Bottle with a thistle medallion

John Dwight

ca. 1675–76 · Salt-glazed stoneware · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

John Dwight was the first Englishman to successfully produce salt-glazed stoneware, for which he obtained a patent in 1672. While still a student at Oxford, Dwight worked with scientists Robert Hooke and Robert Boyle, and began to experiment with ceramics. In addition to producing sculptural ceramics, Dwight’s Fulham Pottery produced vessels that emulated Rhenish bellarmine jugs. Dwight took legal actions against many of his competitors, but despite his efforts, salt-glazed stoneware was produced by other British potteries in Lambeth, Nottingham, Bristol, and Staffordshire. John Dwight’s role in producing and marketing British salt-glazed stoneware speaks to the rise of entrepreneurship in the British ceramic industry. Dwight bottles with "loyal" British medallions are extremely rare, and demonstrate how Dwight transformed a German form into something essentially British. Typically there would be three medallions featured: the Badge of England, flanked by the Arms of Ireland and the Badge of Scotland. Having an example with only the Badge of Scotland makes this piece extremely unusual, and this bottle represents the first example of John Dwight’s pottery in the Museum’s collection.

Artist

John Dwight

Date

ca. 1675–76

Medium

Salt-glazed stoneware

Culture

British, Fulham

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

Robert A. Ellison Jr. Collection, Gift of Robert A. Ellison Jr., 2014