Poetry Pottery.
A common feature of 19th century pottery is the verse, motto or text. A quick survey of the topics covered by the writings gives some idea of what many considered important at that time. Biblical teaching, Christian hymns, political slogans referring to trade and justice, morals, maxims, love, life and loss are constant subjects. Sunderland pottery has a bias towards the plight of the sailor. Only rarely is the author of the writings known. However when the author's name is included, or the writing can be traced, studying the biography can give deeper understanding.
You are most likely to be reading this page from having an interest in pottery and collecting. If your interest is purely the poetry, then your interest in the background, your quest to find more by the same poet and your sense of owning the poems may make you also consider yourself a collector.
You are most likely to be reading this page from having an interest in pottery and collecting. If your interest is purely the poetry, then your interest in the background, your quest to find more by the same poet and your sense of owning the poems may make you also consider yourself a collector.
Bernard Barton. The Quaker Poet. 1784 - 1849.
Barton was Born in Carlisle in England and lived much of his adult life in London. He wrote about the plight of the Victorian people and pressed for penal reform. The verse below is on a pink lustre Sunderland jug marked for "Dixon Austin". The full poem has verses for the soldier, sailor, sculptor, painter, poet and even "Our Lord" who all ask not to be forgotten
Forget me not.
The sailor tost in stormy seas,
Though far his bark may roam,
Still hears a voice in every breeze
That wakens thoughts of home;
He thinks upon his distant friends
His wife, his humble cot;
And from his inmost heart ascends
The prayer Forget me not!
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0a0-AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA77&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=4#v=onepage&q&f=false
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Robert Burns. 1759 - 1796.
Since Victorian times there has been a steady stream of souvenirs with Burns' portrait and pictures of his house in Ayrshire. The portrait which appears on Sunderland lustre items is based on the painting by Alexander Nasmyth in 1787.
Very little of Burns' work appears on pottery. The verse shown is from "Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge". It appears on a Tyneside Lustre jug. Burns is not named on the jug but the thistles are a clue.
Very little of Burns' work appears on pottery. The verse shown is from "Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge". It appears on a Tyneside Lustre jug. Burns is not named on the jug but the thistles are a clue.
Man Was Made To Mourn: A Dirge by Robert Burns
verse 9
"Yet, let not this too much, my son,
Disturb thy youthful breast:
This partial view of human-kind
Is surely not the last!
The poor, oppressed, honest man
Had never, sure, been born,
Had there not been some recompense
To comfort those that mourn!
http://www.robertburns.org/works/55.shtml
"Yet, let not this too much, my son,
Disturb thy youthful breast:
This partial view of human-kind
Is surely not the last!
The poor, oppressed, honest man
Had never, sure, been born,
Had there not been some recompense
To comfort those that mourn!
http://www.robertburns.org/works/55.shtml
Lord Byron. 1788 - 1824.
Two portraits of Lord Byron feature on Sunderland Pottery. First a painting by George Sanders of "Lord Byron aged 19" inspired an engraving by W. Finden. This image must have been so well known that it needed no title when reproduced on the pink lustre frog mug made in Sunderland. (Another version appears on small plates, probably made in Staffordshire, with a "Lord Byron" inscription.)
The second image is based on one of two paintings by Thomas Phillips. The pink lustre and blue jug has a view of the Bridge over the River Wear marked "Dixon & Co. Sunderland" and the verse "Rest in Heaven" by W. B. Tappan which appears below.
The second image is based on one of two paintings by Thomas Phillips. The pink lustre and blue jug has a view of the Bridge over the River Wear marked "Dixon & Co. Sunderland" and the verse "Rest in Heaven" by W. B. Tappan which appears below.
The Tear by Lord Byron.
Verses of this 12 verse poem appear on Pink Lustre pottery. Verse 3 is shown on a Sunderland mug marked for Moores. The small steam ship indicates that it was made in the middle of the 19th century. Verse 4 is on a Tyneside jug made around 1830 and a small Sunderland jug probably made around the same time by Dixon which includes Byron's name.
3.
Mild charity's glow,
To us mortals below,
Shows the soul from barbarity clear,
Compassion will melt,
Where this virtue is felt,
And its dew is diffused in a tear.
4.
The man doom'd to sail,
With the blast of the gale,
Through billows Atlantic to steer,
As he bends o'er the wave,
Which may soon be his grave,
The green sparkles bright with a tear.
This link has the whole poem.
http://readytogoebooks.com/TT-LB33.htm
3.
Mild charity's glow,
To us mortals below,
Shows the soul from barbarity clear,
Compassion will melt,
Where this virtue is felt,
And its dew is diffused in a tear.
4.
The man doom'd to sail,
With the blast of the gale,
Through billows Atlantic to steer,
As he bends o'er the wave,
Which may soon be his grave,
The green sparkles bright with a tear.
This link has the whole poem.
http://readytogoebooks.com/TT-LB33.htm
John Clare. The Northamptonshire Peasant Poet. 1793 - 1864.
What is Life.
And what is life? an hour glass on the run,
A mist retreating from the morning sun.
A busy, bustling, still - repeated dream
Its length? - a minutes pause, a moments thought.
And happiness? a bubble on the stream,
Thay in the act of seizing shrinks to nought.
This is the opening verse of a poem which asks about hope, death and life.
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/what-is-life/
Eliza Cook. 1818 - 1889.
Eliza Cook spent a lifetime writing. Her publication "Eliza Cook's Journal" gives an interesting insight into mid-Victorian life and concerns. She writes patriotically about the English and British people but criticises the living conditions imposed upon them.
