juniper is a
prolific Devon potter who has extended the harvest jug’s themes and subjects
into modern times to match the changing aspirations of his commissioning
customers …
https://anewenglandcargo.wordpress.com/2013/06/23/harry-juniper-and-the-historic-and-contemporary-live-pottery-profession-of-notrth-devon/
29
Doug Fitch, although moved away from Devon to Scotland now, is very well known for exquisitely crafting harvest jugs in just the right traditional North Devon style
http://slipware.blogspot.com/2009/09/harvest-jug.html
http://slipware.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-love-jug.html
30
Vicky Lindo’s “Dead Dad Jug” … Vicky works in Bideford with
her partner Bill Brookes although her family origins were far away. Much of their work is derived from classical
forms and imagery but these forms are clearly derived from the traditional
local harvest jug. The strongly emotional narrative, derived from her family’s
sad history, is to be treasured. I wish
there was a photograph of these jug’s other sides …
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/project-grants-case-studies/closer-look-dead-dad-book-vicky-lindo
31
“Not my cup of tea”, but very good work … and a clever piece
of cultural mis-appropriation … Simon Bayliss’ “Queer” Harvest Jug
Men of RAF and
Navy,
bold and hench and daring come,
come and taste our fancy gravy,
lovers welcome gobblers come.
Time for all things! This for leisure.
Time for new things! That for pleasure.
Hum our fruity cherry tune.
High and low
with one another,
young and young may join us come,
spoon to spoon on cock a rubber,
now your pubic hair-day come.
Well it is that fruity bubbles,
fully topped should get more cuddles,
on a guilty cherry tone.
And a late-comer, in a display at the University in Aberystwyth, July 2023 ...
Another late-comer, from the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge
https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/77086
... to be continued, as & when ...
