Smith Art Gallery & Museum | Details | William and Mary plates (William)

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Actions Displays	William and Mary plates (William) Remove from selection Add to selection Reproduction Download mediaDownload as zip file Object number01083 TitleWilliam and Mary plates (William) DescriptionThis English delftware plate dates from the late 17th century and is one of a pair in our collection depicting William of Orange and his wife, Queen Mary. It was designed to commemorate the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when William & Mary were chosen as monarchs over the catholic King James VII, and their subsequent coronation in 1689. King William appears in the centre, the initials WR (William Rex) on either side of him. He looks suitably regal, wearing the crown and a set of sumptuous robes. He is surrounded by a garland of flowers, which includes several tulips - a flower so fashionable in the 17th century that the term tulipmania was coined! The trend for creating royal mementoes was at its height during the reign of William and Mary. Their portraits also appear on pewter ware in our collection. English delftware is tin-glazed pottery, named after Delftware, made in the Netherlands. While the techniques are similar, Dutch Delftware is predominantly blue and white, whereas English tin-glazed pottery also uses other colours such as the orange-yellow and green you can see in this plate. The overall feel of this delftware is relaxed and the decoration naïve, when compared with its continental cousin. Interestingly, William and Mary owned a lot of Chinese porcelain and admired the refined ceramic ware from Delft. Mary commissioned special pieces from the De Griekshe A pottery for her own collection. DescriptionDelft Ware Tin Glaze made in London, Bristol, Glasgow, Norwich with images of King William on the front and the initials of WR and MR. Known as William and Mary plates and celebrated the crowning of William of Orange as King of Britain Production date 1688 - 1707 Object namePlate ceramics Materialdelft ware Dimensions whole Diameter: 255 mm

Reproduction

Download mediaDownload as zip file

Object number01083

TitleWilliam and Mary plates (William)

DescriptionThis English delftware plate dates from the late 17th century and is one of a pair in our collection depicting William of Orange and his wife, Queen Mary. It was designed to commemorate the Glorious Revolution of 1688 when William & Mary were chosen as monarchs over the catholic King James VII, and their subsequent coronation in 1689. King William appears in the centre, the initials WR (William Rex) on either side of him. He looks suitably regal, wearing the crown and a set of sumptuous robes. He is surrounded by a garland of flowers, which includes several tulips - a flower so fashionable in the 17th century that the term tulipmania was coined! The trend for creating royal mementoes was at its height during the reign of William and Mary. Their portraits also appear on pewter ware in our collection. English delftware is tin-glazed pottery, named after Delftware, made in the Netherlands. While the techniques are similar, Dutch Delftware is predominantly blue and white, whereas English tin-glazed pottery also uses other colours such as the orange-yellow and green you can see in this plate. The overall feel of this delftware is relaxed and the decoration naïve, when compared with its continental cousin. Interestingly, William and Mary owned a lot of Chinese porcelain and admired the refined ceramic ware from Delft. Mary commissioned special pieces from the De Griekshe A pottery for her own collection.

DescriptionDelft Ware Tin Glaze made in London, Bristol, Glasgow, Norwich with images of King William on the front and the initials of WR and MR. Known as William and Mary plates and celebrated the crowning of William of Orange as King of Britain

Production date 1688 - 1707

Object namePlate

ceramics

Materialdelft ware

Dimensions

whole Diameter: 255 mm