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Masonic Pitcher
ca. 1804
Maker not marked
England: Staffordshire
Transfer-printed earthenware
overall: 9-7/8"h x 11"w handle x 8"d
Special Acquisitions Fund
79.11.2

Pitcher printed with Masonic symbols. Purple transfer-printed designs on white ground. Blue banding on rim, neck, and base with hand-painted flourishes of lily of the valley and tulip. Transfer designs include: figure of Charity (with three children) standing beneath an all-seeing eye and arch. Below the figure is the verse, "To judge with candor and to speak no wrong / The feeble to support against the strong / To soothe the wretched and the poor to feed / will cover many an idle foolish deed." Under the spout is a monogram, "E G," with transfer design of seal of the United States with eagle, shield and banner. This is surrounded by a verse: "Peace, Commerce and honest Friendship with all Nations Entangling Alliances with none Jefferson / Anno Domini 1804." On the opposite side is a transfer design of columns with figures of Faith, Hope and Charity standing on top, an all-seeing eye, mosaic pavement, star, G, Bible, etc. Below the design is text, "United for the benefit of mankind." Applied double C-scroll handle with blue flourish design.


The decoration consists of three imprints, two Masonic and one patriotic in nature. On one side figures representing Faith and Charity stand atop architectural pillars with Hope and various Masonic symbols in the center. A mosaic pavement forms the base, beneath which is the statement, "United for the benefit of mankind." On the opposite side the figure of Charity and her children are placed beneath the all-seeing eye and a Masonic arch. Beneath the design is the verse, "To judge with candor and to speak no wrong, The feeble to support against the strong, To soothe the wretched and the poor to feed, will cover many an idle foolish deed." Under the spout the initials "EG," the Great Seal of the United States, and the quotation, "Peace Commerce and honest Friendship with all Nations Entangling Alliances with none. Jefferson / Anno Domini 1804," appear. This quote comes from Jefferson's first Inaugural address, which he gave on March 4, 1801.