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Is this George Washington? Posted by Rob Higgins on October 16, 2024, 5:03 am Hello, thanks in advance for any help. This small printed mug looks as if it portrays George Washington - can anyone confirm this please? The back and base of the mug are unmarked, it has the look and feel of having been made in Stoke around 1780 and was purchased by my father about 40 years ago in Staffordshire - quite a few pieces made locally for export never made it out of Staffordshire. Rob

Re: Is this George Washington? Posted by Web Administrator on October 16, 2024, 1:50 pm, in reply to "Is this George Washington?" Rob, I've searched our Database and this pattern does not appear to the best of my search capabilities. I tried "George Washington", "man on horse", "horse rearing" as search terms. We'll see if anyone else has better luck or an opinion. I'm curious why you think this is George Washington? Yes, man in uniform on horse, but that could be many men. Also, perhaps later than 1780?

Re: Is this George Washington? Posted by Rob Higgins on October 16, 2024, 2:29 pm, in reply to "Re: Is this George Washington?" Thanks enormously for checking, I should have said I had done so but I'm a new member and it was my first time using the database. The mug belonged to my father who had a collection of commemorative ceramics and his attributions seem to have been well researched but I wasn't sure on this one. Dad made a note to check Heritage auctions and indeed I've found the image, several similar mugs have also been sold. The one Dad has isn't identical in all respects - certainly not from the same printing plate and obviously no title on the piece. Yes it could be a few years later than 1780 but isn't a modern piece. There is a mug showing the Duke of York in my father's collection, the horse and rider's pose are similar but the face and hat are quite different. But I know facial accuracy wasn't a feature of these pieces. Thanks again, Rob. PS if the screenshot I have uploaded is a risk to you because of breach of copyright, feel free to remove the image and anyone can search Heritage Auctions for "George Washington" Mug. I guess we can also post the url https://historical.ha.com/itm/political/3d-and-other-display-pre-1896-/george-washington-rare-equestrian-figure-mug/a/6066-38016.s?ic4=GalleryView-Thumbnail-071515

Re: Is this George Washington? Posted by Len on October 16, 2024, 5:44 pm, in reply to "Re: Is this George Washington?" Hi Rob. Thanks for this interesting transfer! As David pointed out, there were a number of similar equestrian portraits in the 18th century, and as you say yourself, many of these were not so much portraits as representations, that might have been used to portray a number of famous men since the populace at large would not have an idea what they looked like anyway. Having said that, it seems likely to me that this started life as a portrait of Washington - not only the mug you found, clearly from the same source, but information I found online of "fictitious" portraits of Washington. I don't know if I can include this link or not http://web-static.nypl.org/exhibitions/revolution/selection4.html Which shows this same portrait of Washington, supposedly by an Alexander Campbell of Williamsburg in Virginia, which was widely copied in Europe even during George Washington's lifetime, and which he disavowed. So it seems more likely to be a representation of Washington than of anyone else.

Re: Is this George Washington? Posted by Rob on October 17, 2024, 1:26 am, in reply to "Re: Is this George Washington?" Thanks Len, yes your link seems to provide the key information, much appreciated. I'll figure out how to put the print on the mug forwards for inclusion in the database. Probably a few others from Dad's collection will be new to the database. As for my own interest of tiles, there are quite a lot! Thanks again, Rob

Re: Is this George Washington? Posted by Len on October 17, 2024, 10:07 am, in reply to "Re: Is this George Washington?" Thanks, Rob! Actually the picture you've already provided should do well for the database, no need to do another. We're certainly looking forward to whatever else you have! Len

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