This verse appears on a pottery jug made in Sunderland in the later 19th century. The pink decoration is not lustre.
There's one whose fearless courage yet has never failed in fight;
Who guards with zeal our country's weal, our freedom, and our right;
But though his strong and ready arm spreads havoc in its blow;
Cry "Quarter!" and that arm will be the first to spare its foe.
He recks not though proud Glory's shout may be the knell of death;
The triumph won, without a sigh he yields his parting breath.
He's Britain's boast, and claims a toast! "In peace, my boys, or war,
Here's to the brave upon the wave, the gallant English Tar."
This verse appears on a pottery jug made in Sunderland in the later 19th century. The pink decoration is not lustre.
There's one whose fearless courage yet has never failed in fight;
Who guards with zeal our country's weal, our freedom, and our right;
But though his strong and ready arm spreads havoc in its blow;
Cry "Quarter!" and that arm will be the first to spare its foe.
He recks not though proud Glory's shout may be the knell of death;
The triumph won, without a sigh he yields his parting breath.
He's Britain's boast, and claims a toast! "In peace, my boys, or war,
Here's to the brave upon the wave, the gallant English Tar."
Richard Howitt. 1799 - 1869.
Richard Howitt was born and lived in the East Midlands of England except for a four year stay in Australia. This poem was published shortly before his visit abroad and appears to indicate a reluctance to go.
England, England. by Richard Howitt.
England, England, glorious name,
Home of freedom, star of fame;
Light o er ocean widely sent,
Empress of the element:
Gorgeous sea encircled gem,
Of the world bright diadem;
Nation nations to command,
Who but points admiring hand
To thee, to thee, our own dear land.
Wisdom spake, and thou hadst birth,
Throne and sceptre of the earth;
Heaven's own beacon in the deeps,
Eye of soul that never sleeps:
Altar of the world, whose fire
Brightly burns, nor may expire:
Built in adamant, to stand,
God is in thee, heart and hand
England, England, glorious land!
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UvgEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA351&dq=england+glorious+name+home+of+freedom+star+of+fame&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Ld5DT5vxEeOy0QWd2dSPDw&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=england%20glorious%20name%20home%20of%20freedom%20star%20of%20fame&f=false
Home of freedom, star of fame;
Light o er ocean widely sent,
Empress of the element:
Gorgeous sea encircled gem,
Of the world bright diadem;
Nation nations to command,
Who but points admiring hand
To thee, to thee, our own dear land.
Wisdom spake, and thou hadst birth,
Throne and sceptre of the earth;
Heaven's own beacon in the deeps,
Eye of soul that never sleeps:
Altar of the world, whose fire
Brightly burns, nor may expire:
Built in adamant, to stand,
God is in thee, heart and hand
England, England, glorious land!
http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=UvgEAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA351&dq=england+glorious+name+home+of+freedom+star+of+fame&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Ld5DT5vxEeOy0QWd2dSPDw&ved=0CEQQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=england%20glorious%20name%20home%20of%20freedom%20star%20of%20fame&f=false
Edward Jerningham. 1729 - 1812.
Edward Jerningham was born in Norfolk. He was educated in France before returning to England. He converted to Anglicanism, and in addition to poems and plays, wrote on theological subjects.
The lines shown are from a poem called "The funeral of Arabert, monk of La Trappe". The transfer on a Tyneside Lustre just from around 1830 changes the first word and some punctuation.
http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015067126675;page=root;view=image;size=100;seq=11;num=3
Funeral of Arabert by Edward JerninghamYet, as thro' life our weary steps we bend,
Let us not sink when beating storms descend: Still let Religion hold inrival'd sway, And patience walk companion of our way. Ah, lose not sight of that delightful shore, Whose blissful bow'rs shall friends to friends restore: |
William Bingham Tappan. 1794 - 1849.
Tappan was born and lived in the USA. He worked for the Sunday School. He wrote many poems, some of which became popular hymns. The verse shown below is on a Jug made by Dixons of Sunderland and features Lord Byron (see above). The title "Hour of Peaceful Rest" has been replaced on the jug with "Rest in Heaven".
http://www.bartleby.com/102/15.html
Hour of Peaceful Rest by William Bingham Tappan.
THERE is an hour of peaceful rest
To mourning wanderers given;
There is a joy for souls distrest,
A balm for every wounded breast,
'Tis found alone in heaven.
THERE is an hour of peaceful rest
To mourning wanderers given;
There is a joy for souls distrest,
A balm for every wounded breast,
'Tis found alone in heaven.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson. 1809 - 1892.
Tennyson's death is commemorated by this Wedgwood Pottery jug. The portrait is from a photograph taken by Herbert Barraud. Several titles of Tennyson's works are featured on the jug including "In Memoriam". Wedgwood have however decided not to use this but have used part of Tennyson's "Ode on the Death of the Duke of Wellington" written in 1852.
http://www.bartleby.com/246/385.html
He is gone who seem’d so great.—
Gone; but nothing can bereave him
Of the force he made his own
Being here, and we believe him
Something far advanced in State,
And that he wears a truer crown
Than any wreath that man can weave him.
Speak no more of his renown,
Lay your earthly fancies down,
And in the vast cathedral leave him,
http://www.bartleby.com/246/385.html
He is gone who seem’d so great.—
Gone; but nothing can bereave him
Of the force he made his own
Being here, and we believe him
Something far advanced in State,
And that he wears a truer crown
Than any wreath that man can weave him.
Speak no more of his renown,
Lay your earthly fancies down,
And in the vast cathedral leave him,